Digital BW, The Print

> What do you think about the new Epson inks?
> 
> Andreas

Thanks for your reply, Andreas.  I recently had some test prints done on UC K3 and they 
look pretty good.  The tests were on Hahnemuhle PR using Epson's profile for Velvet Fine 
Art.  The D-MAX would have been better if a profile had been made for the Hahn PR, but 
the results were not bad overall.

I would say that they have eliminated about 97 percent of the Metamerism, leaving just a 
hint of it.  A good profile done with a Gretag might get rid of the rest (but I won't know 
until I try it).

The highlights are also smoother and more "dotless," like Cone prints.

The only reservation I have from an artistic standpoint is that they still look like B&W prints 
made from color.  UC K3 has an almost identical look and feel to the old UC, except with 
more dotless highlights and most of the metamerism gone.  K3 will be a very useful and 
practical ink set.  You will be able to tone it as you like in PhotoShop, but it won't have that 
lucious, tactile quality of a good print made from monochrome inks.  In fine art 
photographic printmaking, those seemingly minor subtlties make all the difference in the 
world between a compent, perfunctory print and one that lives and breathes.

Therefore I will probably go the following route over the next few months:  Convert my 
7600 to Cone K7 inks and also purchase a 7800 printer.  Then I will have the best of all 
worlds: the ultimate digital monochrome print (K7), infinitely toneable B&W printmaking 
(UC K3), and superb color prints (for my current Hmong Refugee documentary project- see 
my website for details).

Joel Pickford
http://www.joelpickford.com/