Digital BW, The Print

I sent the following letter to John, Piezography Tech support and the 
Piezography mailing list.


Open letter to Jon Cone,

I am concerned. Your web site says:

Why two blacks?

Museum Black (100% pure pigment) This ink has remarkable longevity and 
will not produce any visible fade (similar to all of our gray 
positions).

Portfolio Black (92% pigment, 8% metal complex)  This ink has about 1/2 
to 2/3 stop greater dMax than Museum Black. This ink also has a 
remarkable longevity which will eventually fade to approximately the 
final density of Museum Black. However, the fade rate for this ink is 
well below that of EPSON UltraChrome and other competing brands.

However, on the Livick web site you were reportedly quoted as saying:

"Portfolio black is not suitable for longevity. You probably should 
have checked the info on our site first. Museum Black is 100% pigment 
and is probably the ink you should be using. Portfolio Black was 
designed for the original plugin or the original BW pro which put ink 
under it. One could get by with a pigment/ hybrid ink when the darkest 
gray is deposited under it. With 8% metallic complex in it - its just 
not going to stand up to fade testing or long term exposure - hence the 
name "Portfolio" Black. If you are interested in longevity switch to 
Museum Black. It will stand up to the rest of the PiezoTone inks. Our 
new K7 ink will not offer a Portfolio version."

I have used your inks to print many, quite high priced prints for 
clients. I have chosen the Portfolio black with the assurances that 
they "will eventually fade to approximately the final density of Museum 
Black." Why wouldn't  want them to have higher density until they reach 
that state I reasoned.

Now you seem to be disavowing and even discarding Portfolio Black. If 
PK fades down to the same level of MK then can we expect MK to fade to 
the same level of PK?

Once again, there seems to be reason to question the reliability of 
your products that I am staking my good name and business upon.

I would appreciate a response.

James Haney
Lightcatcher Photography


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