Ink set and ink-jet recording method

Claim 2

An ink set comprising at least three color inks: (a) a yellow ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 73, 74, 75, 83, 93, 95, 97, 98, 109, 110, 114, 128, 129, 138, 139, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155, 180, and 185; (b) a magenta ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 5, 7, 12, 48 (Ca), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 112, 122, 123, 168, 184, 202, and 209, and C.I. Pigment Violet 19; and (c) a cyan ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3, 15:3, 15:4, 15:34, 16, 22, and 60, and C.I. Vat Blue 4 and 60; wherein the, yellow ink has a hue angle H°, as defined in the CIELAB color space on a recording medium, in a range of about 80° to about 110°; the magenta ink has a hue angle H° in a range of about 330° to about 360°; and the cyan ink has a hue angle H° in a range of about 230° to about 260°; the ink set further comprising ink (A) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Orange 5, and 62, and C.I. Pigment Red 17, 49:2, 112, 149, 177, 178, 188, 255, and 264, and/or ink (B) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 60, and C.I. Pigment Violet 3, 19, 23, 32, 36, and 38, wherein Ink (A) is an ink whose hue angle H° is about 0° to about 80°; and Ink (B) is an ink whose hue angle H° is about 260° to about 330° and wherein the hue angle H° is calculated from H°=tan −1 (b*/a*)+180, where a*<0, or H°=tan −1 (b*/a*)+360, where a*>0 wherein a* and b* express chromaticity indices defined in the CIELAB color space.

Claim 3

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the brightness of inks (A) and (B) is lower than the brightness of the magenta and cyan inks, and the color saturation of inks (A) and (B) is higher than the color saturation of the magenta and cyan inks.

Claim 4

An ink set comprising (a) a yellow ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 73, 74, 75, 83, 93, 95, 97, 98, 109, 110, 114, 128, 129, 138, 139, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155, 180, and 185, said yellow ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 400 nm and 500 nm is no less than 30 abs×nm and no more than 350 abs×nm, (b) a magenta ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 5, 7, 12, 48 (Ca), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 112, 122, 123, 168, 184, 202, and 209, and C.I. Pigment Violet 19, said magenta ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is no less than 20 abs×nm and no more than 200 abs×nm, (c) a cyan ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3, 15:3, 15:4, 15:34, 16, 22, and 60, and C.I. Vat Blue 4 and 60, said cyan ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm is no less than 50 abs×nm and no more than 400 abs×nm, and (d) ink (A) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Orange 5 and 62, and C.I. Pigment Red 17, 49:2, 112, 149, 177, 178, 188, 255, and 264 and/or ink (B) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 60, and C.I. Pigment Violet 3, 19, 23, 32, 36, and 38, wherein Ink (A) is an ink whose absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is equal to or greater than the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of the magenta ink and Ink (B) is an ink whose absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is equal to or greater than the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm of the cyan ink.

Claim 5

An ink set comprising (a) a yellow ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 73, 74, 75, 83, 93, 95, 97, 98, 109, 110, 114, 128, 129, 138, 139, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155, 180, and 185, said yellow ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 400 nm and 500 nm is no less than 30 abs×nm and no more than 350 abs×nm, (b) a magenta ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 5, 7, 12, 48 (Ca), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 112, 122, 123, 168, 184, 202, and 209, and C.I. Pigment Violet 19, said magenta ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is no less than 20 abs×nm and no more than 200 abs×nm, (c) a cyan ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3, 15:3, 15:4, 15:34, 16, 22, and 60, and C.I. Vat Blue 4 and 60, said cyan ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm is no less than 50 abs×nm and no more than 400 abs×nm, and (d) ink (A) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Orange 5 and 62, and C.I. Pigment Red 17, 49:2, 112, 149, 177, 178, 188, 255, and 264 and/or ink (B) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 60, and C.I. Pigment Violet 3, 19, 23, 32, 36, and 38, wherein Ink (A) is an ink whose absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is equal to or greater than the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of the magenta ink and Ink (B) is an ink whose absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is equal to or greater than the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm of the cyan ink.

Claim 6

The ink set according to claim 3 , wherein the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of ink (A) is no less than 1.0 times and no more than 3.5 times the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of the magenta ink.

Claim 7

The ink set according to claim 3 , wherein the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of ink (B) is no less than 1.0 times and no more than 3.0 times the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm of the cyan ink.

Claim 8

An ink set comprising (a) a yellow ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 73, 74, 75, 83, 93, 95, 97, 98, 109, 110, 114, 128, 129, 138, 139, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155, 180, and 185, said yellow ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 400 nm and 500 nm is no less than 30 abs×nm and no more than 350 abs×nm, (b) a magenta ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 5, 7, 12, 48 (Ca), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 112, 122, 123, 168, 184, 202, and 209, and C.I. Pigment Violet 19, said magenta ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is no less than 20 abs×nm and no more than 200 abs×nm, (c) a cyan ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3, 15:3, 15:4, 15:34, 16, 22, and 60, and C.I. Vat Blue 4 and 60, said cyan ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm is no less than 50 abs×nm and no more than 400 abs×nm, and (d) ink (A) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Orange 5 and 62, and C.I. Pigment Red 17, 49:2, 112, 149, 177, 178, 188, 255, and 264 and/or ink (B) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 60, and C.I. Pigment Violet 3, 19, 23, 32, 36, and 38, wherein Ink (A) is an ink whose absorption area between 400 nm and 500 nm of ink (A) is no less than 0.5 times and no more than 2.0 times the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of ink (A) and Ink (B) is an ink whose absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of ink (B) is no less than 0.5 times and no more than 5.0 times the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm of ink (B).

Claim 9

An ink set comprising (a) a yellow ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 73, 74, 75, 83, 93, 95, 97, 98, 109, 110, 114, 128, 129, 138, 139, 147, 150, 151, 154, 155, 180, and 185, said yellow ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 400 nm and 500 nm is no less than 30 abs×nm and no more than 350 abs×nm, (b) a magenta ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 5, 7, 12, 48 (Ca), 57 (Ca), 57:1, 112, 122, 123, 168, 184, 202, and 209, and C.I. Pigment Violet 19, said magenta ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm is no less than 20 abs×nm and no more than 200 abs×nm, (c) a cyan ink comprising at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 3, 15:3, 15:4, 15:34, 16, 22, and 60, and C.I. Vat Blue 4 and 60, said cyan ink having an absorption spectrum in which the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm is no less than 50 abs×nm and no more than 400 abs×nm, and (d) ink (A) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Orange 5 and 62, and C.I. Pigment Red 17, 49:2, 112, 149, 177, 178, 188, 255, and 264 and/or ink (B) which comprises at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 60, and C.I. Pigment Violet 3, 19, 23, 32, 36, and 38, wherein Ink (A) is an ink whose absorption area between 400 nm and 500 nm of ink (A) is no less than 0.5 times and no more than 2.0 times the absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of ink (A) and Ink (B) is an ink whose absorption area between 500 nm and 600 nm of ink (B) is no less than 0.5 times and no more than 5.0 times the absorption area between 600 nm and 700 nm of ink (B).

Claim 10

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the pigment solids concentrations of the magenta ink and cyan ink are each 2 wt % or less, and the pigment solids concentrations of ink (A), ink (B), and the yellow ink are each 2 wt % or greater.

Claim 11

The ink set according to any of claim 1 , wherein the pigment solids concentrations of the yellow ink, magenta ink, and cyan ink are each no less than 0.1 wt % and no more than 2 wt %, and the pigment solids concentrations of ink (A) and ink (B) are each no less than 2 wt % and no more than 6 wt %.

Claim 12

The ink set according to any of claim 1 , wherein the pigment solids concentrations of the yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink, ink (A), and ink (B) are each 2 wt % or greater.

Claim 13

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein Ink (A) comprises a pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 149, 177, 178, and 264.

Claim 14

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein Ink (B) comprises a pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Violet 19 and 23 and C.I. Pigment Blue 60.

Claim 15

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the magenta ink comprises a pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Red 122, 202, and 209, and C.I. Pigment Violet 19.

Claim 16

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the cyan ink comprises a pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3 and 15:4.

Claim 17

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the yellow ink comprises a pigment selected from the group consisting of C.I. Pigment Yellow 74, 110, 128, and 147.

Claim 18

The ink set according to claim 1 , further comprising a black ink.

Claim 19

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the optical density (OD value) of the yellow ink on a recording medium is between 1.7 and 2.4.

Claim 20

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the optical density (OD value) of the magenta ink on a recording medium is between 1.0 and 2.6.

Claim 21

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the optical density (OD value) of the cyan ink on a recording medium is between 2.0 and 2.7.

Claim 22

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein ink (A) is an ink for which the color saturation C* (Y+M) of the hue angle H° (Y+M) formed by mixing the yellow ink of the weight I Y and magenta ink of the weight J 1M on a recording medium is obtained by consuming a weight that is less than (I Y +J 1M ), wherein the color saturation C* is calculated using the formula C*={(a*) 2 +(b*) 2 } 1/2 .]

Claim 23

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein ink (B) is an ink for which the color saturation C* (M+C) of the hue angle H° (M+C) formed by mixing the magenta ink of the weight J 2M and cyan ink of the weight K C on a recording medium is obtained by consuming a weight that is less than (J 2M +K C ).

Claim 24

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the color saturation C* A of ink (A) is higher than the color saturation C* Y of the yellow ink and/or the color saturation C* M of the magenta ink.

Claim 25

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the color saturation C* B of ink (B) is higher than the color saturation C* M of the magenta ink and/or the color saturation C* C of the cyan ink.

Claim 26

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the color saturation C* A of ink (A) on a recording medium is 80 or greater.

Claim 27

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the color saturation C* B of ink (B) on a recording medium is 80 or greater.

Claim 28

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the hue range of ink (A) on a recording medium is a*=about 60 to about 80 and b*=about 20 to about 80, or a*=about 30 to about 60 and b*=about 60 to about 100.

Claim 29

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the hue range of ink (B) on a recording medium is a*=about 50 to about 70 and b*=about −70 to about −50, or a*=about 40 to about 60 and b*=about −80 to about −60.

Claim 30

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the hue range of the yellow ink on a recording medium is a*=about −30 to about 20 and b*=about 70 to about 130; the hue range of the magenta ink is a*=about 60 to about 90 and b*=about −40 to about −10; and the hue range of the cyan ink is a*=about −50 to about −20 and b*=about −70 to about −40.

Claim 31

The ink set according to claim 1 , wherein the recording medium is PM photographic paper.

Claim 32

An inkjet recording method comprising forming characters and/or images on a recording medium with the ink set according to claim 1 .

Claim 33

The inkjet recording method according to claim 29 , comprising forming a mixed color portion with ink (A) and/or ink (B), and at least one of the yellow ink, magenta ink, the cyan ink, or a black ink.

Claim 34

The inkjet recording method according to claim 29 , comprising forming a mixed color portion with ink (A) or ink (B), and at least two types of inks other than ink (A) or ink (B) by ejecting droplets of each of a plurality of color inks such that, the droplets are mixed on the recording medium, and a mixed color portion comprising one or more colors is formed on the recording medium.

Claim 35

The inkjet recording method according to claim 29 , comprising forming a, mixed color portion with ink (A) and/or ink (B) and at least the three color inks yellow, magenta, and cyan, with the mixed color portion being formed such that the chromaticity indices a* and b*, defined in the CIELAB color space on a recording medium, fall within the ranges a*=about −50 to about 50, and b*=about −50 to about 50, respectively.

Claim 36

The inkjet recording method according to claim 32 , wherein the hue of the mixed color portion is a single color belonging to a hue group between white and black.

Claim 37

The inkjet recording method according to claim 29 , comprising forming a mixed color portion with ink (A) and at least the two color inks yellow and magenta with the mixed color portion being formed such that the chromaticity indices a* and b*, defined in the CIELAB color space on a recording medium, fall within the ranges a*=about −40 to about 90, and b*=about −40 to about 100, respectively.

Claim 38

The inkjet recording method according to claim 34 , wherein the hue of the mixed color portion is a single color belonging to a hue group between yellow and magenta.

Claim 39

The inkjet recording method according to claim 29 , comprising forming a mixed color portion with ink (B) and at least the two color inks magenta and cyan with the mixed color portion being formed such that the chromaticity indices a* and b*, defined in the CIELAB color space on a recording medium, fall within the ranges a*=about −50 to about 100, and b*=about −10 to about −80, respectively.

Claim 40

The inkjet recording method according to claim 36 , wherein the hue of the mixed color portion is a single color belonging to a hue group between magenta and cyan.

Claim 41

A recording device comprising the ink set according to claim 1 .

Claim 42

Recorded matter recorded with the ink set according to claim 1 .