Blueish tint on BW photo printing with Black ink

[H.Henkler]

Hello,
maybe someone can give me an explanation why I always get a blueish tint
on BW photo prints, both when printer settings set to gray-scale or
color saturation set to zero.
I am using an EPSON Photo R200 and compatible inks, original Epson
paper as well as other paper brands.

Also color photos always show a cyan / greenish tint short time (abt. 30
minutes) after printing.
Do the different components of the "black" dye cause the tint? Some
kind of a chromatographic effect?

Herb Henkler

 

[MD34]

Hello,
maybe someone can give me an explanation why I always get a blueish tint
on BW photo prints, both when printer settings set to gray-scale or
color saturation set to zero.
I am using an EPSON Photo R200 and compatible inks, original Epson
paper as well as other paper brands.

Also color photos always show a cyan / greenish tint short time (abt. 30
minutes) after printing.
Do the different components of the "black" dye cause the tint? Some
kind of a chromatographic effect?

Herb Henkler

Don't know that printer but can you set it to pure B&W ?

Sounds like your priner is mixing the colors to make black, and doing a bad (but
usual) job.

 

[H.Henkler]

Hello,

Don't know that printer but can you set it to pure B&W ?

Sounds like your printer is mixing the colors to make black, and doing a bad (but
usual) job.

Thanks for your comment. The printer uses 6 colors: Black, yellow, magenta, cyan,
photo magenta and photo cyan. Yes, it can be set to print pure BW.
What is named "black" ink should be a mixture of different dyes.
Still, the question remains.
Herb

 

[MD34]

Thanks for your comment. The printer uses 6 colors: Black, yellow, magenta, cyan,
photo magenta and photo cyan. Yes, it can be set to print pure BW.
What is named "black" ink should be a mixture of different dyes.
Still, the question remains.
Herb

And it was answered.

If you have a Black cart, set the printer for pure B&W and will only use Black
ink or toner.

If not, many printers default to using the color carts to simulate Black and the
quality of Black varies.

 

[H.Henkler]

And it was answered.

If you have a Black cart, set the printer for pure B&W and will only use Black
ink or toner.

If not, many printers default to using the color carts to simulate Black and the
quality of Black varies.

Sorry, but I do set the printer for pure B&W. It will use only this single black
cartridge.
The point I want to make is that there exists no single chemical "black" soluble dye.
The "black" cartridge already contains a mixture of at least 3 different dyes with
different light absorption spectra resulting in a black dye solution and - hopefully -
in a neutral black print on paper.
Don´t think of pigmented inks containing black pigments like carbon or graphite
particles.
Someone out there who knows the mistery of "black" dye inks ?

 

[H.Henkler]

And it was answered.

If you have a Black cart, set the printer for pure B&W and will only use Black
ink or toner.

If not, many printers default to using the color carts to simulate Black and the
quality of Black varies.

Sorry, but I do set the printer for pure B&W. It will use only this single black
cartridge.
The point I want to make is that there exists no single chemical "black" soluble dye.
The "black" cartridge already contains a mixture of at least 3 different dyes with
different light absorption spectra resulting in a black dye solution and - hopefully -
in a neutral black print on paper.
Don´t think of pigmented inks containing black pigments like carbon or graphite
particles.
Someone out there who knows the mistery of "black" dye inks ?

 

[H.Henkler]

And it was answered.

If you have a Black cart, set the printer for pure B&W and will only use Black
ink or toner.

If not, many printers default to using the color carts to simulate Black and the
quality of Black varies.

Sorry, but I do set the printer for pure B&W. It will use only this single black
cartridge.
The point I want to make is that there exists no single chemical "black" soluble dye.
The "black" cartridge already contains a mixture of at least 3 different dyes with
different light absorption spectra resulting in a black dye solution and - hopefully -
in a neutral black print on paper.
Don´t think of pigmented inks containing black pigments like carbon or graphite
particles.
Someone out there who knows the mistery of "black" dye inks ?

 

[H.Henkler]

And it was answered.

If you have a Black cart, set the printer for pure B&W and will only use Black
ink or toner.

If not, many printers default to using the color carts to simulate Black and the
quality of Black varies.

Sorry, but I do set the printer for pure B&W. It will use only this single black
cartridge.
The point I want to make is that there exists no single chemical "black" soluble dye.
The "black" cartridge already contains a mixture of at least 3 different dyes with
different light absorption spectra resulting in a black dye solution and - hopefully -
in a neutral black print on paper.
Don´t think of pigmented inks containing black pigments like carbon or graphite
particles.
Someone out there who knows the mistery of "black" dye inks ?

 

[me]

Hello,
maybe someone can give me an explanation why I always get a blueish tint
on BW photo prints, both when printer settings set to gray-scale or
color saturation set to zero.
I am using an EPSON Photo R200 and compatible inks, original Epson
paper as well as other paper brands.

Also color photos always show a cyan / greenish tint short time (abt. 30
minutes) after printing.
Do the different components of the "black" dye cause the tint? Some
kind of a chromatographic effect?

Are you using color management and the appropriate profile for your
ink/paper combination? Just because and ink is "compatible" doesn't
mean it will yield identical results.

 

[H.Henkler]

Take a coffee filter and cut a strip a centimeter or so wide and about
9-10 cm long.

Put a drop of your black ink on that strip about a centimeter from one
end.

Dip about half a cm of the strip in a solvent. This will be the end
with the ink drop, but do not dip deep enough the solvent touches the ink.

The solvent will creep up the strip and carry the ink components up with
it.

Compare the result to the manufacturers ink and see if one looks more
blue or yellow than the other.

I've seen a lot of "black" inks with heavy blue, red, or yellow tones in
them.

Hello and thank you very much. You really answered my question. I was also
already thinking of doing some chromatography.
Hence, a.o. the moisture content of the paper to be printed on should be a
critical parameter.
Really "dry" paper should yield better results ? Is that the reason why the
paper manufacturers suggest to store the paper in a dry place (plastic bag)?
Would it make sense to expose the paper to a short microwave treatment
immediately before printing?
Understanding what´s going on helps avoid doing wrong things.
Herb