UT14 - Black and White Pigment Ink for Epson printers.

Paul Roark leads the way in developing quality black and white printing solutions on a wide number of Epson printers. The 1400 has been viewed by many inkjet dark room artists as a superior replacement for the 1280 workhorse of old.

This inkset and printer support a broad range of workflows and print tones. With the Epson driver at default settings, the inkset prints a very useable grayscale that looks good even with High Speed checked. Matte paper print tones vary according to the paper used, and beyond this are variable depending on what curves or ICCs are used. Driver sliders are also available for minor adjustments.

Please fully reveiw Paul Roark's guide on the use of this ink set before your first use. UT14 - Black and White inkjet printing.

Create ICC-RGB, which allows a broad range of papers to be profiled with the curves that are included in the download can be downloaded from QTR download. The �Create ICC-RGB� program is part of the QTR download.

WORKFLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Making Prints with MIS UT14 - Ultratone Black and White ink on Epson printers.

Paul Roark has provided detailed instructions on how to use the MIS UT14 inks with the Epson 1400 printer. A variety of printing procedures or workflows can be used, including the Epson driver and QTR (Quad Tone Rip). The output can be adjusted using the printer controls provided by Epson on the standard driver (Mac or PC).

While the ultimate in control will come with a rip like QTR, the Epson driver with an ICC made with QTR�s �Create ICC-RGB� will work very well. Below are several options with respect to workflows.

1. Epson Driver � �Color Controls� Checked, No curves, No ICC Most Epson models will print reasonable well with the following driver settings: paper type = EEM, Matte Heavy Weight, or Watercolor: 1440 or Best Photo; and high speed un-checked. Print 21-step test files to see if driver gamma setting 1.8 or 2.2 results in the most evenly distributed, best looking test strips. The sliders might be able to improve the image. Matching how the image looks on the monitor is usually the primary goal. Printing with only the Color Controls may result in a print slightly lighter than ideal.

2. �Color Controls� Checked, No Curves, ICC in Print Preview The use of an ICC in the Photoshop or Elements Print Preview has significant advantages. Grayscale ICCs are easy to make using QTR�s �Create ICC.� This program is part of the QTR download. To download this program, go to QTR. An ICC that is made for the specific printer, inkset and paper �color manages� the workflow, in the sense that the monitor will automatically give a reasonably good match to the print�s relative densities.

Both methods produce fantastic looking prints. Follow Paul's recommended settings and paper selections for the Epson 1400 printer.

WHICH PAPER TO USE

The print tones produced by the UT14 inkset range from neutral to warm, depending on the paper used. In general, the maximum Lab B value (yellowblue axis) indicates the warmth of the print. The higher the Lab B value, the warmer the print will appear. The difference between the paper tone and the maximum midtone Lab B also affects the sense of warmth, as the eye tends to do an automatic white balance on the paper white or other white reference (like the matte board).

UT-14 includes both LK and PK that are 100% carbon and glossy compatible. As with all glossy-compatible carbon pigments, these are warm inks. Thus, with QTR, 100% carbon glossy prints that are warm are very easily made with UT-14. UT-14 also makes neutral-toned prints on glossy and matte papers without the need to spray or do a second pass through the printer. For this normal glossy printing the system uses carbon inks that have been toned neutral with color pigments. This is true for all commercially available glossy neutral carbon pigment inksets.