Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Graham"
<gebilwil@n...> wrote:
> maybe so, but in Harald Johnson's book B&W using all std UC  inks,
including color of 
> course, rates at something like 140 years.  As I recall, but could
have forgotten, this was in 
> enhanced matte which is not "perfectly archival" to start with.

Well, since there seems to be an abundance of "information" bandied
about lately, I 'll urp this up on the group and you can just label me
a cynical SOB and be on your way...

It's extraordinarily aparent that there are literally no
qualifications requitred to be an expert in this new area of digital.
I've seen more references to website articles and books lately that
are simply incorrect or behind or misleading... I'm just wondering, is
there a living in becoming one of these luminaries? Is there a club to
join, rounds of drink to buy, wife jokes to swap? Who do I approach?
Who do I invoice?

First of all, printing "B&W using all std UC inks, including color of
course" would not be advised by anyone I know of with an acceptable
level of knowledge and experience. I am assuming this was done in the
context of using the normal Epson driver with profiles. A RIP with
more unusual methods or profiles would be a different story, though
somehow I doubt this was the case in the book.
Secondly, "rates at something like 140 years" doing what? Sitting in a
freezer? Laying in the Sahara sun? By whose test? What were the
methods? Frankly, I don't believe it. But I'll bet the piece of paper
with some remnant of image will actually still exist at 140 years, for
what that's worth.
Anyone can say this kind of thing. Come to think of it, I rate my
personal prints at 263 years, no, wait, 287 years.

I'm sorry if this particular example raise my hackles, I'm sure Harald
Johnson is an expert and writes great books and makes great prints.
But it's becoming more and more apparent to me, as this stuff gets
more and more complex, that a huge market has openned up for
proffesional givers of advice, and groups like this become more and
more necessary for us. A bit of skepticism may be in order these days.
Tyler