Digital BW, The Print

Paul,

I have been experimenting with an ink set of several grey shades (MIS Eboni along with 
LK,LLK, LLLK) and 2 diluted toners ( LC & LM).  I am getting very nice results, but have 
longed for a more dimensional split tone.  While I am able to get a split tone...I always 
wonder if there is a better way.

My question is about the varied ways I might achieve this.  I note that Jon Cone is 
marketing his "Limited Edition", which implies that he is using a varied blended ink in all  
ink positions.  I cannot not buy into Cone's marketing schemes, but I definitely can buy 
into the concept of subtle split toning.  Great B&W prints do have a dimensional quality, 
whereas prints that have an all over tone can seem flat because the TONE can have an 
overriding influence.  

I am less interested in Archival than I am in great looking with reasonable stability...ie my 
lifetime.    A  wee bit of toner surely cannot have a big impact in 20 or 30 years... can it???  
You have mentioned MIS magenta as not so good...how bad is it?   My assumption is that a 
blended approach with MIS inks surely cannot be much worse than Epson's and Wilhelm's 
figures with B&W longevity.  Am I mistaken?

Here is how I am currently getting a split tone, but wonder if there is a better way...on the 
assumption that I am seeking my personal holy grail of custom inksets.   

1.  I have made multiple QTR profiles(warm, neutral, cool etc).  In making the QTR profiles, 
I have specified custom Photoshop curves for the toner to lay proportionally more toner in 
the shadows to compensate for the greater grey density in the shadows.   This helps get a 
better definition of tone throughout the tonal range without over doing the toning in the 
highlights.

2.  In QTR, I am then using the blending feature to be able to tone the shadows, midtones 
and highlights somewhat differently.  And yes, I am getting a subtle split tone. Quite nice 
actually.

Is there any advantage or disadvantage to doing a blended ink approach?  or can I achieve 
the same results with my above approach?   One more question.... why are you currently 
avoiding blended carbon with toner inks?    

It would seem to me that theoretically the more greys, the smoother the result...but surely 
there is a point where there is no gain...at least with the smoothness of some of these 
newer 1.5 dot printers.  

Thanks for all your contributions to this ongoing journey!!!

Phil Brouwer