Digital BW, The Print

> There is no silver bullet, or easy answer to your question.

So true.

I think there might be some generalities.  With respect to smoothness,
more inks firing generally gives a smoother image, but the quality of
the printer is a major variable here.  Also, there is, as they say in
economics, decreasing marginal utility to more inks.  In most printers
after 3 or 4 ink, the differences are so minimal as to be insignificant.
Even in my old 7500, while I have 6 carbon inks in it how, I have
omitted the lightest and second darkest (between LK and K) with no
significant (what normal viewers would see) difference.

Of course, as one adds more inks, one loses the flexibility of, for
example, variable tones, glossy and matte, etc.

With respect to clogging, I think the binder is a major variable.  Matte
inksets can use much less.  In fact, with the lightest carbon inks I'm
using I've been experimenting with diluting them with a base that has no
binder (aside from what was in the oringinal Eboni), and the impact on
the light inks sticking to the paper is insignificant.  So, while the
latest glossy compatible inks from MIS are very good with respect to
clogging, in my tests the carbon inks I'm mixing with matte base or a
base with no binder at all appear to clogg less.

Again, of course, there is an obvious trade-off: no glossy paper
printing.

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







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