Digital BW, The Print

I'm wondering whether anyone (Lyson, MIS, etc) makes a B&W inkset for the 7 
color ultrachromes that looks like this:

position (1): glossy black
position (2): matte black
positions (3)-(7): 5 shades of black ink (or 4 shades plus a glossy overcoating 
used when printing on glossy)

It seems fairly logicial, given that many people use only 4 shades of gray ink 
for B&W currently (right?  isn't there where the term "quadtone B&W printing" 
comes from?).  Why not maximize the use of the additional ink positions in the 
7 color ultrachrome printers?

I know that initial reports are that the UT2 inkset will work on both matte and 
glossy paper.  But that's not available or at least not widely available yet.

Here's my other hypothetical for a 3rd pty ink manufacturer: just make one "tri-
color gray" cartridge, like HP does.  Then you just substitute this new cartridge 
with multiple levels of gray for the Epson black.  When printing full color, it just 
uses one of the blacks in that cartridge; when printing B&W, it uses all 3.

Thoughts?  (yes, special software would likely be required to implement 
either)

MIS has been shipping a set pretty close to this (no gloss overcoating)
for quite a while.  See the last entry on:

   http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/ultratone.html

It has the two kinds blacks, three grays, and two toners.  4 or 5 grays
is way overkill for the modern printers with variable dot sizes.  In fact
3 grays are probably more than really necessary.

It does require special software QuadToneRIP or Bowhaus to drive the printer.

Roy


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "chipcarterdc" 
<chipcarterdc@h...> wrote:

> I'm wondering whether anyone (Lyson, MIS, etc) makes a B&W inkset for the 7 
> color ultrachromes that looks like this:
> 
> position (1): glossy black
> position (2): matte black
> positions (3)-(7): 5 shades of black ink (or 4 shades plus a glossy overcoating 
> used when printing on glossy)
> 
> It seems fairly logicial, given that many people use only 4 shades of gray ink 
> for B&W currently (right?  isn't there where the term "quadtone B&W printing" 
> comes from?).  Why not maximize the use of the additional ink positions in the 
> 7 color ultrachrome printers?
> 
> I know that initial reports are that the UT2 inkset will work on both matte and 
> glossy paper.  But that's not available or at least not widely available yet.
> 
> Here's my other hypothetical for a 3rd pty ink manufacturer: just make one "tri-
> color gray" cartridge, like HP does.  Then you just substitute this new cartridge 
> with multiple levels of gray for the Epson black.  When printing full color, it just 
> uses one of the blacks in that cartridge; when printing B&W, it uses all 3.
> 
> Thoughts?  (yes, special software would likely be required to implement 
> either)

Thanks!  I assume by "the last entry", you're referring to the entry at the bottom 
of the page where it lists this cartridge set: "UTRATONE B&W FOR 2200 WITH 
BOWHAUS INK CONFIGURATION - SEPIA TO COOL PRINTS "

If so, I have several questions (for anyone): (1) is this the UltraTone 2 inkset 
Paul is developing or is it the "original" UT set?  (2) If this is the original UT 
set, then why is UT-2 needed/what will it do differently?  (Just eliminate the 
need for additional software?) ; (3) Is this the inkset that MIS is planning on 
making available for the 7600/9600?  Or is what will be available for the 7600/
9600 a different inkset?

I'm very confused now.  If there's currently an inkset that will print B&W on both 
matte and glossy, what were all the "Who Needs a 4000 -- Eboni black" 
threads a couple of months ago about?


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roy Harrington" <
roy@h...> wrote:
> 
> MIS has been shipping a set pretty close to this (no gloss overcoating)
> for quite a while.  See the last entry on:
> 
>    http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/ultratone.html
> 
> It has the two kinds blacks, three grays, and two toners.  4 or 5 grays
> is way overkill for the modern printers with variable dot sizes.  In fact
> 3 grays are probably more than really necessary.
> 
> It does require special software QuadToneRIP or Bowhaus to drive the 
printer.
> 
> Roy
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "chipcarterdc" 
> <chipcarterdc@h...> wrote:
> > I'm wondering whether anyone (Lyson, MIS, etc) makes a B&W inkset for 
the 7 
> > color ultrachromes that looks like this:
> > 
> > position (1): glossy black
> > position (2): matte black
> > positions (3)-(7): 5 shades of black ink (or 4 shades plus a glossy 
overcoating 
> > used when printing on glossy)
> > 
> > It seems fairly logicial, given that many people use only 4 shades of gray 
ink 
> > for B&W currently (right?  isn't there where the term "quadtone B&W 
printing" 
> > comes from?).  Why not maximize the use of the additional ink positions in 
the 
> > 7 color ultrachrome printers?
> > 
> > I know that initial reports are that the UT2 inkset will work on both matte 
and 
> > glossy paper.  But that's not available or at least not widely available yet.
> > 
> > Here's my other hypothetical for a 3rd pty ink manufacturer: just make one 
"tri-
> > color gray" cartridge, like HP does.  Then you just substitute this new 
cartridge 
> > with multiple levels of gray for the Epson black.  When printing full color, it 
just 

> > uses one of the blacks in that cartridge; when printing B&W, it uses all 3.
> > 
> > Thoughts?  (yes, special software would likely be required to implement 
> > either)

>..."UTRATONE B&W FOR 2200 WITH BOWHAUS INK CONFIGURATION 
>- SEPIA TO COOL PRINTS "

>... (1) is this the UltraTone 2 inkset Paul is developing 
>or is it the "original" UT set?  

The Bowhaus setup referred to above is unique to its RIP.  The inks are UT
ink in a different arrangement.  It will not work with the Epson driver, and
the Bowhaus driver will not work with Windows.

The "UT7" (MIS's current name) is an inkset that is running on my 2200 and
is also being tested on a 7600.  It is, in effect, a UT2 variant.  The UT2
inkset did not run well as is on the UltraChrome printers without the
modifications made (cool toner gamut and ink position).

>If there's currently an inkset that will print B&W on both 
>matte and glossy, what were all the "Who Needs a 4000 -- Eboni black" 
>threads a couple of months ago about?

The UT2 (1280) and UT7 (7-ink UltraChrome printers) will print on matte or,
with appropriate curves, on glossy when the matte black (Eboni) is
installed.  They will also print on glossy with Photo K installed.  However,
the dmax advantage to the Photo K is only about 5%.  So, I recommend Eboni
be installed.  With this flexibility, I also recommend continuous feed
systems with these inksets.  (I find filling 1280 and 2200 carts to be a lot
more of a hassle than my old 1160 carts.)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

For UT2 information, curves, and settings see:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/