Eboni/Carbon-6, 1400, & mixing
2010-08-08 by Paul
I turned on my 1400 for the first time in a while, and the pattern was the same as I've seen several times before. All the Eboni-based matte inks had perfect nozzle checks. The MIS LK in the LC position was not perfect. I've pulled the MIS LK from my 1400 and am back at what I used in 2009 and called "Eboni-1400." See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Eb1400.pdf This setup has mostly Eboni-6 in it, but with HP PK in the C position for BO glossy (brochure) printing, the 2% Eb6-Y omitted, and the others moved over to make room for the HP PK. I'm thinking of trying to simplify the use of Eboni/Carbon-6 in the 1400 by using the "EZ" hextone approach I used in the MIS UT-R2 for the R220. There we used only 2 midtone densities. They were equal to the densities of the 30% Eboni and 9% Eboni mixes. So, there were only 3 total inks: Eboni, Dark midtone (C and M) and Light midtone (Y, LC, & LM). The approach printed very well with the Epson driver. With Carbon-6 I think I'll make an easy, progressive mixing procedure that will require no scales. Aiming this at coated paper, the only wetting agents needed will be the Photo Flo and Edwal LFN. These are easily available. I'm trying to simplify and remove any obstacles to using this approach to B&W printing with 100% carbon pigment inks (and very low costs). I think I have a mixing procedure that will use virtually all the ink mixed for standard carts. As such, there will be no storage of diluted inks at all. A 500 cc (about 1 pint) bottle of the clear base and the 100% Eboni bottle will be all that will be stored. Of course, one could set up a 3-bottle CIS easily also. I'll test this in the 1400. If someone has a 2400 that they'd like to try this in, let me know off list. Paul www.PaulRoark.com