Digital BW, The Print

Terry,

>To confirm, the configuration for a 2200 would include a standard MIS
>Pro colour inkset but with the UT-3D LK substituting for the Pro LK.
>Ebony and/or Photo Black would be used as appropriate based on the
>media (I assume that w/o the UT-3D LLK that PK would be needed for
>glossy).

Yes, that's correct.  Recall that for color new color profiles will be
needed.  If you have a profiling system, however, initial feedback is that
the system should be well within range.

For neutral B&W, I prefer a PKN to PK.  The 3D-M is, in fact, a PKN.

>The benefit to this config is minimal colour pigment since the K and
>LK are near-neutral (no need to neutralize).

Yes, sort of.  There is probably still the same amount of color, but since
it's blended into the carbon there will be minimal or no bright color dots,
and the blended LK should be significantly more lightfast than the separate
pure carbon LK and separate color ink dots.

>Toning can still occur as would normally be done within a RIP ...

Yes, again, sort of.  For near neutral prints I'd put no color in the
highlights, because that is where they show and the paper color dominates
there anyway.  For midtone and below, you can go cooler with cyan and
magenta added. 

>... although if warming most prints became the norm it would 
>likely mean the Pro LK was a better choice.

Exactly.  I would not recommend this combo if you like warmer prints.  You
don't want to add yellow as a normal practice.

> My other option would be to use the full UT-3D ...
> is there enough benefit to this approach to warrant considering it?

It really depends on your personal situation.  If the 3D LK and LLK used on
the papers you like give you what you want, then it's certainly an easy and
convenient way to go if you also print color.  I think this is a large
market, but I probably won't use it that way.  For the B&W only
perfectionist, the UT-3D would probably be preferred. 

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark"
<paul.roark@...> wrote:
>
> Terry,
> 
> > I print both B&W and colour from a single printer, and 
> > was intrigued by your comments below. 
> 
> >Are you suggesting there is enough colour content in the
> >UT-3D inks to do a colour print comparable to Epson K2? 
> 
> No, the UT-3D inkset cannot print color. It's a B&W inkset.
> 
> What I've tried to do is get a couple birds with one stone. The
UT-3D LK
> and LLK inks are blended B&W inks that are relatively neutral. They
plus an
> appropriate black ink can make a good B&W by themselves -- like a
neutral
> monotone B&W inkset, which they are. As such, with a rip you can
print a
> pure or mostly blended B&W with a k2 or k3 printer and avoid the
color dots.
> 
> 
> I'm assuming many will leave the color inks in the k2 and k3
printers for
> the obvious full color printing advantage. So, the "core" LK and
LLK in the
> UT-3D have a dual purpose -- be used in that inkset and also be used by
> color + B&W printers to replace the warm Lk and LLK inks that are
usually
> used. These warm carbon LK and LLK require color dots. These are
what I
> want to get rid of or reduce in significance.
> 
> So, it'll take a rip for B&W, and it'll take some custom profiling for
> color, but the UT-3D LK and LLK plus the MIS Pro (or maybe even the OEM)
> color inks may result in a system that can get close to having the
best of
> both worlds. We'll see.
> 
> Don't try to print color with the full UT-3D inkset. It is definitely a
> dedicated B&W inkset with a tiny gamut.
> 
> If you give this a try, let me know how it works.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com