Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Joost Horsten" <j.h.j.h@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> 
> Has anyone data of the print tones (lab A and lab B values) of HP-C6 on Photo Rag? How close can it come to a truly neutral print (fractional lab values)?

Lab L    A       B
96.76	1.61	-0.12
92.58	1.75	0.04
88.4	1.89	0.2
84.48	2.08	0.35
80.49	2.16	0.42
76.11	2.21	0.54
71.53	2.23	0.5
67.65	2.17	0.43
64.4	2.14	0.3
60.16	2.04	0.14
55.97	1.9	-0.09
51.58	1.75	-0.36
47.64	1.56	-0.64
43.54	1.35	-0.96
39.56	1.19	-1.24
35.2	0.98	-1.25
31.16	0.95	-1.18
26.78	1	-0.86
22.8	1.19	0.45
19.01	1.07	0.69
14.99	0.64	-0.02

This is the HPR "cool" curve with NC2 (http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/1400-NC2.pdf) which is basically HP-PK, 30% HP-PK, and Eboni.


> ... I have set up an R285 with UT3D inks. Pragmatic reason to go for UT3D was that I had it already in stock. Print smoothness and tonal control are just perfect to me. However, the amount of color pigments in this set is increasingly nagging me (it's basically the same as in my 3800 B&W prints, just that the pigments are blended with the inks). 


I think the 3800 ABW has more color in it.  Epson colors are stronger, but there is so much of it, the MIS wins the fade tests I've down.  On the other hand, if you use QTR so that the Epson color pigs are at a minumum, Epson would probably win the fade & color shift contest.

> I just want to have neutral prints (with some subtle tone control as a nice-to-have)

The HP-PK tends to cool shadows.  One MIS LK in the mix to help there could give you all the warming you'd probably ever want.  

> My key finding was that I want a 3K (K+LK+LLK) setup. ...
 
> ... the single ink+dilutions approach appeals to me.

If you do glossy, Glop is nice to include.  I, frankly, pulled it out of my latest 1400 setup, which is just Eboni-6 with HP-PK.


> So I am considering a stripped down version of HP-C6: 
> MK - Eboni
> PK - HP
> LK carbon (as warm toner)
> LK cool (diluted HP-PK)
> LLK cool (dilted HP-PK)
> GLOP
> 

Yep, that's what I was thinking of.

Let us know how it works.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com