Should I just go with 4 color printing instead of 6?

[midnightmadman]

I am wondering if its worth the extra complications and expense to run my 6 colors on a Prismjet Extra.

I did a couple prints using each and its VERY hard to see a difference.
Anyone else do it and have an opinion on it?
I think all I need to do it switch the profile from cmyklclm to cmyk in flexi, correct?

 

[J Hill Designs]

yes, but it will still use lc and lm in the cleanings, and you will need carts attached...there is a better chance of drying because you use it less...

I do it because my Lc head is blocked, and the pump tube is broken...once I find pump tubing I will start recovering the head...

 

[midnightmadman]

Do you see any benefit to using the LC LM? I know its supposed to give some more color but does it really? Aren't most new printers all using only CMYK now?

 

[J Hill Designs]

I think it offers better gradients and fleshtones for the most part...truth be told I have never run mine 6-color - I got it at an auction and the Lc head was dead, so I got it up and running 4-color

 

[randya]

Lc and Lm are just diluted C and M.
So there is no gain in color gamut.

What it does, a jhilldesigns explains, is give smoother gradients and better flesh tones by 'smoothing' out the color transitions due to the size of the droplets.

For instance, the ValueJets are 4 color with a very small droplet size, so 6 color is of very little value in those machines.

 

[BigfishDM]

It probably depends on what your going to be printing, if your doing fine art and high end graphics then go with 6 colors.

 

[midnightmadman]

Thanks guys. I also read somewhere that it could possibly help reduce banding if running only 4 colors? Is that true?

 

[randya]

It would if your Lc and Lm were out of alignment.