Digital BW, The Print

Mark wrote:

> ... when one of the colors starts to fade (not sure how 
> soon that happens), won't a color cast jump right out in a black and 
> white print made with color inks?

I think that's close to the top of my list of concerns.


Tyler wrote:

>... It's one obvious argument in support of mono inksets.

I'd say it's an argument in favor of black only printing.  I don't believe
there is a neutral inkset that is not a blend that includes color inks.

I'm curious to see the extent to which these new 1.5 pl printers can utilize
Eboni high up in the scale.  The denser the carbon ink, the more neutral it
appears to be, thus the less color needs to be added.  If a large part of
the ramp can be a relatively neutral, high density carbon, we might be able
to reduce the color inks.  Whether or not Eboni is useful, in general, I
think there is a trade-off between smoothness and print stability. 

> However, so far the stories of differential
> fade and resulting mono prints changing hue all over 
> the place have not trickled in.

Fortunately, our current materials are good enough that most will not notice
anything for years.  The OBAs fading are probably the first thing they'll
see -- which is one reason I prefer non-brightened paper. 

> There is some longevity evidence to support the mono inks
> I use over the ultrachromes.

Assuming a person uses a rip to get the yellow out, the differential I've
seen between the UC and third party pigs (MIS and Piezo test about the same)
seems to largely disappear if the UC prints are sprayed with a UV blocker
like Premier Art Print Shield.  In one of my tests, a UC pigment based mono
inkset I mixed, where the test strip was sprayed, had the lowest delta e.
However, when one uses Print Shield, the dmax is reduced.  So, I think the
third party ink solution, which appears to have a light UV blocker in the
base, makes for the best compromise (especially if the UC LM is used).

John wrote:

> ... with Ultrachrome the worry is the Magenta,
> and especially the light Magenta. Those ARE going 
> to change eventually.

Looking for the best magenta or substitute has been part of what I've tried
to do.  So far, I think Epson's UC LM is the best, but I want to re-test
some of the combinations to get better data.

> Apparently the cyan channel is very durable.

Cyan is very lightfast, but it is vulnerable to gas fade. 

Truth is, we do not have perfect materials, but the silver print was far
from ideal also.  Then again there is a pastel painting hanging next to one
of my B&W inkjet prints in a mixed media show, and the pastels are literally
falling off the paper and settling on the mat and glazing.  The pastel print
is just ruined in my view, but the artist felt it was just an acceptable
byproduct of that medium.  Our problems don't seem so bad in comparison.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com