When will the Image Alchemy system be available?

We have launched our products in October 2006, showcasing the full range of Digital Image Print Systems & Inks at Photokina in Cologne, Germany. Distribution will commence as soon as the necessary details with suppliers and distributors are finalised. We will keep you updated and supply you as soon as possible.

What about my printer's manufacturer's warranty?

DIPS does not invalidate your Guarantee. Our easy-fit system does not affect any manufacturer's warranty on your printer as no modifications are needed. The Continuous Ink System can be fitted to a printer in less than 10 minutes.

Will I need to modify my printer?

No - you do not need to make any permanent modifications to your printer to use the Image Alchemy ™ bulk ink supply system.

Tell me about the FREE colour profile.

Image Alchemy™ is an appointed Gretag Macbeth/X-rite dealer. With over forty years experience in the field of colour correction and profiling you can be assured that we are experts.

With every Image Alchemy™ DIPS, we offer a ÂŁ30 colour profile FREE OF CHARGE.  This profile is custom made for your printer, Image Alchemy™ inks and your choice of paper.  The customer simply prints off the colour charts on the supplied CD, returns them to us, we will profile them and e-mail or post a CD with the customer's colour profile.

How much money can I save?

The cost savings associated with DIPS are spectacular.  At 135ml per colour, Image Alchemy's™ DIPS contains ten times as much ink as the Epson's cartridges that have approximately 13.5 ml of usable ink.  For example, to get an equivalent amount of ink as Image Alchemy's™ DIPS for the Epson 2100 printer you would have to buy ten sets of cartridges, costing approximately ÂŁ900 - our professional specification DIPS costs a fraction of that.

Additionally, using Image Alchemy's™ DIPS with 135 ml refills works out at 450%* cheaper than buying the equivalent amount of usable ink in OEM cartridges.

The DIPS Hardware

All Image Alchemy™ DIPS are installed in a precision-made and aesthetically designed acrylic case which is drip-proof and will contain any spillage of ink.

The quality of Image Alchemy's™ DIPS is of exceptionally high standard and has been produced with the assistance of the University of Manchester's Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).

All Image Alchemy's™ DIPS are delivered pre-filled with ink. They can be installed and be up and running in minutes. There is no need for messy, time consuming pumping and clamping of tubes - simply click the cartridges in; attach the support arm and print! 

TEMPUS™ ARCHIVAL DYE INKS

Image Alchemy's TEMPUS™ ARCHIVAL DYE INKS are the product of considerable research and use the latest state-of-the-art dyes and advanced formulations.

The benefits:

inks dry rapidly
wider colour gamut
inks are less prone to surface abrasion and do not suffer from bronzing
the inks are less likely to clog the print head and will not settle over time

All TEMPUS™ dye inks have been independently certified across the range to a minimum of ISO 105 - B02 standard of BWS 6 and as such meet the requirements of the Fine Art Trade Guild as an archival ink.

CHRONOS™ ARCHIVAL PIGMENT INKS

Image Alchemy's CHRONOS™ ARCHIVAL PIGMENT INKS are made from the latest micro-pigments.  These micro-fine pigment particles offer the benefit of extended colour life up to ISO 105 - B02 standard of BWS 7.  Having a smaller colour range and a less glossy finish than dye inks, they are ideal for fine-art printing on matt papers where maximum image life is a priority.

Stringent Independent Testing

Image Alchemy™ has made a considerable investment in testing inks and papers for fading characteristics.
Apart from pollution and humidity, UV light and ozone are the two principal causes of image fading.

Image Alchemy's™ inks that have been independently tested using the robust International ISO 105 - B02 Standard meet BWS 6 and BWS 7 and are independently certified by the Printing Industry Research Association International (PIRAi).

Somewhat uniquely, we carry out in-house testing of both our own and competitor's paper and inks using a state-of-the-art acceleration colour-fade testing chamber from Light Science®.  Additionally, we test our inks and paper for ozone gas stability using our own ozone generator. 

We have made an investment in Raster Image Processor software that enables us to print individual inks without cross-contamination.  Unlike the majority of our competitors, we do not use smear swatches as the ink thickness can be extremely variable and not representative of what is produced on the printer.

Only when completely satisfied with the quality of our products, we submit them for independent certification to PIRAi. Our range of inks and papers are truly class-leading products!

How does the Ink Refill System work?

Image Alchemy's™ refill system is quick, clean and simple to use. There is no need to clamp the ink tubing or pour ink from one container to another. Simply remove the protective cover, insert the refill container into the ink tank, gently squeeze and it's done! 

What is the Blue Wool Scale (BWS)?

How the Blue Wool Scale (BWS) works: Eight strips of wool fabric are dyed, each with a different dye with different lightfastness properties.  The samples are placed in a special testing chamber and subjected to high intensity xenon light which has a similar spectral distribution to sunlight.

Part of the test strips and the ink samples are exposed to the light, the other part are covered to be used for comparison later.  This test is run until the tested inks start to show changes under the light. The ink samples are then compared to the test strips and are given a light fastness rating which corresponds to the level of change in the Blue Wool samples.