UC VM 4.3 (was Epson 7500 what inks should I use?)
2003-02-17 by Paul Roark
Jerry, >what is the MIS VM 4.3 inkset? It's my latest mix. I suspect MIS will produce it soon. I basically needed an inkset for the 7500 that was up to date. The old vm didn't quite meet my current criteria. My first attempt on the 7500 was a dual-black, vm-s inkset (Museum black in the K spot, Epson Archival black in the cyan spot). This arrangement allowed software switching of the blacks to print on RC paper. That aspect of the inkset worked fine, and I'll probably put together a vm-s inkset that uses the dual-k approach in the future. The concept works -- RC and matte printing without the hassle of switching blacks. However, the Epson Archival black-based inkset failed for two reasons. First, diluting the Epson ink with the clear bases that were available to me changed the rheology (viscosity, etc.) of the ink such that I had banding. Second, the Epson Archival black-based inkset, in the midtones (which were diluted Arc K) faded and warmed about like the old diluted MIS FS-K. This is not the level of performance I was looking for. So, I needed a good inkset fast, since I have a lot of printing I need to get to. The MIS VM inkset works very well on the 7000, so I decided to just update that inkset. The MIS UltraChrome clone Photo and Light black inks were ideal for this. They are extremely lightfast and also RC compatible, for those who care. So, UC VM 4.3 is an updated VM inkset that uses the same curves, is much more lightfast, and is RC compatible (if Photo black is used in the K position). While I was at it, I tuned the inkset (pigment toner) to match my lightly-selenium-toned silver prints when the "NC" curve is used. The nc curve produces prints that are just like the PiezoTone Selenium prints. The "warm" curve, which prints with, essentially, the raw MIS UC Light Black ink (pure carbon -- no color added), gives an image that is about twice as warm as the old MIS VM inkset. The CMY distribution is almost identical to the old albumen prints (based on a good reproduction from the Getty of a 19th century Gustave Le Gray print), but with less saturation than the Le Gray re-production. It is not a full-on sepia, but a very nice warm tone that is so close to the light sepia I was using that I'm not sure I'll need any more. So, for me, it hits the tones I need right now. The nc curve matches my silver prints, and the warm curve gives me the tone I need for the old photo reproductions I'm involved with. Most importantly for me, it works well in the 7500 and is very light fast, so the prints I make are going to have a good long life. I'd be curious about your reaction to the inkset. Each curve will print a little warmer than the current vm inkset. However, you have a "cc" curve that should still be ice cold. Paul http://www.PaulRoark.com