Digital BW, The Print

Clayton,

Let me clarify a few things relating to UT7.

I agree with you that carbon is probably the toughest pigment we have
available, although cyan is also extremely lightfast.  The color pigments
are getting good, but some are better than others.  The weaklings last year
were magenta and yellow.  The R800 clone blue is much tougher than the
magenta.  So I replaced the magenta with the R800 clone blue in all UT
formulas.  MIS sells these new formulas now. As you noted, your earlier
tests were with the older formulas -- which were nonetheless still the most
lightfast neutral inks available then according to my tests.

Because carbon is so tough, the UT2, UT7, and EZ-W inksets have pure carbon
in them.  With the UT2 and UT7, you need to use the carbon curve to get that
pure carbon.  However, maintaining the ability to print pure carbon has been
one of my design parameters.

The sliders do not print with pure carbon.  Then use a mix of all the inks,
including both the cool and sepia toners.  As such, the sliders have more
color pigments in them than if one uses the curves.

Nonetheless, on January 14, you reported as follows:

"#1 - with all controls at 0 ...

#1 - No toners   - No sign of fading"

The most significant fading was with the sepia toner.  That toner was then
composed of both yellow and magenta in significant amounts, even if it
remained more than 50% carbon.  Thus it had a significant amount of
relatively weak color pigments, but it would still be more lightfast than
any sepia tone that a color inkset would produce.  The UT sepia toner is now
composed of carbon, yellow, and R800 clone red.   So, it's better, but still
not what I would recommend for the best lightfastness.

The bottom line is that Eboni may be the most lightfast of the pigments
available to us.  It is "pure" carbon as far as we know.  There are also
"pure carbon" inks in the warm spots of the UT2 and UT7 inksets.  And the
EZ-W is pure carbon.  Whether all these carbons are equal in their
lightfastness is uncertain.  Pigment particle size and other variables may
give one carbon pigment a slight advantage over another.

I think we can safely assume that everything ultimately fades.  Carbon tends
to yellow a bit and actually becomes more dense at first in my tests.  I
have not continued a fade test long enough to see significant fading with
carbon.  The latest neutral UT inks are also very tough, but not as good as
carbon.

Since I don't like the pure carbon for most images, I'm inclined to use the
medium warm UT curves where I want the best longevity as well as a tone that
will be considered neutral.

I'll be interested to see how your tests of the newer UT formulas do.  Mine
are such that I just don't worry about fading that much any more.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 




> -----Original Message-----
> From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Clayton
> Jones
> Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 7:43 PM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Eboni Fade Test - Latest Report
> 
> Hello Djon,
> 
> >Clayton, are you simultaneously testing various papers/pigs/dyes?
> 
> No, just a few things that I have personal interest in.  I keep this
> one there to see if it ever does begin to fade.  Eboni is widely used
> so I post an update on it now and then.  An unprotected print
> withstanding direct sunlight seems pretty significant.
> 
> 
> >If not, what paper are you testing here?
> 
> Sorry, forgot. It's on EEM.
> 
> 
> >Is "fading" really an issue with black "inks" (Vs pigs)?
> 
> I think it's an issue with any ink.  An ink either does or doesn't
> fade, within a given time frame under certain conditions, and it's a
> good thing to know for any inks you're using, especially if they are
> toned.  The Septone inks faded at 4 months.  How does that translate
> to "under glass in room light"?  I don't know.  It just seems
> significant that it faded in 4 months and Eboni BO is at 18 and
> counting.  Eveyone can draw their own conclusions.
> 
> Last summer I began testing the original UT7 inks and they faded in 6
> months.  MIS says that was an experimental formula and was advertised
> as such, and that last August they changed it to use better toners.
> But they also admit that even the best toners don't last as long as
> pure carbon.  But I don't know what that means in practical terms.  So
> in February I printed new test strips with the new UT7 inks, so we'll
> see how they do.  Surely they will do much better.
> 
> I have also been experimenting with a modified UT7 formula which
> eliminates most of the non-carbon toners.  It should significantly
> reduce any chances of fading.  I'm almost done and will start a fade
> test on that pretty soon.  Right now Eboni BO is the only thing I have
> full confidence in.  If it can withstand the windowsill for 18 months
> it should do well under glass in room light.
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
> 
> 
> 
> 
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