Digital BW, The Print

I hope to have some very initial fade test results of the full PiezoTone
inkset (compared to FS and FS-N on EAM) Sunday morning.  They will not be
perfect, but should tell us if the midtones show the same unfortunate fade &
warming characteristics of the black ink.

(See the scanned image of the BLACK INK ONLY 100 hour fade test comparing
the new PiezoTone black to FS black.  The image is called,
"PzoTone-VM-FS-K-100 hr fade test.jpg," and is found in the Files section of
this forum, which is at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
and then following the links to > Ink Sets > PiezoTones > PiezoTone vs
MIS-FS.)

On some specific issues:

On 6/25/02 Robert Morrison wrote:

>... the piezotones just stepped up the standard.

It is too early, in my view, to say the standard was raised.  We'll have to
see what the full fade tests show.

The only visual difference between the PT and (standard) FS ink is the black
ink density.  The FS is also about 0.01 units of density warmer, but that is
not very significant.  (Of course, FS-N is noticeably cooler.)

>... The new inks aren't green, don't clog (any more than FS does)

So, in this respect Piezo may have caught up to MIS.

> and don't warm like FS.

FS inks do warm -- as did all the quads I've ever used, except the FS-N,
which was the first of the non-warming formulas.

The FS-N grays are also in the MIS VM-sepia inkset, and a new, non-warming
toner for that inkset is in final testing.  So, the MIS VM-S inkset is now
mostly non-warming and will be more so very soon.  (The neutral end of the
VM-S may already be as non-warming as the new PiezoTone inkset, but I have
not done a comparison fade test.)

>...Piezotone images leap off the page in comparison
>because of the extra black punch.

Visually, this is really the bottom line.  The problem is the trade-off
between depth of black and stability --  both resistance-to-fade and
warm-shift.  Pure black dye would even make the new PT K look weak, but I
doubt many would want to use a pure dye black due to the stability problems.
(With the newest printers, those that are satisfied with dye ink stability
[or lack thereof] might just try black-ink-only printing with the Epson
dyes.)

It is relatively easy to add black dye to a pigmented black ink and get it
darker, but the fading and warming always increases.  For those who are
willing to make the trade-off of more black and less stability, the
Generations Enhanced K (25% dye) seems to be a fair compromise.  I wish
someone with PT inks in carts would put in a Generations Enhanced K cart and
see what happens.  My fade tests suggest that the Gen K stability is better
than the PT K.

I have tried the Gen K with the VM inksets, and frankly, I'm not willing to
make the sacrifices in stability and other characteristics that are
required.  Many, however, are willing to make that trade.

>...Imageprint will be even better (details soon)...

A RIP-controlled VM-Sepia inkset would be the best current inks allow, for
my personal preferences.  I do hope Imageprint fully supports the vm
inksets.  (I'll probably get an Adobe PressReady copy for the 3000 if that
printer is not supported.)

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com

_____________

On 6/25/02 2:07 PM, "jrandall1149" <jrandall@...> wrote:

>
> All of the MIS B/W inksets (MIS-FS, MIS-VM, & MIS-N) are excellent
> choices as alternatives to the PiezoBW inkset.  The only real
> difference is in the warmth and personal preference.
>
> Jeff Randall
>
>
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Jerry Olson
> <jerryolson@r...> wrote:
>> Hi Robert,
>>
>> I've been through everything Piezo, and I much prefer the VM inks.
> For a
>> beginner, it would be much less money to go with the MIS VM inks.