Digital BW, The Print

Hi All,


I have been reading this forum for a while now.   I was keenly interested in the chemical B/W print process, and really enjoyed producing nice looking prints,  at least they were nice looking to me!!   However, family life precludes long periods spent in a dark smelly room!....   So I became very interested in Quad tone printing.

My first step, was with an Epson 830 U printer and printing using Colour Monochrome.   Terrible results, gave up..

Then I read about Black only.   This worked very well,  however I found the Epson Black ink in the 830U had a green tinge to it.   I don't like green people so I put that one on hold.  I was very impressed with the blackness of the blacks. And in fact I rather liked the dots, not sure why but it seemed to make some images look cleaner....

I then read about the Quad Tone printing.  After a lot of surfing I decided on the MIS inks as being the most affordable entry into this. So I went out and bought a new Epson 1160, and imported a set of MIS UT-FSN + Eboni black inks from MIS in the USA.

Wow - Really impressed with the tonal range of these inks, and after a lot of playing with curves etc, I think I am beginning to understand how it all works... I've now printed a couple of 100 A4 images and run through a couple of sets of cartridges.

Only problem I have not been able to fix is that the blackest black on the UT-FSN is not as black as the Black Only Epson ink. 

I only print on Epson Enhanced Matte (to reduce any variables until I have mastered this thing), and have tried various colour Quad tone curves.  I use Picture Window Pro to apply the curves,  I have Photoshop as well but Picture Window Pro is easier for me.  The way I print is as follows

1.  In Picture Window Pro, I play with the image until I am happy with it in 16 bit grey scale.
2.  I convert it to 48bit colour
3.  Apply one of the MIS curves
4.  Print to 1160 using No Colour adjustment in the driver - 1440 DPI.

So Is this normal,  is the UT-FSN eboni black not as black as a Epson Black ink Black....?

I'd really appreciate any comments!

p.s   As a side note, I found some after market InkMate (Korean) black ink.  I have tried this in the 830u, and this has removed the green tinge, the images look really black inside and outdoors. 

Thanks
Stuart Goggin
Melbourne Australia

Stuart,

>...bought a new Epson 1160, and imported a set of MIS UT-FSN + 
>Eboni black inks from MIS in the USA.

>Wow - Really impressed with the tonal range of these inks ...

>Only problem I have not been able to fix is that the blackest 
>black on the UT-FSN is not as black as the Black Only Epson ink. 

No pure pigment black ink can match the depth of the dye black inks.  Most
of the ink companies sell "hybrid" black inks that mix black dye in with the
carbon pigments.  I think MIS has one they call "Universal" black.  Media
Street has their "Enhanced black," and InkJetMall has a couple of different
versions.

These hybrid blacks fade and warm shift much more than the pure pigment
black. So, I avoid them.  (The MS Enhance black bottle on my shelf has
collapsed in on itself as the dyes' oxidation sucks the oxygen out of the
air in the bottle -- a really dramatic difference from the pigment bottles
that never do this.)

>I only print on Epson Enhanced Matte ...

The only papers I know of that will give a better dmax with Eboni are
Hahnemuhle PhotoRag (the dmax champ), and PermaJet Omega, Alpha (OBA free
and one of my favorites) and Delta.  However, with the possible exception of
PhotoRag, these differences are not enough to be that visible.

If you like glossy papers, Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl is a favorite in that
category, and with a PremierArt Print Shield or Lyson Print Guard spray
after printing you can achieve the dye black look.  (If you need the prints
to last more than 30 years, Epson Premium Semigloss or its relatives is the
way to go.)  You need to use Photo Black in the 1160 instead of Eboni,
however.

I personally find I now prefer the matte papers and, under glass, find the
black looks no different than my silver prints.

>I have Photoshop as well but Picture Window Pro is easier for me.  
>The way I print is as follows

>1.  In Picture Window Pro, I play with the image until I am happy 
>with it in 16 bit grey scale.
>2.  I convert it to 48bit colour

Although some curves convert better in high bit depth, most would look just
as good if you first converted your GS file to 8 bit.  Huge files can take a
long time to get to the printer.

>3.  Apply one of the MIS curves
>4.  Print to 1160 using No Colour adjustment in the driver - 1440 DPI.

>So Is this normal, is the UT-FSN eboni black not as black as a 
>Epson Black ink Black....?

It's normal. 

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com