Digital BW, The Print

Paul, I am very excited about trying the HP PK  since I generally like the higher dmax you 
can achive with the newer semi-glossy fiber based papers, especially after reading the 
high dmax you are obtaining with the Cranes Silver Rag paper (over 2.6 after several 
days... WOW!  I can't wait to see this for myself).  I am using the 1400 with the UT14 inks 
and have been generally pleased with their flexibility.

I am considering replacing the cool PK in the UT14 inkset with the HP PK as you have 
mentioned in this thread; I am also wondering about using a dilute HP PK in place of the 
light PK in the UT14 as well, since you had mentioned that you sensed that the HP PK BO 
approach wasn't totally smooth.  You had also mentioned in one of your post that the 
dilute HP PK has some bronzing or gloss differential that GLOP may help with.  

My questions:
***Since I like printing primarily on the semi-glossy fiber papers I am wondering if GLOP 
might be a suitable base to dilute the HP PK, as I believe i've read some people doing with 
other inks???  I figure this might help with the bronzing and gloss differential with the 
dilute HP PK.  What are your thoughts on this?  If this is possible what do you think a good 
dilution ratio would be to help smooth out the print?  Perhaps a 30% HP PK and 70% GLOP; 
or maybe even substituting some C6 base for part of the GLOP if this would be too high of 
a GLOP ratio in the mix, perhaps adding some Edwal LFN?  Another question, if it is 
possible to use GLOP as a diluting base would it still be compatible with matt papers; 
which isn't a major concern of mine, but would be nice for proofing?***

Some background of what I have achieved with the UT14 inksets:  After getting through 
the learning curve with QTR I was able to profile or create cool and warm curves fairly 
quickly for Epson Double Sided Matt, and ILFORD Gold FS and combine the two curves to 
create a fairly neutral print; achieving a dmax just under 2.30 on the Gold FS.

I was inspired by what you wrote about creating a fairly neutral 100% carbon glossy print 
using the Eboni in the K position and using the warm PK to get a higher dmax, which 
must have a protective spray of Premier Print Shield to prevent the Eboni from smearing.  I 
started with your EB_ILFORDGold_Spray_3.qidf file and tweaked it some and raised the 
GLOP level to a little over 60%, to reduce the gloss differential at the higher percentages, 
and was able to achieve a dmax of around 2.50 after spraying with Print Shield; i have 
noticed that it drops slightly after a few days, still in the mid to higher 2.40's.  I also 
noticed that the higher dmax was primarily due to the Print Shield as the dmax was quite 
a bit higher after spraying than before spraying.

I was blown away with how much "richer" the blacks and shadows were in the 100% 
carbon glossy print looked when compared to the neutral equivalent using the cool/warm 
blend of PK only inks.  There was much better separation in the shadows which revealed 
better shadow details.  The 100% carbon prints just looked richer with a greater depth, 
deeper perceived blacks than with the PK only prints.

That is what I liked about the 100% carbon glossy prints on the ILFORD Gold FS.  What I 
didn't like about them was the visible dots or graininess, although at normal viewing 
distances isn't that bad, but it would be nice to get smoother mid-tones.  They are also a 
little warmer than what I would like, although it is a beautiful warmth that could grow me; 
I would say it is certainly on the warm side of neutral, at least with the Gold FS, which 
tends to produce very warm results with the warm PK inks in the UT14 inkset.

Sorry for the dissertation, I didn't mean for it to get so long, but felt that others might be 
interested in what I am desiring to achieve and my results so far.

Much thanks for your input,
Randy


>
> I wanted to update and correct my previous post on printing Black 
> Only in a 1400 with full strength HP Z3100 PK.
> 
> First, after just over 1 week on sitting idle, the 1400 had no clogs -
> - a perfect noozle check.  I had the HP PK in the Y position, which 
> is right next to the Eboni K position.  PK next to MK has been the 
> most likely to cause clogs in other printers and with other PKs.  So, 
> going a week with no clogs might indicate that the HP PK is at least 
> not more likely to clog than other PKs.  The 1400 also has Eboni-6 in 
> 2 position (and a full 3MK of Eboni).  
> 
> Second, I found a significant error in my previous post.  The 1400 
> with HP PK on Crane Silver Rag hits a dmax of 2.72, not 1.72 as 
> written in the original post.  The 2.72 100% QTR patch has now 
> dropped to 2.61 after over a week of drying.  Needless to say, this 
> is outstanding.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com 
> 
> 
> "pr_roark" <pr_roark@> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > > I just printed a 1400 HP-PK black only test strip on 
> > > some old Kirkland glossy paper.  With QTR I was able 
> > > to get a dmax of about 2.4.  
> > > The tones are shown in this Lab A & B graph:
> > > http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/1400-HP-PK-BO-Kirkland.jpg
> > > 
> > > The reflective artifacts are minimal.
> > 
> > A full image on the Kirkland paper has low enough reflective 
> > artifacts that I don't think any glop is warranted.  
> > A smooth sky is still smooth; there was no build-up of 
> > grain that way we've seen with 
> > the 3-MK process.  So, it looks good.
> > 
> > Ilford Gold FB hits a dmax of 1.72 at an ink limit of 100. 
> 
> Wrong -- it hit 2.72.
> 
> 
> > The tones are very neutral through the midtones. See 
> > http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/HP-PK-Ilford-Gold-tones.jpg
> > 
> > I'm not thrilled with the "glittery" reflections of the Ilford 
> > surface, but overall, this is looking like an impressive
> > approach if it doesn't clog.
> > 
> > Paul
> > www.PaulRoark.com
> >
>