I don't remember how long ago I started using Piezo inks, but a hint is that I first used them on my Epson 3000 (not the new R series). I went thru the growing pains will Jon's inks and I can only print greyscale with them, as they print better than any other ink (color or greyscale)I have ever used. I've used them in the 3000, 1270, 7500, and the 7600 which sadly just died. In the 7600 I ran Selenium K6 with photoblack in the seventh slot which gave me the choice of MK or PK on the fly, without switching blacks.
I am eagerly awaiting a refurb 7800 in which I will continue with the above setup, and add a Sepia shade for even more flexibility using Studioprint.
My point is that I am in love with these inks and system. I can't imagine not having the availability of Piezo inks or the great tech support from Jon, Dana, Wells and all the great people at inkjetmall. Most available tech support is not really available without paying exhorbitant fees. Jon's team (and btw Ergosoft's team for Studioprint) are the rare exceptions. They are infinately and patiently available to spend as much time as necessary to solve any problem, sometimes with problems not directly associated with their products. I could not imagine standing in a darkroom for hours on end, and not getting results as good as I am getting now. Printing has become my favorite activity.
I can't say enough about how pleased I am to have these great people and resources at my disposal.
Artist/Photographer
12/5/2011 2:11 pm
Incredible inks. I've used them for many years and continue to work with them exclusively. Like any working methodology, things should become better with practice and these inks continue giving back in terms of tonal gradation, rendering detail and perfectly dot-less prints. I work on large scale (54" +) printers and the way these inks perform with older professional machines always puts a smile on my face. The best images I have printed use these inks and I have no issues selling these prints into major gallery collections. They create a stunning black and white print that is rewarding to view now and to have around in the future. Stunning results that not enough people get to see.
Photographer
12/5/2011 2:11 pm
I started using Piezo inks in 2006 beginning with an Epson 2200 I was completely fascinated by the incredible shadow & highlight detail and beautiful tonal transitions. I never imagined digital prints could look so beautiful I eventually moved from San Francisco to New Mexico and along the way I abandoned a temperamental 2200. The always helpful staff at Ink Jet Mall suggested I try the 1400 (which is a bargain) and Selenium K6 Inks The 1400 requires only 6 shades of Cone Inks but again... shadow & highlight detail are never compromised. The ink is somply beautiful. I have never given up on my 8X10 enlarger and darkroom. I love the darkroom process. I also love what I see using piezography and Jon Cone Inks I look forward to a long relationship with Cone Inks, Ink Jet Mall and soon a larger printer maybe even Digital Negatives. I recommend the system to anyone searching for beautiful digital B&W Paul Rice
photographer & occasional printer for others
7/16/2011 2:22 pm
I’m using this ink set in my 4000 printer. It’s been interesting since I had been very happy using the matte option in this printer before. I wasn’t that interested in glossy prints but decided to try the glossy option when I was low on the matte selenium ink set. This ink works beautifully at all tonal ranges with tremendous detail. I’ve even convinced a couple of diehard “if it ain’t a silver print” folks that digital is, at least in their eyes with these prints, as good as or better than traditional printing. I had one client who decided to use these inks in place of a high end printing service using light jet technology on traditional media. He particularly liked the texture of the Type 5 paper and the greater detail he saw in the Piezography inks vs. the traditional test prints he had had made. QTR software and the custom curves supplied by Inkjetmall with this ink set makes it simple to create great prints. I’m in the process of changing my 3880 to this ink set so I can have both matte and glossy options in the same printer.
Piezography Selenium inks have a short bath Selenium toning appearance reminiscent of a fiber based silver print. When printed on JonCone Studio Type5 paper with GO, the result is probably the best "silver print" you will have ever seen. This is perhaps our most gorgeous ink set which looks very similar to the type of printing seen in Museum exhibitions.
Piezography Selenium ink is available in six shades, with either a matte black, or a photo black for non-matte which is used in conjunction with the eight position clear Gloss Optimizer. Selenium is both a gloss and matte paper formulation, yet still does not contain any trace dye. Gloss compatibility is arrived at by inclusion of polyesters. The ink however, dries matte on matte papers when used with the matte black. Choosing the set that is correct for you depends upon whether you intend to print matte only or gloss only (including Baryta papers). It is possible to use both blacks but requires an additional black cartridge (you might consider a second set of refillable cartridges to make your life easier and use a different black in each set - while using the same shades of Selenium to make refilling less frequent.
This ink will respond to warmer or cooler papers and will warm or cool accordingly. Piezography Selenium inks have virtually zero metamerism. This is a superior quality ink designed for highest standard black & white printing. The best results are gained by using Piezography made profiles for QuadTone RIP. We include a complete set of matte profiles which are now part of the QuadTone RIP download. Again, consider a second set of cartridges and a bottle of our matte black (Neutral K7 shade 1) so that you can use this printer for both matte or glossy Piezography.
Glossy printing requires use of the K7 Glossy curves and a second printing of the Gloss Optimizer. We keep these curves separate from the download of QTR and you can find them at the Piezography website by clicking here.
If we do not support the type of Glossy paper you prefer to buy and use, we can make custom profiles for you by clicking here.
You get eight bottles of ink. Piezography MPS shade 1 black, Selenium shades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7. One bottle of Piezography Gloss Overprint.
Piezography Selenium and Piezography Warm Neutral inks are matte and glossy compatible. For use with matte printing you should use Piezography Shade 1 black option. If you use Piezography MPS shade 1 black, the dmax will be reduced by about 1/3 to one full stop on matte papers. If you use baryta and non-matte papers you must use the Piezography MPS shade 1 black option, followed by an overprint of Piezography Gloss Overprint. The latter equalizes gloss and removes all bronzing. They are intended for use with Piezography K6 and K7 profiles when used with QuadTone RIP according to the Piezography QuickStart Manual for QTR which can be found in our technical support section.
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