Digital BW, The Print

Scott,

I went down the OEM black+VM combination, also with mixed results. In 
images where there is a lot of small detail (no smooth gradients), 
the prints were spectacular (deeeeeeeeeeep blacks!). In images with 
smooth graded shadows, the 90-95% range looks dotty. My guess is that 
this is where there is the greatest laydown of both dye black and 
darkest VM inks, and the inks are incompatible. My guess (it's just a 
guess) is that the dye black is agglomerating because incompatibility 
with the VM inkset.

Perhaps another black ink would work more compatibly with the VM 
inks. I will experiment again soon. Best wishes and good luck.

Shilesh

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "scottpetill" 
<scottpetill@y...> wrote:
> MIS Quadtone VM on Epson Archival Matte via Roark curves (for epson 
> 1270), printed on an epson 870.
> 
> I recently installed these inks and though I'm really happy with 
the 
> overall quality I wish I had deeper blacks and better tonal 
> seperation in the lower midtones.
> 
> I tried using the epson black ink with the MIS quadtone "color" 
> cartridge and at first look I get the black density I was hoping 
for. 
> However, on closer inspection I see black dots and very high 
contrast 
> in the lowest values, which is undesirable.
> 
> Anyone been down this road? Any suggestions for getting deeper 
blacks 
> with the quadtones without the artifacts?
> 
> Thanks