Digital BW, The Print

Ernst,

>> Try -- http://www.epson.co.jp/e/newsroom/tech_news/tnl0611single.pdf 
>> 
> >Not very detailed, but it gives a general idea of what makes the
> >inkset an improvement over previous dye inks.
> 
> >Chris Hargens

> So it is in the ink's molecule structure ...
> more dense clustered molecule is a step to a pigment particle, ...

Yes, that's what it looks like to me also.  Our color pigs are already what
they call "dye stacks."  They are basically non-soluble crystals of the same
chemicals that make the dyes.   

(Of course, one factor that could confuse the issue is that, consistent with
most commercial writings like this, there is a good chance much of the
article us just hype for the consumers with a dose of disinformation for the
competitors.)

A couple of issues I'm wondering about are, first, whether the apparent
stacking of the dye molecules is before they hit the paper or whether they
have found a way to get them to form larger crystals on the paper itself.
The size of the final, dried particle is what distinguishes the "dyes" from
the "pigments" in terms of longevity.  However, if the stacking is after
hitting the paper, the ink would spread or bleed like a dye -- not a good
thing for sharpness.  So, I'm assuming the stacking of the dye is done
before it's printed.  

I'm no chemist, but another question is where the line is between soluble
and non-soluble.  How many molecules could they stack before this "dye" is
really just a pigment with such small particles that they simply will never
settle?  Given the apparent pigment-like resistance to bleeding, I'm
guessing this new "dye" is, in fact, a super-fine pigment that Epson for
some reason finds advantageous to call a "dye."  

It's all rather academic, of course.  The bottom line is that Epson appears
to have made a significant step forward, at least for color, glossy
printing.  I'm not sure the ink itself has any application to B&W.

>Interesting to see that the black is considered to be
> more black than other dye blacks are. 

I'm rather skeptical of the black ink claims.  I'd expect a light load to
very fine carbon with the new dye particles added, similar to the PKN
approach that works well to increase dmax.  I doubt very much that it can
compete with carbon pigments in terms of lightfastness.

Have you noticed that the Claria inks do "worse" with UV filtering in
Wilhelm tests?  The explanation appears to be that one or more of the colors
is disproportionately affected by UV.  As such, the filter makes one of them
so much better that, while the fade rate decreases with UV filtering, the
color balance shift gets worse and triggers the end point definition sooner
than the fade rate does.

As much as I'm curios about the inks, like John indicated, I'm really much
more excited by 1.5 pl, 5 dot levels, and a modern 13" platform for less
than $400.  I also expect this head will find its way into large format
printers.

It's definitely going to be fun to see Epson, Canon and HP duke it out.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com