"He who marches out of step hears another drum." ~ Ken Kesey
Call it a favor for one, next is perhaps we ask more from our white ink than others...I guess that's why. I've always thought Union Cotton White was the standard for which to start judging a white ink, but it's lacking the opacity and flash time for us, and it's matte down is probably average. I put a higher need for opacity and matte down due to our style (one-hits, less use of top/highlight whites on jobs, etc) and having an ink that flashes really fast makes things SO much easier when printing PITA high color count spot jobs on darks. I find cotton inks typically flash longer than LB's and have higher after flash tack which causes all kinds of problems with the goofy jobs we do.And I'd say that the average large shop here in the states is quite different than the shops here that don't have a high need for a standard cotton white. And I guess another reason why I'm doing this is so someone might get some benefit out of it and be thankful they didn't have to do it, I just enjoy it for many reasons.
I certainly want a cotton white.All low bleed inks on the market have blowing agent in them to varying degrees (low bleed poof).An excellent cotton white should have no noticeable puffing when fully cured. And that is why I want a good cotton white - a flat print.