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UltraChrome D6 black ink

UltraChrome D6 black ink

2014-03-16 by <roark.paul@...>

Epson has entered the "dry-lab" (mini-lab) business with a printer called the SureLab D3000. It uses dyes for superior glossy image quality, and Epson has been claiming "archival" image stability, with prints that will last for "generations" if properly displayed and stored. On the other hand, early, pre-release information stated, "lightfastness ratings 80 years," which is consistent with Wilhelm's claims for Claria dyes.

I have been using Epson-made Noritsu D701 dyes (which appear to be the same as Claria) for my printers with very good results (see for example http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4000-Noritsu-5K-Plus.pdf ), although I make no claims that these are particularly "archival." In fact, they are the cheap end of my attempt to divide my markets, with carbon being at the higher end.

So, I was particularly intrigued by the Epson UC D6 MSDS that states that the D6 black is a carbon black. A carbon black that could print on glossy paper with no gloss differential or other annoying artifacts would be quite an achievement.

I have now obtained a sample of the D6 black ink, and my conclusions are that the MSDS is in error. It is a dye very similar to, if not exactly the same as, Epson's Claria and Noritsu black dyes.

See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/UltraChrome-D6-Noritsu-blacks-compared.pdf for copies of the relevant parts of the MSDS and some comparisons of Lab L, A and B graphs of the inks.

Paul

Re: [Digital BW] UltraChrome D6 black ink

2014-03-16 by Ernst Dinkla

On 16-03-14 01:01, roark.paul@... wrote:
> Epson has entered the "dry-lab" (mini-lab) business with a printer called the SureLab D3000.  It uses dyes for superior glossy image quality, and Epson has been claiming "archival" image stability, with prints that will last for "generations" if properly displayed and stored.  On the other hand, early, pre-release information stated,  "lightfastness ratings 80 years," which is consistent with Wilhelm's claims for Claria dyes.
>
>   I have been using Epson-made Noritsu D701 dyes (which appear to be the same as Claria) for my printers with very good results (see for example http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4000-Noritsu-5K-Plus.pdf http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4000-Noritsu-5K-Plus.pdf ), although I make no claims that these are particularly "archival."  In fact, they are the cheap end of my attempt to divide my markets, with carbon being at the higher end.
>
>
>   So, I was particularly intrigued by the Epson UC D6 MSDS that states that the D6 black is a carbon black.  A carbon black that could print on glossy paper with no gloss differential or other annoying artifacts would be quite an achievement.
>
>
>   I have now obtained a sample of the D6 black ink, and my conclusions are that the MSDS is in error.  It is a dye very similar to, if not exactly the same as, Epson's Claria and Noritsu black dyes.
>
>
>   See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/UltraChrome-D6-Noritsu-blacks-compared.pdf http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/UltraChrome-D6-Noritsu-blacks-compared.pdf for copies of the relevant parts of the MSDS and some comparisons of Lab L, A and B graphs of the inks.
>
>
>   Paul
>   www.PaulRoark.com http://www.PaulRoark.com
>

Paul,

In the past when Claria was introduced we both more or less concluded it 
was hybrid between dye and pigment based on the few documents describing 
the colorant structure.
Like you I think that this dry minilab ink is the same as Claria and 
Noritsu/Fuji minilab inks. That Epson shifts it more to pigment in the 
specification is probably more a marketing thing than representing the 
facts. Even in an MSDS.


-- 
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
January 2014, 600+ inkjet media white spectral plots.

Re: [Digital BW] UltraChrome D6 black ink

2014-03-16 by David Kachel

> Epson has entered the "dry-lab" (mini-lab) business with a printer called the
SureLab D3000. It uses dyes for superior glossy image quality, and Epson has
been claiming "archival" image stability, with prints that will last for
"generations" if properly displayed and stored. On the other hand, early,
pre-release information stated, "lightfastness ratings 80 years," which is
consistent with Wilhelm's claims for Claria dyes.

Thirty years ago, Kodak got their socks sued off for exactly the same kind
of exaggerated claims.


David Kachel

___________________

Artist-Photographer
Fine B&W Photographs

www.davidkachel.com
david@...

Gallery:
www.reddoorfinephotographs.com
director@...

PO Box  1893
Alpine, TX 79831
(432) 386-5787

Re: [Digital BW] UltraChrome D6 black ink

2014-03-16 by Paul Roark

I noticed I slightly misquoted the Epson pre-release brochure quote. It should say the UC D6 prints have "lightfastness ratings over 80 years."

The early discussions of Claria being a hybrid of dye and pigment are, I believe, wrong. They are dyes. What makes them different is that they are more complex molecules that are stronger. I believe the chemistry is coming from Fujifilm. The Fujifilm descriptions of its dyes varies between "azo" and "novel azo" dyes.

The Epson claims remind me a bit of their "Archival matte" paper name -- a rather inappropriate name for an acidic, quick-to-yellow paper.

While I think the UC D6 K MSDS was simply a mistake, I do note that Epson is not without some support for claiming the 80+ year life for their dye images, on appropriate paper and when properly displayed and stored. They probably base their claims on Wilhelm's test methods. These allow more fade and color shift than most of us would be happy with for our B&W prints, where such things show up more. Additionally, the Wilhelm test method apparently misses what is happening in the deep shadows, where the Claria has a weakness. This shows up in the http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/ testing of the color Claria inks in the E5 patch. However, using the Wilhelm approach, the Claria inks can test as equal to the UC pigs that were used in the Epson 2200.

It looks like it will take fade testing to see if there is any difference with the D6 inkset, and with the evidence I've seen so far, my plans will assume there has been no change. I will continue to use the Noritsu dyes, but shift to using considerable color to build the grays, balancing the different directions the K and color-generated grays color shift. I may also do an informal fade test (unless Epson goes the unlikely route of responding with more information).

Paul


Re: [Digital BW] UltraChrome D6 black ink

2014-03-19 by Paul Roark

Epson informed me that they were correcting the MSDS and removing the claim that the black ink is a carbon black. The copy of the new MSDS ink composition section is on page 1 of my PDF on the matter. See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/UltraChrome-D6-Noritsu-blacks-compared.pdf

Hopefully they will also correct the copies on the web.

Epson dyes are very good, but being able to make a carbon black that penetrates a micorporous paper and prints with no artifacts is still, as far as I can tell, beyond anyone's capabilities.

(Graphene-based ink where the carbon lays flat on glossy papers may not be.)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

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