Digital BW, The Print

This is just an update on this approach, and note on warmth and wetting
agent.

 

The inkset is looking like it'll be good for most 3 pico liter and larger
Epson printers.  While the older large format printers were the original
target, the 1440 Epson driver + Create-ICC quality and ease are such that
this'll work on about anything.  The updated PDF is at
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Eboni-6.pdf

 

I think I've made the final base decision, and it's been running well enough
for several months now that I think it's ready for production.  I have not
heard a date from MIS as to when it'll be on the web page.  I recommend bulk
only sales at first.

 

Obviously, getting a warm print from carbon pigments is easy.  Getting one
that is neutral enough for me to be happy with the way clouds and snow look
has been the problem.  Specifically, holding down the maximum Lab B is the
trick.  There are several papers that do it fine with the final mix.  So,
it's done as far as I'm concerned.

 

There is a way to lower the Lab B slightly more.  The bare bones base I make
from 4 parts water to 3 parts glycerol is the coolest printing base.  The
Eboni-LK made with this hits a maximum Lab B=0.7 on Premier Art Smooth BW,
as opposed to the 1.6 for the base that will be used in the MIS version.
With the lighter inks the difference is less.   As such, an actual inkset
for most uses would have such a small difference that it's just not worth
messing with.

 

The difference is probably due to the lack of wetting agent.  When Photo Flo
is added to the glycerol base, the warmth jumps up to the production base
numbers.  There is a trade off between smoothness and warmth.  The model of
the warmth coming from the relatively transparent circumference still holds.
While I will probably do no more with this, those who want the
coolest-printing and cheapest dilute Eboni inkset can mix from this
home-made base.  It'll probably still be smooth enough in modern printers if
multiple jets are firing.  I'm less certain a single Eboni-LK made with the
stripped down glycerol base would be good enough.  I would not use it.

 

At any rate, I think the inkset is in its final form.  

 

I'll hope to be testing a Canon with it next week.

 

Paul

www.PaulRoark.com <http://www.paulroark.com/>  

 

 

 



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