white balance sheet - digital printer

[A127]

I have at long last got round to preparing a white balance sheet.  Trouble is, I don't know anyone with a laser printer.   I found a commercial printer who told me they only use digital printers (whatever they are).  I went ahead because it wasn't a lot of money, but now I see that the white balance sheet should be printed using black ink only.  Is that relevant to a digital printer?  Will the sheets produced by a digital printer be ok?  Also, the paper they have used is slightly glossy.  Is that a problem?  Do I need to start again?

 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Very relevant, yes.

You need to examine the sheet very closely with a magnifying glass, to see if they used multiple inks.  If so, it's no good.

[A127]

Thank you Damien.  I can't see colours but then my magnifying glass / eyes may not be up to the task.  I'll phone them tomorrow.

[Damien Symonds]

If I was running a print shop, I definitely would have printed your file with black ink only, even without you asking, simply because it's more cost-effective that way.

Can you see dots when you examine?

[A127]

I've had another look.  I see dots.  They are unbelievably small.

 

[Damien Symonds]

Excellent.  And do you think you can only see black ones?

[A127]

Yes, although I'm less certain about that.  I'm fairly sure I don't see any colour.  Trouble is, the grey is not completely smooth in any one section - it looks smooth overall in any one section, but on looking closely there seem to be tiny local variations - perhaps in how the ink has spread into the paper from the tiny dots?

 

[Damien Symonds]

Oh gee, don't worry about that.  It can be as ragged as anything, that doesn't matter.

[A127]

OK!  So it's looking good.  I'll phone the printer tomorrow out of curiosity and to make sure I am seeing the sheet correctly.  Thank you Damien.

[A127]

Glad I phoned the printer.  Turned out they had used a colour printer with colour inks.  They have reprinted on their black and white printer using black ink only.  Plus its now on matt paper.  All good!

[Damien Symonds]

Hooray!