Mar
24
Multiple Black Inks- No New Thing
Filed Under Digital Imaging, Herbiology, Images in Print, Memo from the Pressroom
One of those (not so new) great thing about today’s ink jet printers, both large and small, is that they print really great black and white prints. And the way they can do that is by extending the range of the tones by using two different black inks; or to put it more accurately, a black and a gray ink. The best of the photographic ink jets actually use three different shades of black/gray inks.
While this is admittedly a brilliant methodology, it hardly a new technological breakthrough. Not the groundbreaking discovery it might seem anyhow. How do you suppose those great looking Ansel Adams limited edition lithos were produced?
The process is one that has been routinely used in the printing industry for at least 35 years, maybe more.
The technique is referred to as duo-black in some parts of the country and black/gray duotone in other parts. To produce this effect the litho cameraman produces two different halftone negatives from a single photographic print. One halftone is shot to represent the shadow-to-mid range of tones and the other to cover the middle tones and highlights. These halftones produce two different plates which are then mounted on two different units of a multi-color press. Halftone black ink (a translucent black ink used in four-color printing) is put in the unit with the shadow plate and gray ink is put in the highlight unit. When combined, these inks produce a terrific deep, rich, extended-range black and white print.
Surprised? Don’t be. It’s just another science borrowed from the printing trade that has blessed today’s digital market.
You’re welcome, desktoppers!
Think about it!
©copyright 2008 Herb Paynter
http://www.imageprep.net
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