Digital BW, The Print

Paul,

I'm going to mix the 3K+CYM inks for my 1280 and searched back posts
to find the dilution ratios.  This is what I found:

LK = 32% PK + 68% MIS base
LLK = 10% PK + 90% MIS base
MK = MIS eboni black
PK = MIS photo black

I thought the MIS PK had some dye in it.  Apparently you've found the
fade resistance of that ink to be acceptable?

Are you using the MISPRO LC and LM for those ink positions?  If I
remember, you prefer the Epson yellow ink, but I'm assuming the MISPRO
yellow will also work fine.

Thanks again,

Bob

Hi Bob  -
   
  I'm sure Paul will answer with detail.  But, most seem to be using the Epson M and LM.  I am.  But, I didn't do any do any testing of my own.  I'm relying on others testing.
   
  *********

Bob Marsolais <bob@...> wrote:
          Paul,

I'm going to mix the 3K+CYM inks for my 1280 and searched back posts
to find the dilution ratios. This is what I found:

LK = 32% PK + 68% MIS base
LLK = 10% PK + 90% MIS base
MK = MIS eboni black
PK = MIS photo black

I thought the MIS PK had some dye in it. Apparently you've found the
fade resistance of that ink to be acceptable?

Are you using the MISPRO LC and LM for those ink positions? If I
remember, you prefer the Epson yellow ink, but I'm assuming the MISPRO
yellow will also work fine.

Thanks again,

Bob



         


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

Hi Bob,

>I'm going to mix the 3K+CYM inks for my 1280 and searched back 
>posts to find the dilution ratios. This is what I found:

>LK = 32% PK + 68% MIS base
>LLK = 10% PK + 90% MIS base
>MK = MIS eboni black
>PK = MIS photo black

The easy way is to simply buy MIS K4 LK and LLK.

Truth is, I've measured PK to LK dilution variances from 29% to 34%.  The
PKs can differ in load and for a time we were seeing LK that was too light.
The K4 PK is a lower load intentionally.  The others just sometimes are not
quite the same.

What I do is start with the MIS LK, which is checked by them for
consistency.  Then, if I don't have any LLK on hand, I mix down to LLK using
a 2 base to 1 LK ratio.  I think trying to be consistent mixing from a PK
all the way to LLK is asking for consistency problems.

I'm not sure if MIS sells the good glossy-compatible base by itself.  What I
see on what they call the "Roark's Lab" page is the old base, which will
bronze terribly on glossy paper.  Glop, however, also sold off that page,
works well as a base for the UT inks.

>I thought the MIS PK had some dye in it. 

No, it's their "Universal K" that has the dye in it.  The MIS Pro or 7600 PK
is "pure" carbon.

>Are you using the MISPRO LC and LM for those ink positions? 

For GT I'll be using all MIS (assuming they vacuum pack the inks) standard
LC, LM and Y.  (The 7600, MP, and K4 colors are the same inks.)  I do have
some tentative fade tests that indicate the Epson UC LM has an edge in the
lightfastness department.  I have never tested the yellows against each
other.  My feeling is that about 4 years ago the third party ink sellers
upgraded their yellows to one that is essentially equal to Epson.  That's a
test I'll have to do sometime.

I also use a diluted MIS LC (1 LC to 1 Base) in both my 7500 and 2200.  (See
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/4K+.pdf )  It's not really needed for the
2200, but the LC is the limiting factor in smoothness.  It's easy to alter
the profiles for the full strength just by changing the ink limit on the LC
channel.  Again, for GT I'll use standard inks for simplicity and
consistency with K3 printers.

Good luck with the project.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Paul and Tom,

Thanks for the responses.

Tom, can you buy the Epson K3 inks in bulk or do you use Epson
cartridges?  My humble 1280 isn't worthy of inks sucked out of
Epson-priced  carts!  On the otherhand, it does a very respectable job
using the MISPRO inks.

I hope you can make it to GTW this summer.  I'll be there (with a
lighter pack!)

Bob

Bob  -
   
  I use the 220ml carts in the 9600.  Even at that, it's about 4x the cost of MIS inks.  But, at this point there does not appear to be a real alternative.  
   
  In the small printers for the family pics, etc., I do use the MIS Pro magenta.  But, the b&w and color in the 9600 is Epson magenta.
   
  i don't plan on GTC this year.  Hopefully, I'll be in the Pacific Northwest at that time.
   
  Tom Baker

Bob Marsolais <bob@marsolais.com> wrote:
          Paul and Tom,

Thanks for the responses.

Tom, can you buy the Epson K3 inks in bulk or do you use Epson
cartridges? My humble 1280 isn't worthy of inks sucked out of
Epson-priced carts! On the otherhand, it does a very respectable job
using the MISPRO inks.

I hope you can make it to GTW this summer. I'll be there (with a
lighter pack!)

Bob



         


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

Paul,

You said "I'm not sure if MIS sells the good glossy-compatible base by
itself. What I see on what they call the "Roark's Lab" page is the old
base, which will bronze terribly on glossy paper. Glop, however, also
sold off that page, works well as a base for the UT inks."

What does glop do to matte paper if it is used to dilute the LC and
LK?  Does this still allow you to switch only the black cartridge
between MIS-Eboni and MIS MP_PK for all papers between matte and
glossy?  (For the sake of other readers, I'm referring to a 6 color
inkset like the 1280 or 220.)

It would appear that the $300 R1800 refirb is a killer deal if one is
willing to sacrifice ABW simplicity for more permanent inks. 
Considering the 1280's minimum drop size is 4 pl, it may require the
LLK like your 7500.  It sounds like your 6 ink set should work great
for the 1.5 pl 220 series printers.

Thanks again,

Bob

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Marsolais"
<bob@...> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> What does glop do to matte paper if it is used to dilute the LC and
> LK?  Does this still allow you to switch only the black cartridge
> between MIS-Eboni and MIS MP_PK for all papers between matte and
> glossy?  (For the sake of other readers, I'm referring to a 6 color
> inkset like the 1280 or 220.)
> 
>
>


If you are using the latest generation of inks from Image Specialists
(UltraPro and 9800 sets), they are already made from the GLOP base
(exception being the matte black ink)and work well on matte papers. So
it pays to know exactly what inks you are using.

Bob,

...

>What does glop do to matte paper if it is used to dilute the 
>LC and LK?

The midtone inks stay compatible with both matte and glossy papers.  The MK
(Eboni) is the only one that has a base that is matte-only, and it has to be
different to achieve a great dmax.

>It would appear that the $300 R1800 refirb is a killer deal ...

Yes, that caught my attention also.  It may be a great deal.  I've never
used one, but it could be the best deal going.

>Considering the 1280's minimum drop size is 4 pl, it may 
>require the LLK like your 7500.

What you may want is the LLC -- 50% dilution of LC.  I always recommend the
LLK in this approach for any printer.

> It sounds like your 6 ink set should work great
> for the 1.5 pl 220 series printers.

The 220 does not use the 1.5 pl dot, but it is a fine printer for 8x10.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com