Digital BW, The Print

[re: gum arabic]
... 
> Good dispersion qualities but if it is tends to spoil ...

I'm keeping an eye on that issue.  The anti-microbial effects of a 
simple piece of copper wire in water are most interesting (silver 
also, but it's more expensive).

...

> Lately we see more messages here that praise the pre inkjet 
> technologies for their archival qualities.

I don't think older technologies are better, but B&W photograph is a 
medium steeped in tradition.  It's interesting that some of the 
materials that have been used for many years may continue to have 
relevance.  Also, given the uncertainties of accelerated age testing, 
looking at materials that have actually stood the test of time is one 
source of predicting future performance.


> Thousand of 
> chemists work on inkjet inks and coatings, there must be 
> some that are well aware of the pros and cons of the old 
> processes and use them were suitable. 

I certainly suspect that all that talent and work going into these 
materials has and will continue to produce some very good results.  
On the other hand, one "pro" to me which is a huge "con" to them is 
that these old materials can't be patented.  If there is a simple 
open-source approach to our medium that works reasonably well, it 
gives us a baseline to judge the value of what the "thousands of 
chemists" can come up with.

Anyway, it's fun.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com