Digital BW, The Print

>
> Just a quick note to let Digital BW forum members know that Owens Valley Imaging, Inc (OVI) recently contracted with AaI&A to test its HTv ink set on a couple of samples of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 276 gsm paper. The samples have reached the 20 Megalux hour mark in test, and the reports have now been added to the AaI&A light fastness database (see ID #s 237 and 238). 
> 
> OVI describes its HTv ink set as " A single, unique archival variable tone carbon inkset. This inkset is for matte/rag printing and uses six pure carbon inks from black to very light gray plus two very stable low-gamut pigments in smalls amount to control print color".  I cannot personally speak to pricing, availability, or printer reliability issues as I have not personally printed with these inks, but the hue and tonality of the samples I received for testing look really good. This ink set may therefore be of interest to end-users looking to try third party multi-shade monochrome ink sets. The link to the OVI website is:
> 
> http://www.ovimaging.com/inks.html 
> 
> cheers,
> Mark
> http/www.aardenburg-imaging.com
>

>
> Just a quick note to let Digital BW forum members know that Owens Valley Imaging, Inc (OVI) recently contracted with AaI&A to test its HTv ink set on a couple of samples of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 276 gsm paper. The samples have reached the 20 Megalux hour mark in test, and the reports have now been added to the AaI&A light fastness database (see ID #s 237 and 238). 
> 
> OVI describes its HTv ink set as " A single, unique archival variable tone carbon inkset. This inkset is for matte/rag printing and uses six pure carbon inks from black to very light gray plus two very stable low-gamut pigments in smalls amount to control print color".  I cannot personally speak to pricing, availability, or printer reliability issues as I have not personally printed with these inks, but the hue and tonality of the samples I received for testing look really good. This ink set may therefore be of interest to end-users looking to try third party multi-shade monochrome ink sets. The link to the OVI website is:
> 
> http://www.ovimaging.com/inks.html 
> 
> cheers,
> Mark
> http/www.aardenburg-imaging.com
>

>
> It looks like the OVI ink is doing very well so far in the fade tests.  (Congratulations Tom, if you're monitoring this forum.)  I just did a quick comparison to a recent Epson ABW at the same 20 Mlux-hr stage, and the OVI ink appears to be doing significantly better.  (Then again, I didn't find the exact same paper.)
> 
> At this point there really ought to be no secret as to what makes a lightfast inkset.  First is to use the most carbon that is consistent with the color/hue you're targeting. While there are probably differences among different types of carbon pigments, all of them that we usually use seem to be very good.  Second, is that if you're going to tone with a color pigment, use the best.  In that respect, both HP and Epson make or use good color pigments.  Weak color inks used for toning the carbon has been the limiting factor in most third party B&W inksets. OVI is obviously using a very good color pigment in its toners.
> 
> I suspect the main lightfastness advantage the OVI inkset has over the Epson ABW is that ABW uses too much color.  QTR can take care of that.
> 
> However, I think the OVI inkset is better in other respects.  Perhaps most importantly, it uses more carbon positions.  ABW has only the 3 neutral inks, which can be marginal, depending on how good the particular printer is.  The ABW mode probably uses the excess color in part to help smooth the print, similar to what I have done for the Claria BO printing.  If one uses QTR to eliminate the excess color, however, the limits of the 3 inks may become apparent.  
> 
> I believe the OVI toners also make profiling a bit easier by being blended to be more closely aligned with Lab A and B. 
> 
> At any rate, it's good to see a solid performance from a third party variable-tone B&W inkset.  I was never able to convince MIS to spend the money to get the top notch color pigments to make a premium MIS B&W variable-tone inkset.  Of course, Eboni-6 holds the high ground still, but for those who want more control over print tone, this may be a good solution.  (I turned to OEM color pigs for toning my personal work years ago.  See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4K+.pdf)
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mark" <mark@> wrote:
> >
> > Just a quick note to let Digital BW forum members know that Owens Valley Imaging, Inc (OVI) recently contracted with AaI&A to test its HTv ink set on a couple of samples of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 276 gsm paper. The samples have reached the 20 Megalux hour mark in test, and the reports have now been added to the AaI&A light fastness database (see ID #s 237 and 238). 
> > 
> > OVI describes its HTv ink set as " A single, unique archival variable tone carbon inkset. This inkset is for matte/rag printing and uses six pure carbon inks from black to very light gray plus two very stable low-gamut pigments in smalls amount to control print color".  I cannot personally speak to pricing, availability, or printer reliability issues as I have not personally printed with these inks, but the hue and tonality of the samples I received for testing look really good. This ink set may therefore be of interest to end-users looking to try third party multi-shade monochrome ink sets. The link to the OVI website is:
> > 
> > http://www.ovimaging.com/inks.html 
> > 
> > cheers,
> > Mark
> > http/www.aardenburg-imaging.com
> >
>

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
richardeskin
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 8:49 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: HTv ink set in test at Aardenburg Imaging &
Archives
 
  
I checked out the website and this sounds very encouraging. However, I
noticed that the newest (X900) series of printers is not supported. I have
heard that Epson has made it either impossible or illegal to use third party
inks with that series of printers. Is that true? and If it is true, aren't
third party inks for large format professional Epson printers pretty much
limited over the one to two generations as the currently compatible printers
phase out?

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com> , "Paul"
<roark.paul@...> wrote:
>
> It looks like the OVI ink is doing very well so far in the fade tests.
(Congratulations Tom, if you're monitoring this forum.) I just did a quick
comparison to a recent Epson ABW at the same 20 Mlux-hr stage, and the OVI
ink appears to be doing significantly better. (Then again, I didn't find the
exact same paper.)
> 
> At this point there really ought to be no secret as to what makes a
lightfast inkset. First is to use the most carbon that is consistent with
the color/hue you're targeting. While there are probably differences among
different types of carbon pigments, all of them that we usually use seem to
be very good. Second, is that if you're going to tone with a color pigment,
use the best. In that respect, both HP and Epson make or use good color
pigments. Weak color inks used for toning the carbon has been the limiting
factor in most third party B&W inksets. OVI is obviously using a very good
color pigment in its toners.
> 
> I suspect the main lightfastness advantage the OVI inkset has over the
Epson ABW is that ABW uses too much color. QTR can take care of that.
> 
> However, I think the OVI inkset is better in other respects. Perhaps most
importantly, it uses more carbon positions. ABW has only the 3 neutral inks,
which can be marginal, depending on how good the particular printer is. The
ABW mode probably uses the excess color in part to help smooth the print,
similar to what I have done for the Claria BO printing. If one uses QTR to
eliminate the excess color, however, the limits of the 3 inks may become
apparent. 
> 
> I believe the OVI toners also make profiling a bit easier by being blended
to be more closely aligned with Lab A and B. 
> 
> At any rate, it's good to see a solid performance from a third party
variable-tone B&W inkset. I was never able to convince MIS to spend the
money to get the top notch color pigments to make a premium MIS B&W
variable-tone inkset. Of course, Eboni-6 holds the high ground still, but
for those who want more control over print tone, this may be a good
solution. (I turned to OEM color pigs for toning my personal work years ago.
See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4K+.pdf)
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com> , "Mark" <mark@>
wrote:
> >
> > Just a quick note to let Digital BW forum members know that Owens Valley
Imaging, Inc (OVI) recently contracted with AaI&A to test its HTv ink set on
a couple of samples of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 276 gsm paper. The samples
have reached the 20 Megalux hour mark in test, and the reports have now been
added to the AaI&A light fastness database (see ID #s 237 and 238). 
> > 
> > OVI describes its HTv ink set as " A single, unique archival variable
tone carbon inkset. This inkset is for matte/rag printing and uses six pure
carbon inks from black to very light gray plus two very stable low-gamut
pigments in smalls amount to control print color". I cannot personally speak
to pricing, availability, or printer reliability issues as I have not
personally printed with these inks, but the hue and tonality of the samples
I received for testing look really good. This ink set may therefore be of
interest to end-users looking to try third party multi-shade monochrome ink
sets. The link to the OVI website is:
> > 
> > http://www.ovimaging.com/inks.html 
> > 
> > cheers,
> > Mark
> > http/www.aardenburg-imaging.com
> >
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 9:41 AM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: HTv ink set in test at Aardenburg Imaging &
Archives
 
  
It looks like the OVI ink is doing very well so far in the fade tests.
(Congratulations Tom, if you're monitoring this forum.) I just did a quick
comparison to a recent Epson ABW at the same 20 Mlux-hr stage, and the OVI
ink appears to be doing significantly better. (Then again, I didn't find the
exact same paper.)

At this point there really ought to be no secret as to what makes a
lightfast inkset. First is to use the most carbon that is consistent with
the color/hue you're targeting. While there are probably differences among
different types of carbon pigments, all of them that we usually use seem to
be very good. Second, is that if you're going to tone with a color pigment,
use the best. In that respect, both HP and Epson make or use good color
pigments. Weak color inks used for toning the carbon has been the limiting
factor in most third party B&W inksets. OVI is obviously using a very good
color pigment in its toners.

I suspect the main lightfastness advantage the OVI inkset has over the Epson
ABW is that ABW uses too much color. QTR can take care of that.

However, I think the OVI inkset is better in other respects. Perhaps most
importantly, it uses more carbon positions. ABW has only the 3 neutral inks,
which can be marginal, depending on how good the particular printer is. The
ABW mode probably uses the excess color in part to help smooth the print,
similar to what I have done for the Claria BO printing. If one uses QTR to
eliminate the excess color, however, the limits of the 3 inks may become
apparent. 

I believe the OVI toners also make profiling a bit easier by being blended
to be more closely aligned with Lab A and B. 

At any rate, it's good to see a solid performance from a third party
variable-tone B&W inkset. I was never able to convince MIS to spend the
money to get the top notch color pigments to make a premium MIS B&W
variable-tone inkset. Of course, Eboni-6 holds the high ground still, but
for those who want more control over print tone, this may be a good
solution. (I turned to OEM color pigs for toning my personal work years ago.
See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4K+.pdf)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com> , "Mark" <mark@...>
wrote:
>
> Just a quick note to let Digital BW forum members know that Owens Valley
Imaging, Inc (OVI) recently contracted with AaI&A to test its HTv ink set on
a couple of samples of Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Duo 276 gsm paper. The samples
have reached the 20 Megalux hour mark in test, and the reports have now been
added to the AaI&A light fastness database (see ID #s 237 and 238). 
> 
> OVI describes its HTv ink set as " A single, unique archival variable tone
carbon inkset. This inkset is for matte/rag printing and uses six pure
carbon inks from black to very light gray plus two very stable low-gamut
pigments in smalls amount to control print color". I cannot personally speak
to pricing, availability, or printer reliability issues as I have not
personally printed with these inks, but the hue and tonality of the samples
I received for testing look really good. This ink set may therefore be of
interest to end-users looking to try third party multi-shade monochrome ink
sets. The link to the OVI website is:
> 
> http://www.ovimaging.com/inks.html 
> 
> cheers,
> Mark
> http/www.aardenburg-imaging.com
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
> I checked out the website and this sounds very encouraging. However, I noticed that the newest (X900) series of printers is not supported. I have heard that Epson has made it either impossible or illegal to use third party inks with that series of printers.  Is that true? and If it is true, aren't third party inks for large format professional Epson printers pretty much limited over the one to two generations as the currently compatible printers phase out?
>

>
> Richard,
> 
> What you heard is patently false. There will come a point in which it may become physically impossible but not illegal. What you heard may be related to an ITC law that prevents the import of small format compatible Epson carts. However, just last month the US Patent Office ruled that the Epson patents used to gain that ITC ruling are invalid due to prior art.
> 
> At Inkjetmal.com we've been supplying both ConeColor and Piezography inks into the 7900, 9900, 7890, & 9890 printers. We have a system for the R3000, also. We're about to launch the 4900. As quickly as Epson can develop new printers we try to develop new ink systems. We just launched ConeColor Pro which has improvements directly related to the new generation of print heads. Piezography is already very compatible with the latest print heads.
> 
> regards,
> 
> Jon Cone
> 
> InkjetMall, Piezography, ConeColor
> Vermont PhotoInkjet, LLC
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "richardeskin" <richard.eskin@> wrote:
> >
> > I checked out the website and this sounds very encouraging. However, I noticed that the newest (X900) series of printers is not supported. I have heard that Epson has made it either impossible or illegal to use third party inks with that series of printers.  Is that true? and If it is true, aren't third party inks for large format professional Epson printers pretty much limited over the one to two generations as the currently compatible printers phase out?
> >
>