Digital BW, The Print

"Steve and Ann Taylor" <taylorfamily3688@...> wrote:

...
> I just recently acquired an almost new 1160 to dedicate to B&W.

> I ordered the MIS UT-FSN ink set for it ...

> I saw one of your earlier comments about longevity problems
> with an older version of the FSN inks.
> What do you think of the current version?

The "pre-UT" generation of B&W inksets often were based on a carbon black that had dye added -- about 8% in what I most often used.

With the "UltraTone" generation of MIS inks, 100% carbon inks with pigment colors started to be used. So, the weakness now is color fade -- including differential fade that shifts the print tones. All B&W inksets that are color inks blended with carbon will suffer from this. However, it'll take a long time for the good ones. So, for most uses and indoor display I think they are fine.


> I am considering the Eboni/Carbon-6 inks although it would be
> more rightly call Eboni/Carbon-4 in this case. ...

> How would the Eboni/Carbon compare?

100% carbon is in a class by itself -- no color means no significant tone shifts in the image. (And it's easy to profile, smooth, and with Carbon-6, incredibly cheap.)

The paper is the limiting factor in carbon printing. My main target papers will remain Premier Art Smooth Bright White for neutral/cool and Arches for medium warm fine art.

The PA BW will warm with age due to the brighteners burning out. However, it'll move in a predictable and tonally acceptable path -- warming with a roughly straight line to warmer -- not shifting too much into the green region.  It'll end up being like its non-brightened sibling, the paper that is used for the Epson/Premier Art
Scrapbook paper. So, the image will warm, but to a look that is very similar to the medium warm tones I like anyway.

One of the tricks to a good B&W inkset is controlling the tone shift path as the colors change. Frankly, I gave up. There are just too many variables for me to bother with given the 100% approach I've found that is better.   

> What dilutions would you recommend for a 4 color version?

100%, 30%, 9%, 2% or 6%. The 1160 can probably handle the 6%.

Actually, I'd test the "EZ" formula: all 3 midtones at 13.5% (M & LC at 1:1). On the C88 it's amazing how smooth it is when the inks are started sequentially.  For ease of maintenance, these "EZ" systems with a CIS are hard to beat. I'm not sure the 1160 is up to it, however.


(I'll look at the other issues later.)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com