From: John Campbell (tojohn@texas.net)
Date: 10/12/02-11:54:06 PM Z
Hi, Judy; greetings, all--
After two years of wildly mixed results making digital negatives on an Epson
3000 using pigment inks (both Pizeography B/W and Epson OEM), and having
tested OEM dye inks in an Epson Stylus Photo 1280 (all of the above on
Pictorico, mind you--although I tried any and every media that would fit
through the 3000's jaws), I am opting exclusively for dye inks in negative
printing. Err. . . at least for now. What is gained in tonal nuances with
pigment is lost in its temperamental fragility. It just isn't emotionally
stable on transparency materials.
In short: Don't pig, dye.
Back in July I ordered two of the new Epson 7600 printers--one in "chrome"
configuration for large format positive prints, and the other in dye
configuration for negatives. So far neither printer has arrived, although
they were promised by "sometime in September." Epson put on a mega media
blitz for these printers back in the summer--That Epson, what a tease.
As for Pictorico--there are actually, I believe, TWO Pictorico OHP
(Over-Head Projection transparency) products. The original OHP is really
inconsistent in holding pigment (as opposed to dye) and requires coating if
it is to be handled at all. The second OHP has a higher ceramic content and
holds ink better, but has a higher "base fog" of sorts. Seems to me the
second (Shall we call it P-OHP2?) is only available on rolls. (I stand for
correction on any of these points by those who know better.) Anyway, I plan
to load P-OHP2 on rolls into my brand-spanking-new-but-not-yet-arrived
dye-configured 7600. . . . if I ever get it.
And I don't know what to make of what the Eppy Rep said to you, heart to
heart, about replacing dye with "chrome" altogether. The Eppy Rep I talked
to here in Austin (following a 7600 demo) gave no hint of that notion, and I
really pushed the issue regarding negative printing. I would hope that some
other supplier would step into the breach. But what do I know?
If the technology ever catches up with our ideas, we will surely ignite.
Regards,
John
www.photogecko.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Judy Seigel" <jseigel@panix.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca>
Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 11:06 PM
Subject: Digital negs from pigment printers?
>
> Dear List,
>
> I recently had a heart to heart talk with a representative of the Epson
> company, who explained that current plans are to ultimately replace dye
> ink printers (1160, 1280, 1520, 3000, among others) with printers using a
> pigment ink they call ultra chrome, or some future version thereof.
>
> It seems that the 2000P, which uses the earlier pigment, is already
> discontinued in favor of 2200, which uses the newer version.
>
> I'm wondering if anyone is making digital negatives with either of the
> pigment inks, on the 2000P, 2200, or other. If so, on what substrates?
> This may in fact have been mentioned on the list, but got by me. If so,
> sorry. The Epson lady hazarded the opinion that the "crystal inks" would
> be unsuitable for negatives as actual crystals would sit on the paper and
> disrupt transmission.
>
> Any info would be appreciated.
>
> cheers,
>
> Judy
>
>
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