Digital BW, The Print

I am cross posting this message at the Epson Wide Format and Digital 
BW, The Print forums.

My fade test is at 18 days tonight. I live in the Mid South USA, and 
we have been fairly sunny these last 18 days, but I did not keep 
track. My original intent was to keep them exposed for 4 weeks prior 
to taking a peek. But this evening I noticed one of the print on the 
floor, and decided to take a quick measurement. I was not good, so 
what the heck, I measured them all.

My admittedly crude methodology was: I printed 100%, 75%, 50%, and 
25% ink limit patches of pure color on various papers using QTR. Each 
8.5 x 11 page contained 2 sets of colors. One set (Test) was was 
stuck on the south facing window, the other went in the drawer (Ref). 
My window is double glazed.

Due to other attributes of NanoChrome inks, I have whittled down my 
interest in these inks to using only the black ink (Dmax on HPR) in 
otherwise pigments inksets. So my reporting is rather narrow, but 
telling nonetheless.

I had origianlly intended to use a friend's I1 for detailed 
measurments. The limited measurements below were made with a Heiland 
PM Densitometer.

I am reporting the fade in density percent of the 25% ink coverage 
patch of the black ink.

Fade% = (1 - Test D/Ref D) x 100

I understand all the limitations of the test, so let us please not 
get into arguments. I am happy to provide clarification, if any is 
required.

The comparison were (1) Epson R220 Dye inks, (2) NanoChrome inks 
loaded on the R220 printer, and (3) Epson 4000 UC inks.

The reults for the 25 ink limit K patch:

Epson Premium Glossy - 5% Epson Dye, 5% Nano, 0% Epson UC PK
Epson Enhanced Matte - 4% Epson Dye, 15% Nano, 0% Epson UC MK
Hahnemuhle Photo Rag - 10% Epson Dye, 16% Nano, 0% Epson UC MK
HPR Satin - Not tested for Epson Dye, 11% Nano, 0% Epson UC MK

Some observations - the black NanoChrome ink warm shifts 
significantly. I have not made meticulous measurments of the other 
pure colors, but the trend is that LM fades the most noticebly.

So in this rather limited test, the NanoChrome black ink is no better 
than Epson Dye black, and no where near Epson UC MK or UC PK.

I must say I am dissapointed because the Dmax sure was nice on 
Hahnemuhle line of papers.

Regards.

Shilesh