Digital BW, The Print

Bad news. Like others I had hopes for the inkset. But I'm glad you
posted your results a bit early. I was just going to order some
Nanochrome ink for BO printing.

Chris Hargens






--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Shilesh Jani"
<shileshjani@b...> wrote:
>
> I am cross posting this message at the Epson Wide Format and Digital 
> BW, The Print forums.
> 
> My fade test is at 18 days tonight. I live in the Mid South USA, and 
> we have been fairly sunny these last 18 days, but I did not keep 
> track. My original intent was to keep them exposed for 4 weeks prior 
> to taking a peek. But this evening I noticed one of the print on the 
> floor, and decided to take a quick measurement. I was not good, so 
> what the heck, I measured them all.
> 
> My admittedly crude methodology was: I printed 100%, 75%, 50%, and 
> 25% ink limit patches of pure color on various papers using QTR. Each 
> 8.5 x 11 page contained 2 sets of colors. One set (Test) was was 
> stuck on the south facing window, the other went in the drawer (Ref). 
> My window is double glazed.
> 
> Due to other attributes of NanoChrome inks, I have whittled down my 
> interest in these inks to using only the black ink (Dmax on HPR) in 
> otherwise pigments inksets. So my reporting is rather narrow, but 
> telling nonetheless.
> 
> I had origianlly intended to use a friend's I1 for detailed 
> measurments. The limited measurements below were made with a Heiland 
> PM Densitometer.
> 
> I am reporting the fade in density percent of the 25% ink coverage 
> patch of the black ink.
> 
> Fade% = (1 - Test D/Ref D) x 100
> 
> I understand all the limitations of the test, so let us please not 
> get into arguments. I am happy to provide clarification, if any is 
> required.
> 
> The comparison were (1) Epson R220 Dye inks, (2) NanoChrome inks 
> loaded on the R220 printer, and (3) Epson 4000 UC inks.
> 
> The reults for the 25 ink limit K patch:
> 
> Epson Premium Glossy - 5% Epson Dye, 5% Nano, 0% Epson UC PK
> Epson Enhanced Matte - 4% Epson Dye, 15% Nano, 0% Epson UC MK
> Hahnemuhle Photo Rag - 10% Epson Dye, 16% Nano, 0% Epson UC MK
> HPR Satin - Not tested for Epson Dye, 11% Nano, 0% Epson UC MK
> 
> Some observations - the black NanoChrome ink warm shifts 
> significantly. I have not made meticulous measurments of the other 
> pure colors, but the trend is that LM fades the most noticebly.
> 
> So in this rather limited test, the NanoChrome black ink is no better 
> than Epson Dye black, and no where near Epson UC MK or UC PK.
> 
> I must say I am dissapointed because the Dmax sure was nice on 
> Hahnemuhle line of papers.
> 
> Regards.
> 
> Shilesh
>