Digital BW, The Print

Steadman-

This is all an interesting thread..but the reality for many of us is 
that we had some really serious problems with the piezo ink in the 
Epson printer(s) we own. I, for one, LOVED the piezo prints. But I 
literally spent almost 2x time working on clogs as I did printing. 
Since I changed to FS inks on the piezo software, I have spent about 
5 minutes a week dealing with clogs or nozzle checks.

I am not totally convinced that the FS prints are really identical to 
the Piezo ones. I just got another 1160 and I'm setting it up on 
Piezo (glutton for punishment or eternal optimist) and will try some 
subjective testing to see if I can tell the difference. The one 
immediate difference I can tell you is that the FS inks SMELL much 
nicer than the piezo ones...don't know how much that has to do with 
the quality of the prints, but it makes working in a darkroom a lot 
easier <g>.

I know I'm opening pandora's box trying to lay any blame for piezo 
issues on the inks... A lot has been said on that issue and almost 
everyone says it isn't the inks...but I had clogs before and I don't 
now, so I use the FS. Cone support is terrific and they are quick to 
get involved in problems...their website has many many suggestions 
for dealing with problems (but that also brings up the question as to 
why they need so many solutions) but none of them worked for 
me...should I have asked for a refund on my inks and piezo software? 
Maybe... But I found another solution...namely using a different 
inkset. Have I now given up the right to any support from Cone? I'd 
like to think not. I still buy the upgrades to the software, I still 
buy quite a lot of paper from him...I will certainly be trying his 
new inks and new version of the software...maybe I won't get the same 
(nor have I ever asked for it) level of service as someone who is 
able to use the piezo inks, but surely even this amount of patronage 
entitles me to SOME support...

Just another POV.

Tom O'Connell


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Steadman Uhlich" 
<steadmanuhlich@k...> wrote:
> Michael my good buddy,   
> 
> While FS may be "close"..."close" is not equal to "The Very Same."  
> 
> When FS is truly "The Very Same" then I would expect the market for 
that ink to expand.  
> 
> But....I may or may not be one of the buyers.  Why?
> 
> Because I like my prints Warm...toasty....brown...buttery...dark 
chocolate....roasted java bean brown.  
> 
> I even wish the Piezo inks were even more "brown" as I would like 
it that way.  (Consequently, if Paul Roark comes up with a real Sepia 
look I will buy some).  
> 
> With everything else I pretty much agree.....except....well....that 
is another thread.. (wINK)
> 
> Regards and have a wonderful time printing regardless of your ink 
choice.
> 
> Steadman
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Michael Kravit 
>   To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y... 
>   Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 7:46 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Digital BW] inks
> 
> 
>   Steadman my friend, you wrote.....
>     But...if I were responsible for tech support on the PiezoBW 
system....I would.  
> 
>     While the FS inks may deliver "close" or "identical" in your 
opinion, they are "different" inks.  And, related to the "identical" 
outcome....I seem to recall that you and others do have to make some 
adjustments to your image files to get that "close."  In other words, 
more work (though it may be minor for someone with your skills). 
>     Not entirely true. Bob Zeiss had been working with Paul and 
others gathering detailed density data from test strips. He has been 
adjusting the densities of the middle tones to match the Piezo output 
exactly. I have been using a variant that is for all intents and 
purposes right on the money. I am now printing images with the Piezo 
software and MIS FS inks that are indestinguishable from the 
Piezo/Piezo originals (Except for a slightly cooler tone). From what 
I understand, the final mix should be ready for sale very shortly. No 
extra work needed.
> 
>     As you may know I strated using the ImagePrint 4 RIP. In our 
tests the blacks that I get knock the socks off of the black with 
Piezo software. In densitometer testing the Dmax for Piezo on H. 
Torchon is in the 1.67 range. With the IP4 RIP my tests show a Dmax 
of 1.92 to 2.0 depending on the paper. No extra work, just better 
prints.
> 
>     I will not comment on the Piezo inks, but from what I am 
hearing IJM is releasing new inks next months that will address 
certain outstanding problems that people have been experiencing.
> 
>     Anyway...it is good that there are alternatives out there.  I 
think alternatives are great. 
> 
>     I agree 100%.  
> 
>     Happy New Year
> 
>     Mike
> 
> 
>   [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
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