Digital BW, The Print

Todd,

You wrote:

>What we don't know is if the MIS inks will show
>density variations over time too. I guess none of us,
>regardless of inkset, run calibration strips each
>morning to check consistency.

In doing all this mixing, etc., I run a lot of test strips.  So far, I have
not seen any density fluctuations with MIS.  (Aside from the + & - 1-2% that
seems to be normal with these printers and inks.)

I think it would be a good idea to run a 21-step and "color test" curve test
strip and put them in dark storage to use as standards.  If there was some
suspected variation, we'd be better able to nail it down then.

>What we don't know is if all inks settle/evaporate/change over time,

I'm suspicious of both.  The good pigments are supposed to be held in
suspension by "Brownian motion,"  but I give a few inversion agitations
before I mix new batches, just in case.  I swirl my CIS ink bottles
occasionally also.

I'm suspicious of the strong smell of the co-solvent base used by Piezo and
the MIS VM/FS black.  I think it is relatively volatile and might be
evaporating faster.  That could increase the incidence of clogging and other
problems.  However, that black is so much better than the others, I'm
willing to take the risk.  Just be sure to turn off those printers when not
in use for a long time.

The truth is that all the big companies serving the mainstream consumers use
dyes, not pigments.  The problems with glossy paper are certainly part of
the reason, but I'll bet these other issues are also relevant.  But, its
worth it.  So far, the MIS inks appear to be doing fine.  We are also
talking about some things that might be done to make sure they continue to
do fine, such as 1 micron filters in the CFS lines and cartridges.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com