Digital BW, The Print

davidkachel <david@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> ...
> MIS basically makes two black inks, ...
>
> First is the Eboni (EB6-PT-K), which is a neutral ink intended to fill the
> K slot for matte paper printing.
>
> The other is the Photo Black (MISPROPT-PK), which is a much warmer black
> intended for printing on glossy surfaces and aimed at the PK slot for most
> printers.
>
Yes, Eboni MK is used in most of the pigment inksets for matte paper.

The Photo Black actually comes in 2 forms.  MIS PRO PK is a higher ink load
for older printers.  K4 PK is the same pigment and base, but at a lower
load.  It works better for newer printers.  These PK inks use the "amber"
base for dilution.  This is the same as the MIS gloss optimizer (aka
"glop").  The PK inks print fine on matte papers, but their density is not
as high as an MK like Eboni MK; thus the need for a separate, specialized
MK ink.  The MIS PK inks use the same base as the color pigments MIS sells.

It is my understanding that this warm tone ink can be used just as readily
> on matte papers if warm prints are the goal, and that the LK and LLK inks
> that MIS sells are dilutions of this same PK ink?
>

Yes.


> Or are they dilutions of the Eboni ink?
>

No.  Eboni-6 is an inkset that is composed of dilutions of Eboni MK.  The
base used is definitely not the same as the PK base.  Eboni-6 is for matte
paper only; it rubs right off of glossy paper.


>
> I also believe I understand that if I want the warmest possible prints on
> matte papers printed on an Epson 3800, I can use this Photo Black ink at
> varying dilutions in the C6C base? Or would the Photo Black ink force me to
> use the MIS amber base instead?
>
The PK pigments are the warmer carbon pigments, but I really do not
recommend the generic base for MIS glossy pigments.  I'd stick with their
amber base.

I have not thoroughly tested the generic base with the the PK pigments.
 However, as part of a long term test whose variables were not well
controlled, the Eboni diluted with generic base and put into a CIS worked
for 4 years of one child going through college.  I never cleaned the CIS
out and I doubt the kid agitated it much.  The PK diluted with the generic
base that I gave to the other child failed, but I don't know what caused
it.  As such, while I have fairly high confidence in the generic base with
Eboni (and with HP PK, which I've also used for years), I do not have that
level of confidence with the generic base diluting the MIS PK.

A little confusion here, because I thought I understood that the Photo
> Black ink wasn't quite black enough to be used with good effect in the K
> position and therefore Eboni has to be used in that slot, ...
>
For matte paper that is correct.  For glossy paper, the PK obviously works
better than Eboni MK.

 Hope this helps.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com


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