text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Apr 15, 1997
|Filing date
|Oct 26, 1993
|Priority date
|Sep 7, 1993
|Fee status
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|Publication number
|Luc Leenders, Carlo Uyttendaele, Herman Uytterhoeven
|Original Assignee
|Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (3), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (31), Classifications (24), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method and recording materials suited for use in said method.
2. Background of the Invention
Thermal imaging or thermography is a recording process wherein images are generated by the use of imagewise modulated thermal energy.
In thermography two approaches are known:
1. Direct thermal formation of a visible image pattern by imagewise heating of a recording material containing matter that by chemical or physical process changes colour or optical density.
2. Thermal dye transfer printing wherein a visible image pattern is formed by transfer of a coloured species from an imagewise heated donor element onto a receptor element.
Thermal dye transfer printing is a recording method wherein a dye-donor element is used that is provided with a dye layer wherefrom dyed portions or incorporated dye is transferred onto a contacting receiver element by the application of heat in a pattern normally controlled by electronic information signals.
The optical density of transparencies produced by the thermal transfer procedure is rather low and in most of the commercial systems--in spite of the use of donor elements specially designed for printing transparencies--only reaches 1 to 1.2 (as measured by a Macbeth Quantalog Densitometer Type TD 102). However, for many application fields a considerably higher transmission density is asked for. For instance in the medical diagnostical field a maximal transmission density of at least 2.5 is desired.
A survey of "direct thermal" imaging methods is given in the book "Imaging Systems" by Kurt I. Jacobson-Ralph E. Jacobson, The Focal Press--London and New York (1976), Chapter VII under the heading "7.1 Thermography". Thermography is concerned with materials which are not photosensitive, but are sensitive to heat or thermosensitive. Imagewise applied heat is sufficient to bring about a visible change in a thermosensitive imaging material.
Most of the "direct" thermographic recording materials are of the chemical type. On heating to a certain conversion temperature, an irreversible chemical reaction takes place and a coloured image is produced.
A wide variety of chemical systems has been suggested some examples of which have been given on page 138 of the above mentioned book of Kurt I. Jacobson-Ralph E. Jacobson, describing the production of a silver metal image by means of a thermally induced oxidation-reduction reaction of a silver soap with a reducing agent.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,254 a typical heat-sensitive copy paper includes in the heat-sensitive layer a water-insoluble silver salt, e.g. silver stearate and an appropriate organic reducing agent, of which 4-methoxy-1-hydroxydihydronaphthalene is a representative. Localized heating of the sheet in the thermographic reproduction process, or for test purposes, by momentary contact with a metal test bar heated to a suitable conversion temperature in the range of about 90�-150� C., causes a visible change to occur in the heat-sensitive layer. The initially white or lightly coloured layer is darkened to a brownish appearance at the heated area. In order to obtain a more neutral colour tone a heterocyclic organic toning agent such as phthalazinone is added to the composition of the heat-sensitive layer. The heat-sensitive copying paper is used in "front-printing" or "back-printing" as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,074,809.
As described in Handbook of Imaging Materials, edited by Arthur S. Diamond--Diamond Research Corporation--Ventura, Calif., printed by Marcel Dekker, Inc. 270 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016 (1991), p. 498-499 in direct thermal printing signals are converted to electric pulses and then through a driver circuit selectively transferred to a thermal printhead. The thermal printhead consists of microscopic heat resistor elements, which convert the electrical energy into heat via the Joule effect. The electric pulses thus converted into thermal signals manifest themselves as heat transferred to the surface of the thermal paper wherein the chemical reaction resulting in colour development takes place.
According to the last mentioned book (ref. p. 499-551) several systems were developed for direct thermal imaging of which the leuco dye system has found commercial use. Optical density obtained with embodiments of said system is usually not higher than 2 and requires mixtures of leuco dye compounds to produce neutral black.
Heat-sensitive copying materials including a redox-system of light-insensitive organic silver salt and organic reducing agent in the presence of a toning agent may well provide relatively high maximal optical densities but suffer normally from a too high minimal optical density and rather poor stability under conditions of moderate heating (about 50� C.) and relative humidity in the range of 30 to 70%.
Poor shelf-life and image-deterioration by the production of background fog after imaging is a problem characteristic for recording materials containing a set of uniformly distributed reaction partners by means of which on image-wise heating an optical density pattern can be produced.
In direct printing the imaging material is solely deposited in the areas in which optical density has to be built up.
For a long time printing proceeded by pressure-contact of an ink-loaden marker or printing form with a receiving material, normally plain paper.
Nowadays ink-jet printing has found wide application. In ink jet printing [ref. e.g. the book "Principles of Non Impact Printing" by Jerome L. Johnson (1986) Palatino Press, 18792 Via Palatino, Irvine Calif. 92715--USA] tiny drops of ink fluid are projected directly onto a receptor surface for printing without physical contact between the printing device and the receptor. The placement of each drop on the printing substrate is controlled electronically. Printing is accomplished by moving the print head across the paper or vice versa.
Different types of ink jet printing known as "continuous jet" and "drop-on-demand" are described in the above mentioned book of Jerome L. Johnson and in the book Imaging Processes and Materials--Neblette's Eight Edition, Edited by John Sturge et al, Van Nostrand Reinhold--New York (1989), p. 379-384.
Continuous ink jet printing is characterized by pressure-projecting ink through a nozzle to generate drops of ink directed in a continuous stream towards the ink receiving recording element passing meanwhile an image-wise modulated ink-deflection system allowing ink droplets of said stream to deposit image-wise on the recording element.
Drop-on-demand or impulse ink jet differs from continuous ink jet in that the ink supply is maintained at or near atmospheric pressure. An ink drop is ejected from a nozzle only on demand when a controlled excitation coming from acoustic pressure generated by piezoelectric element or from pressure generated by local electrothermal evaporation of liquid (thermal bubble-jet) is applied to an ink-filled channel ending in a nozzle.
As described in Journal of Imaging Technology, Vol. 15, Number 3, June 1989 by C. H. Hertz and B. A. Samuelson in their article "Ink Jet Printing of High Quality Color Images", p. 141, 20-40 drops of ink have to be applied to each pixel (elementary picture element) to ensure maximum color density within a commercially acceptable writing time. By drop-on-demand ink jet only one drop of ink is deposited per pixel in the image or no ink at all, i.e. drop-on-demand ink jet methods operate as on-off processes. In practice in order to made a record within an acceptable writing time drop-on-demand ink jet printing does not work with ink drops in superposition, and as a consequence thereof no optical densities of more than 2 can be obtained therewith owing to the small mass of each colored ink droplet and the limited concentration of colorant therein.
It would be a major improvement if ink jet printing could be used for producing images with increased optical density, say of more than 2 without droplet-superposition, or the number of superposed droplets could be reduced and yet high optical densities could be obtained.
In IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol. 23 No. 4 September 1980, W. T. Pimbley describes under the title "Leuco Dye System for Ink Jet Printing" that improved archival properties for ink used in ink jet printing can be attained by using leuco or vat dyes. Such dyes convert to their permanent form when oxidized. Accordingly, the record medium is first coated or impregnated with an oxidizing agent such as acidic materials, for example, acidified clays, organic acids or polymeric phenols. Upon combining with the oxidant, the dyes convert to their permanent form, becoming insoluble and having high tinctorial strength and excellent archival properties, such as water fastness and light fastness. However, as in direct thermal recording materials based on the use of leuco dyes optical densities higher than 2 are difficult to obtain certainly with drop-on-demand ink jet recording.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method operating with an ink jet in conjunction with an ink receiving material of particularly good shelf-life whereon substantially black images of high optical density, e.g. of at least 2, can be obtained with excellent archival properties and without problems of background fogging.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ink receiving material suited for use in combination with ink jet printing and having the above enumerated properties.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and examples.
In accordance with the present invention a recording method is provided which method comprises the steps of:
(1) image-wise projecting liquid, called ink, in the form of droplets onto a receiving material containing a substance that by chemically reacting with another substance contained in said droplets is capable of forming a visually detectable product, characterized in that according to a first mode said receiving material contains at least one substantially light-insensitive organic silver salt and said ink contains a reducing agent for said silver salt, and according to a second mode said receiving material contains said reducing agent and the ink contains said silver salt, and optionally
(2) heating said receiving material during and/or after the deposition of said ink on said receiving material to start or enhance reduction of said silver salt(s) forming thereby image-wise a deposit of silver metal in said receiving material.
A more detailed description will now be given of the ingredients of the imaging receiving material and of the "inks" applied in conjunction therewith.
Substantially light-insensitive organic silver salts particularly suited for use according to the present invention are silver salts of aliphatic carboxylic acids known as fatty acids, wherein the aliphatic carbon chain has preferably at least 12 C-atoms, e.g. silver laurate, silver palmitate, silver stearate, silver hydroxystearate, silver oleate and silver behenate, and likewise silver dodecyl sulphonate described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,575 and silver di-(2-ethylhexyl)-sulfosuccinate described in published European patent application 227 141. Useful modified aliphatic carboxylic acids with thioether group are described e.g. in GB-P 1,111,492 and other organic silver salts are described in GB-P 1,439,478, e.g. silver benzoate and silver phthalazinone, which may be used likewise to produce a thermally developable silver image. Further are mentioned silver imidazolates and the substantially light-insensitive inorganic or organic silver salt complexes described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,677.
When the ink inherently has already an optical density by containing e.g. a black colorant or mixture of colorants, the optical density of the deposited colorant(s) is added to the optical density of the silver obtained by reduction so that optical densities of more than 3 can be produced easily. For example, the the optical density provided by the deposited colorant(s) is already in the range of 0.8 to 1.5.
However, the ink may be colorless since by silver salt reduction alone using sufficiently strong reducing agents optical densities higher than 3 can be obtained, particularly when a thermal treatment follows the ink deposition. The application of heat will favour a rapid increase of optical density. So, by the use of sufficiently strong reducing agents the heating step can be omitted.
When carrying out the present invention according to its first mode the concentration of the reducing agent(s) in the ink is preferably at least 0.5 g/l, and is e.g. in the range of 1 g/l to 10 g/l; the coverage of the silver salt in the receiving material is preferably in the range of 1 g/m2 to 10 g/m2.
According to a special embodiment ink of different reagent-concentration, and optionally of different optical density by containing different amounts of colorants is applied image-wise from different nozzles. The ink expulsion of the different nozzles is actuated in such a way that ink drops stemming from one nozzle produce ink spots with different optical density with regard to another nozzle, hereby the gradation of the images is controlled.
In order to avoid clogging of the ink jet nozzles the ink contains its imaging ingredients preferably in dissolved form.
In ink-jet printing according to the present invention "water-based", "solvent-based" "mixed water/solvent-based" and "hot melt" or "phase change inks" can be used with the proviso that they contain at least one reducing agent for the substantially light-unsensitive silver salt(s) in the ink receiving material.
A discussion of the formulation of colored water-based ink-jet inks and preferred properties thereof is given by Henry R. Kang in Journal of Imaging Science, Vol. 35, No. 3, May/June 1991, p. 179-201 and the already mentioned "Handbook of Imaging Materials", edited by Arthur S. Diamond, p. 537-540.
Solvent-based ink-jet inks, containing a major amount of organic solvent(s), but optionally containing some amount of water, are described e.g. in JP 55160070, JP 63152678, JP 63152679, JP 63152680, JP 61036382 and 61036381. Further are mentioned the low viscosity solvent-based inks described in EP 386349 and the inks described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,386,961, 4,400,215, 4,957,553 and 4,822,418. Solvent-based inks with electrostatic deflection properties are described e.g. in JP 61181879. Presently, solvent-based inks contain methyl ethyl ketone, ethanol and methanol as primary solvent (ref. the already mentioned "Handbook of Imaging Materials", edited by Arthur S. Diamond, p. 540).
Solvent-based inks containing a major amount of organic solvent(s) and that are particularly suited for use in thermal ink-jet printers (a type of drop-on-demand ink jet printers) are described in detail in published European patent application 0 413 442. The solvents used have boiling points from about 50� C. to about 200� C. and are e.g. members of the following group : alkyl glycol ethers, wherein the alkyl group has up to 4 carbon atoms, aromatic hydrocarbons, alkyl pyrrolidinones, ketones and lactones. Said ink is particularly suited for printing on a wide variety of plastic films and yields water-fast and smear resistant images.
Hot melt inks for ink jet printing are described e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,659,383, 4,820,346, 4,931,095 and EP 20286, and their properties are discussed in the already mentioned "Handbook of Imaging Materials", edited by Arthur S. Diamond, p. 530.
As described in the book Imaging Information Storage Technology Edited by Wolfgang Gerhartz--VCH Weinheim--New York--Basel--Cambridge (1992) under the heading "1.13. Ink-jet printing" many of the commercially available ink-jet printers operate with water-based ink (see p. 43 of said book) by which is meant that such inks contain more than 70% by weight of water. Small amounts of humectants such as glycols are added to reduce the evaporation rate and for continuous ink-jet printing the ink contains some salt in order to obtain a required electrical conductivity and chargeability for electrostatic droplet deflection. Because of the poor solubility of salt in most organic solvent-based inks the inks for continuous ink jet printing are mostly water-based inks or contain a major amount of water. When operating with a silver-forming redox system the reducing agent of that system may be used in salt form and play the role of electrical conductivity increasing ingredient.
Suitable organic reducing agents for the reduction of substantially light-unsensitive organic silver salts are organic compounds containing at least one active hydrogen atom linked to O, N or C, such as is the case in aromatic di- and tri-hydroxy compounds, e.g. hydroquinone and substituted hydroquinones, catechol, pyrogallol, gallic acid and gallates; aminophenols, METOL (tradename), p-phenylenediamines, alkoxynaphthols, e.g. 4-methoxy-1-naphthol described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,094,417, acetoacetonitriles, pyrazolidin-3-one type reducing agents, e.g. PHENIDONE (tradename), pyrazolin-5-ones, indanedione-1,3 derivatives, hydroxytetrone acids, hydroxytetronimides, reductones, and ascorbic acid. Representatives for thermally activated reduction of organic silver salts are described e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,074,809, 3,080,254, 3,094,417, 3,887,378 and 4,082,901.
Particularly suited organic reducing agents for use in thermally activated reduction of said silver salts are organic compounds containing in their structure two free hydroxy groups (--OH) in ortho-position on a benzene nucleus as is the case in catechol, which is preferred for use in water-based inks, and polyhydroxy spiro-bis-indane compounds corresponding to the following general formula (I) which are preferred for use in solvent-based inks: ##STR1## wherein: R represents hydrogen or alkyl, e.g. methyl or ethyl,
each of R1 and R2 (same or different) represents, an alkyl group, preferably methyl group or a cycloalkyl group, e.g. cyclohexyl group,
each of R3 and R4 (same or different) represents, an alkyl group, preferably methyl group or a cycloalkyl group, e.g. cyclohexyl group, and
n is a positive integer 2 or 3,
m represents zero or is a positive integer 1, 2 or 3, and at least two of the hydroxyl groups of said formula are in ortho-position.
Particularly useful for solvent-based and hot-melt inks are the polyhydroxy-spiro-bis-indane compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,049 as photographic tanning agent, more especially 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-5,6,5',6'-tetrahydroxy-1,1'-spiro-bis-indane (called indane I) and 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-4,6,7,4',6',7'-hexahydroxy-1,1',-spiro-bis-indane (called indane II). Indane is also known under the name hydrindene.
The preparation of indane (I) can proceed by condensation of catechol with acetone such as disclosed by Baker, J. Chem. Soc., 1943, pp. 1678-81.
The preparation of indane (II) can proceed by the condensation of polyhydric phenols with acetone as disclosed by Fischer, Furling and Grant, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 58, pp. 820-22 (1936). Alkyl and hydroxy substituted spiro-bis-indanes where the hydroxyls are in ortho-position of the aromatic rings can also be prepared as described in German patent 1,092,648. Other preparation methods are described in German patent 1,084,260, JP 03148232 A2, JP 02286642 A2, JP 02286641 A2, and Tetrahedron Lett., (34), 3707-10 in the article titled: "New Spirobiindanetetrols from 3-tert.-Alkylpyrocatechols". For the use of polyhydroxy-spiro-bis-indane compounds in direct thermal printing reference is made to unpublished European patent application Nr. 92 20 3495, filed 16th November 1992.
The liquid used in ink jet printing according to the present invention may contain a mixture of reducing agents, e.g. of (a) primary, relatively strong reducing agent, and less active auxiliary reducing agent that form together a synergistic (superadditive) reducing mixture.
In the first recording mode of the present invention the image receiving material may contain said auxiliary reducing agent having poor reducing power in the binder layer containing the organic silver salt without causing fog in the absence of primary reducing agent. For that purpose preferably sterically hindered phenols and sulfonamidophenols are used.
Sterically hindered phenols as described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,026 are examples of such auxiliary reducing agents that can be used in admixture with said organic silver salts without premature reduction reaction and fog-formation at room temperature.
For obtaining a neutral black image tone with silver formed in the higher optical density parts and neutral grey in the lower densities the reducible silver salt(s) and reducing agents are advantageously used in conjunction with a so-called toning agent known from thermography or photo-thermography.
Preferably said toning agent is contained in the ink-image receiving material.
Suitable toning agents are the phthalimides and phthalazinones within the scope of the general formulae described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,901. Further reference is made to the toning agents described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,074,809, 3,446,648 and 3,844,797. Particularly useful toning agents are likewise the heterocyclic toner compounds of the benzoxazine dione or naphthoxazine dione type within the scope of following general formula: ##STR2## in which: X represents O or NR5 ;
each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 (same or different) represents hydrogen, alkyl, e.g. C1-C20 alkyl, preferably C1 -C4 alkyl, cycloalkyl, e.g. cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, alkoxy, preferably methoxy or ethoxy, alkylthio with preferably up to 2 carbon atoms, hydroxy, dialkylamino of which the alkyl groups have preferably up to 2 carbon atoms or halogen, preferably chlorine or bromine; or R1 and R2 or R2 and R3 represent the ring members required to complete a fused aromatic ring, preferably a benzene ring, or R3 and R4 represent the ring members required to complete a fused aromatic aromatic or cyclohexane ring. A very useful toner such as 3,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-1,3,2H-benzoxazine within the scope of said general formula is in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,660.
According to a special embodiment the ink has a color which makes that the silver image formed in the reduction has a neutral black color. For example, by the presence in the ink of a blue dye the yellowish hue of a silver image formed by reduction (ref. U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,254) is compensated and a neutral black image is obtained. Operating that way it is possible to dispense with so-called toning agents in the image receiving material or to reduce their concentration. According to another embodiment by autocoupling reaction of oxidized reducing agent a blue color is formed, which is the case by using 4-methoxy-1-naphthol as reducing agent or oxidized reductor, e.g. p-phenylene diamine type reductor, is coupled with a color coupler known from silver halide color photography or photothermography. The color coupler may be contained in the ink receiving material and/or in the ink.
In order to shorten dry time, surface-active agents (surfactants) or penetrants may be present in the ink. These additives and other ones may be present likewise in the image receiving material preferably in the imaging layer, e.g. free fatty acids and UV-absorbing compounds such as optical brightening agents. Surface-active agents, and substances called penetrants improve the take up of the ink in the ink receiving material. Further are mentioned antistatic agents, e.g. non-ionic antistatic agents including a fluorocarbon group as e.g. in F3 C(CF2)6 CONH(CH2 CH2 O)--H, plasticizers, friction reducing compounds e.g. in the form of particles protruding from the recording layer, e.g. talc particles and polymer beads with low friction coefficient, and transparent inorganic pigments, e.g. colloidal silica.
The ink-image receiving material contains the substantially light-unsensitive silver salt or reducing agent(s) preferably in a film-forming binder that is not impermeable either for the "ink" or for the reducing agent in dissolved, molten state or vaporized state.
As binding agent for the imaging layer preferably thermoplastic waterinsoluble resins are used wherein the ingredients can be dispersed homogeneously or form therewith a solid-state solution. For that purpose all kinds of natural, modified natural or synthetic resins may be used, e.g. cellulose derivatives such as ethylcellulose, cellulose esters, carboxymethylcellulose, starch ethers, polymers derived from ,α, β-ethylenically unsaturated compounds such as polyvinyl chloride, after-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetals, e.g. polyvinyl butyral, copolymers of acrylonitrile and acrylamide, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters and polyethylene or mixtures thereof. A particularly suitable ecologically interesting (halogen-free) binder is polyvinyl butyral. Polyvinyl butyral containing some vinyl alcohol units is marketed under the trade name BUTVAR B79 of Monsanto USA.
The binder to organic silver salt weight ratio is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 6, and the thickness of the image forming layer is preferably in the range of 5 to 16 μm.
The above mentioned polymers or mixtures thereof forming the binder may be used in conjunction with waxes or "heat solvents" also called "thermal solvents" or "thermosolvents" improving the penetration of the reducing agent(s) and thereby the reaction speed of the redox-reaction at elevated temperature.
By the term "heat solvent" in this invention is meant a non-hydrolyzable organic material which is in solid state at temperatures below 50� C. but becomes on heating above that temperature a plasticizer for the binder of the layer wherein they are incorporated and possibly act then also as a solvent for at least one of the redox-reactants, e.g. the reducing agent for the organic silver salt. Useful for that purpose are a polyethylene glycol having a mean molecular weight in the range of 1,500 to 20,000 described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,675. Further are mentioned compounds such as urea, methyl sulfonamide and ethylene carbonate being heat solvents described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,959, and compounds such as tetrahydro-thiophene-1,1-dioxide, methyl anisate and 1,10-decanediol being described as heat solvents in Research Disclosure, December 1976, (item 15027) pages 26-28. Still other examples of heat solvents have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,438,776, and 4,740,446, and in published EP-A 0 119 615 and 0 122 512 and DE-A 3 339 810.
Heat-solvents may be used likewise in the ink-jet liquid, especially when they are water-soluble and can act as moistening agent for the organic water-insoluble binder layer wherein the organic silver salt is coated and improve the penetration of the reducing agent in said layer bringing about a much faster reactive contact with the reducible organic silver salt.
The layer containing the organic silver salt is commonly coated from an organic solvent containing the binder in dissolved form but may be applied from aqueous medium from a solution of a hydrophilic water-soluble polymer, e.g. gelatin, or from a latex containing a dispersed polymer having hydrophilic functionality. Polymers with hydrophilic functionality for forming an aqueous polymer dispersion (latex) are described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,006,451, but serve therein for forming a barrier layer preventing unwanted diffusion of vanadium pentoxide present as antistatic agent.
In the embodiment according to the present invention wherein the reductor is applied solely image-wise by ink-jet no reaction can take place in the image-background area (being free from reductor) no stabilization step is required and archival storability of the obtained images is obtained.
According to a particular embodiment associated with the use of a "water-based ink" a water-insoluble fairly hydrophobic binder layer, such as a polyvinylbutyral layer, containing a said substantially light-unsensitive organic silver salt is over-coated with a hydrophilic colloid layer capable of rapidly absorbing a water-based ink-jet ink containing a reducing agent for the silver salt. Hydrophilic colloid layers suited for said purpose preferably contain organic polymeric hydrophilic colloids known as binding agent in silver halide emulsion layer materials, e.g. gelatin and such polymers that can be applied from an aqueous solution binders and may be hardened up to a certain degree without destroying their permeability with respect to water and aqueous liquids. A survey of such binders is given in Research Disclosure November 1989, item 307105 in the chapter IX. "Vehicles and vehicle extenders" and for suitable hardening agents reference is made to chapter X. "Hardeners".
Preferably, after receiving the aqueous liquid droplets containing a dissolved reducing agent the receiving material having an outermost hydrophilic layer is heated, e.g. in the range of 60� to 120� C. to promote the diffusion of the reducing agent from the hydrophilic colloid layer into the waterinsoluble binder layer containing the substantially light-unsensitive silver salt.
Preferred hydrophilic colloids for coating an outermost hydrophilic water-permeable layer are protein-type polymers such as gelatin, cassein, collagen, albumin, or gelatin derivatives, e.g. acetylated gelatin. Further suitable water-soluble binding agents are: polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, dextran, gum arabic, zein, agar-agar, arrowroot and pectin.
According to a particular embodiment said outermost hydrophilic layer may contain finely divided (colloidal) optically transparent inert pigments having a hydrophilic character, such as transparent colloidal silica not masking the underneath formed silver pattern.
The coating of said optional outermost layer and of the imaging layer containing the organic silver salt may proceed by any coating technique known in the art e.g. as described in said Research Disclosure and in "Modern Coating and Drying Technology", edited by Edward D. Cohen and Edgar B. Gutoff, (1992) VCH Publishers Inc. 220 East 23rd Street, Suite 909 New York, N.Y. 10010, U.S.A.
The imaging layer is coated preferably on a support being a thin sheet or weblike carrier material that should be stable preferably at heating temperatures of between 60� and 160� C. For example, the support is made from paper, polyethylene coated paper or transparent resin film, e.g. made of a cellulose ester, e.g. cellulose triacetate, polypropylene, polycarbonate or polyester, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate. The support may be subbed if need be to improve the adherence thereof of the layer containing said silver salt.
When using a sufficiently strong reducing agent there is no need for a uniform heat-treatment to obtain sufficient optical image, but it is in favour of enhanced optical density and to shorten drying time of the deposited "ink" to heat the ink-receiving material in the temperature range of 60� to 160� C. The time and temperature required for substantially enhancing the optical density in the "inked" areas depends largely on the type of the imaging reactants their concentration in the ink and coverage in the ink-receiving material. Using the above defined redox-system of light-unsensitive silver salt and organic reducing agent(s) generally a heating time in the range of 3 to 60 seconds is sufficient to obtain a substantial increase of optical density.
Heat may be supplied by means of a hot body, e.g. hot metal roller, contacting the ink-receiving material or may be supplied in the form of hot air, e.g. in a ventilated drying oven, and/or may be supplied in the form of radiant heat.
Radiant heating may proceed with flash lamp, e.g. xenon gas discharge lamp, incandescent infra-red light lamp or by means of laser beam.
The imaging method according to the present invention can be used for both the production of transparencies and reflection type prints. Such means that the support will be transparent or opaque, e.g. having a white light reflecting aspect. For example, a paper base is present which may contain white light reflecting pigments, optionally also applied in an interlayer between the recording layer and said base. In case a transparent base is used, said base may be colorless or colored, e.g. has a blue colour, of normal use in medical silver halide emulsion film.
In the hard copy field imaging materials have normally a white opaque base, whereas in the medical diagnostic field black-imaged transparencies find wide application in inspection techniques operating with a light box.
The following examples illustrate the present invention. The percentages and ratios are by weight unless otherwise indicated.
A subbed polyethylene terephthalate support having a thickness of 100 μm was doctor blade-coated from an aqueous coating composition so as to obtain thereon after drying an ink receiving layer containing the following ingredients:
______________________________________silver behenate 6 g/m2gelatin 3.0 g/m2succinimide (toning agent) 0.67 g/m2AEROSOL OT (tradename) (wetting agent) 0.60 g/m2ULTRAVON W (tradename) (wetting agent) 0.06 g/m2______________________________________
To a commercial water-base black ink for PAINTJET (tradename) printer of Hewlett Packard (catalogue Nr. 51606A) are added per 3 g 0.3 g of ethanol and 75 mg of therein dissolved catechol.
The black color of the ink is due to a mixture of sulfonated yellow, magenta and cyan dyes, tetramethylammonium cations are present in conjunction with the anionic sulfonic acid groups. The ink contains about 89% of water and 1,5-pentane diol as organic solvent together with polyethylene oxide type wetting agent and carboxymethyl cellulose as thickener.
The above defined ink has been put in ink-cassette of the MANNESMANN TALLY-printer (tradename) type MT92 (drop-on-demand type ink jet printer).
Modulated by an electronically stored test-pattern "ink jet" printing was carried out onto the above prepared ink image receiving material.
A first part (part A) of the printed surface was post-heated during 30 seconds by pressing the printed area against an aluminum block internally electrically heated at a temperature of 118� C.
A second part (part B) of the printed surface was left at room temperature (20� C.) and the maximum optical densities in both of said parts were measured through ortho filter with MacBeth TD 904 densitometer.
The measured minimum densities (Dmin) and maximum densities (Dmax) are listed in the following Table 1.
TABLE 1______________________________________Part Dmin Dmax______________________________________A 0.12 3.2B 0.12 1.0______________________________________
The imaging layer was coated on a support as described in Example 1 from methyl ethyl ketone as coating vehicle and contained after coating and drying the following ingredients:
______________________________________silver behenate 6.5 g/m2polyvinyl butyral [BUTVAR B79 - tradename) 6.5 g/m23,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-1,3,2H-benzoxazine 0.74 g/m2BAYSILONE O1 A (tradename) 25 mg/m2______________________________________
The imaging layer was coated at the imaging side with an outermost hydrophilic water-absorbing layer containing 5 g/m2 of gelatin.
Ink jet printing proceeded with the same black colored ink as described in Example 1 (part A) and with the black colored ink of example 1 without the addition of a reducing agent (part B).
As in Example 1 the ink receiving material was heated at 118� C.
The receiving material in its non-inked state had an optical density of 0.09, which density did not change by heating at 118� C.
The measured minimum densities (Dmin) and maximum densities (Dmax) of the "inked" receiving material parts A (ink with reducing agent) and the "inked" receiving material parts B (ink without reducing agent) are listed in the following Table 2.
TABLE 2______________________________________Part Dmin Dmax______________________________________A 0.09 2.6B 0.09 0.9______________________________________
Example 2 was repeated but with the difference that the outermost layer of the ink receiving material contained 5 g/m2 of polyvinyl alcohol.
The measured minimum densities (Dmin) and maximum densities (Dmax) of the "inked" receiving material parts A and B are listed in the following Table 3.
TABLE 3______________________________________Part Dmin Dmax______________________________________A 0.09 2.3B 0.09 0.8______________________________________
Example 2 was repeated but with the difference that the outermost layer of the ink receiving material contained 5 g/m2 of polyacrylic acid.
The measured minimum densities (Dmin) and maximum densities (Dmax) of the "inked" receiving material parts A and B are listed in the following Table 4.
TABLE 4______________________________________Part Dmin Dmax______________________________________A 0.10 3.6B 0.10 1.0______________________________________
Example 2 was repeated but with the difference that the outermost layer of the ink receiving material contained 5 g/m2 of polyurethane latex IMPRANIL 43056 (tradename of BAYER AG--Germany)
The measured minimum densities (Dmin) and maximum densities (Dmax) of the "inked" receiving material parts A and B are listed in the following Table 5.
TABLE 5______________________________________Part Dmin Dmax______________________________________A 0.09 2.5B 0.10 1.0______________________________________
Example 2 was repeated with the difference however, that the above prepared ink receiving material was coated at the imaging side with an outermost hydrophilic water-absorbing layer being a coating containing 5 g/m2 of unhardened gelatin, and a colorless is ink was used in ink jet printing.
The applied "colorless" ink had the following composition:
______________________________________carboxymethylcellulose 0.5 g1,5-pentane diol 0.7 mlcatechol 1.00 gwetting agent 4.0 mlULTRAVON W (tradename) (wetting agent) 0.06 g______________________________________
Before putting the ink in the ink jet cassette it had been filtered through a MILLIPOE (tradename) Type GS filter having pores with average diameter of 0.22 μm.
As in Example 1 one part of the ink receiving material was heated at 118� C. and another part left at room temperature (20� C).
The receiving material in its non-inked state had an optical density of 0.09, which density did not change by heating at 118� C.
The measured minimum densities (Dmin) and maximum densities (Dmax) of the "inked" receiving material parts A and B are listed in the following Table 6.
TABLE 6______________________________________Part Dmin Dmax______________________________________A 0.14 3.4B 0.09 0.09______________________________________
A subbed polyethylene terephthalate support having a thickness of 100 μm was doctor blade-coated from a methyl ethylketone coating solution so as to obtain thereon after drying an ink receiving layer containing the following ingredients:
______________________________________silver behenate 4.8 g/m2polyvinyl butyral [BUTVAR B79 - tradename) 4.8 g/m23,4-dihydro-2,4-dioxo-1,3,2H-benzoxazine 0.35 g/m2BAYSILONE O1 A (tradename) 18 mg/m2______________________________________
Ink receiving material (2) was prepared as ink receiving material (1) but with the difference that the coating solution further contained p-(phenylsulphonamido)phenol in an amount such that it was contained in the dried coating in an amount of 2.68 g/m2.
One part (part A) of each receiving material was printed with a commercial ink by means of a continuous stream ink jet apparatus. A second part (part B) of each receiving material was printed with the same commercial ink to which 10% by weight of ethyl gallate was added as reducing agent. The receiving materials were heated subsequently as described in example 2. The maximum and minimum densities obtained in each case are shown in the following Table 7.
TABLE 7______________________________________Receiving Part A Part Bmaterial Dmin Dmax Dmin Dmax______________________________________1 0.06 0.9 0.05 4.12 0.06 1.0 0.06 4.3______________________________________
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Oct 26, 1959
|Apr 24, 1962
|Minnesota Mining & Mfg
|Heat-sensitive copy-sheet and composition therefor
|Aug 15, 1973
|Sep 16, 1975
|Printing system
|Title not available
|Sam Bucetti, et al., "Chemical Mist Printing", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 20, #12, May 1978, pp. 5423-5424.
|Sam Bucetti, et al., Chemical Mist Printing , IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 20, 12, May 1978, pp. 5423 5424.
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Jan 5, 1999
|Feb 8, 2000
|General Electric Company
|Optical data storage media
|Feb 3, 1998
|Jun 20, 2000
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Using silver salts and reducing reagents in microfluidic printing
|Apr 29, 1998
|Oct 3, 2000
|Hewlett-Packard Company
|Multi-chamber ink supply
|Oct 9, 1998
|Oct 31, 2000
|Marconi Data Systems Inc.
|Reactive jet ink composition
|Sep 28, 1998
|Mar 6, 2001
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Imaging member with multifunctional coupler
|Sep 3, 1999
|Nov 6, 2001
|L&P Property Management Company
|Method and apparatus for UV ink jet printing on fabric and combination printing and quilting thereby
|Jun 5, 2000
|Apr 9, 2002
|Imaging element for different imaging systems
|Sep 28, 1998
|Aug 27, 2002
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Imaging member with multifunctional coupler and oxidant
|Mar 30, 2001
|Oct 22, 2002
|L&P Property Management Company
|Method and apparatus for ink jet printing on textiles
|Apr 2, 2001
|Mar 9, 2004
|L&P Property Management Company
|Method and apparatus for ink jet printing on textiles
|Aug 17, 2001
|Apr 27, 2004
|L&P Property Management Company
|Method and apparatus for ink jet printing
|Sep 27, 2002
|Jul 20, 2004
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Inkjet printing method
|May 20, 2003
|Sep 21, 2004
|Ferrania, S.P.A.
|Ink receiving sheet
|May 20, 2003
|Sep 28, 2004
|Ferrania, S.P.A.
|Ink-jet printing system
|Jul 30, 2002
|Nov 20, 2007
|Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
|Colorless inkjet ink compositions for improved image quality
|Dec 13, 2004
|Jul 28, 2009
|Cima Nanotech Israel Ltd.
|Nano-powder-based coating and ink compositions
|Dec 13, 2004
|Oct 13, 2009
|Cima Nanotech Israel Ltd.
|Nano-powder-based coating and ink compositions
|Dec 13, 2004
|Jun 15, 2010
|Cima Nanotech Israel Ltd.
|Nano-powder-based coating and ink compositions
|Oct 28, 2002
|Jun 21, 2011
|Yissum Research Development Company Of The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem Israell Company
|Ink-jet inks containing metal nanoparticles
|Dec 2, 2005
|Jul 12, 2011
|Exax Inc.
|Silver organo-sol ink for forming electronically conductive patterns
|Jan 10, 2006
|Jul 24, 2012
|Yissum Research Development Company Of The Hebrew University Of Jerusalem
|Method of forming aqueous-based dispersions of metal nanoparticles
|Oct 28, 2002
|Apr 14, 2005
|Shlomo Magdassi
|Ink-jet inks containing metal nanoparticles
|Dec 13, 2004
|Sep 29, 2005
|Arkady Garbar
|Nano-powder-based coating and ink compositions
|Dec 13, 2004
|Sep 29, 2005
|Arkady Garbar
|Nano-powder-based coating and ink compositions
|Dec 13, 2004
|Oct 27, 2005
|Arkady Garbar
|Nano-powder-based coating and ink compositions
|Jul 29, 2004
|Feb 2, 2006
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Jet printing of patterned metal
|Feb 4, 2013
|Aug 7, 2014
|Yongcai Wang
|Making a conductive article having micro-channels
|May 13, 2003
|Nov 26, 2003
|FERRANIA S.p.A.
|Ink-jet printing system
|Jan 27, 2010
|Feb 27, 2013
|Digiflex Ltd.
|Process for producing a photomask on a photopolymeric surface
|Jul 25, 2005
|Feb 9, 2006
|Eastman Kodak Co
|Jet printing of patterned metal
|Jan 27, 2010
|Aug 5, 2010
|Digiflex Ltd.
|Process for producing a photomask on a photopolymeric surface
|U.S. Classification
|347/101, 347/96, 347/102, 430/552, 106/31.19, 430/401
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|May 22, 1996
Owner name: AGFA-GEVAERT, N.V., BELGIUM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LEENDERS, LUC;UYTTENDAELE, CARLO;UYTTERHOEVEN, HERMAN;REEL/FRAME:007950/0477
Effective date: 19931014
|Oct 13, 2000
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Sep 22, 2004
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Dec 17, 2007
Owner name: AGFA HEALTHCARE N.V., BELGIUM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AGFA-GEVAERT N.V.;REEL/FRAME:020254/0713
Effective date: 20071108
|Oct 20, 2008
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Apr 15, 2009
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Jun 2, 2009
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20090415


text:
Red Hat Extending Financial Division
Red Hat has reinforced its Financial Division and appointed Mark Cook as Vice President for Finance and Controller. Paul Argiry will be joining the company as a Vice President and Treasurer.
Mark Cook joined Red Hat in 2004 and later was promoted to Vice President and Treasurer. According to Red Hat he has over 30 years of experience in enterprise financing and was the Financial Director of various clothing corporations before he joined Red Hat.
Paul Argiry is the new man with Red Hat. Among other things, he will be responsible for the payroll and asset management. Argiry has over 15 years of experience in finance management and worked as a Senior Financial Director with an electronics company before moving.
Both will report directly to Charlie Peters, Red Hat's Chief Financial Officer. Red Hat made another important personnel decision at management level just recently, appointing Michael Chen as Vice President Corporate Marketing as Linux Magazine reported.
Issue 180/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
Dyreza Malware is Back
Powerful man-in-the-middle attack is now targeting online shopping.
Kernel Developer Matthew Garrett Forks the Linux Kernel
Another high-profile coder says the kernel team needs a kinder, gentler culture.
Bugzilla Bug
Bug database has a bug of its own that could allow an intruder to create an unauthorized account.
US Launches New Strategy for Broadband Access
Report focuses federal resources on achieving universal Internet access.
RC4 Finally Gets the Fork
Leading browser makers say "no" to porous encryption algorithm
IBM Says TOR Network a Vehicle for Ransomware
Report from the X-Force group says attackers are using TOR to hide their crimes
Mozilla Announces new Firefox API
Future Firefox extensions will be compatible with Chrome.
Weird Security Flaw Affected Intel Chips for 16 Years
Better read this if you bought your computer before 2011
OpenSSH 7.0 Secure Shell Arrives
Users should upgrade to the new version as soon as possible
Qemu Flaw Lets the Guest Escape
Xen project announces a privilege escalation problem for Qemu host systems

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Search the Collection
Sitter in 1 portrait
Esther Margaret Killick(1902-1960), Professor of Physiology
Sitter in 1 portrait
Tell us moreback to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, something missing, or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have any information to share please complete the form below


text:
American Solutions Inc Interview Questions
Interview Experience
Interview Experience
Getting an Interview
Getting an Interview
Interview Difficulty
Interviews for Top Jobs at American Solutions Inc
- Software Engineering (1)
- Sales Manager (1)
- Engineering (1)
2 Candidate Interview Reviews Back to all InterviewsSort: Popular Date Difficulty
- Accepted OfferNeutral ExperienceEasy Interview
I applied through other source. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at American Solutions Inc (Newark, DE) in May 2009.
Telephonic interview. Few personal and few technical questions.
Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself Answer Question
- Accepted OfferNeutral ExperienceAverage Interview
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at American Solutions Inc (Cupertino, CA) in April 2008.
Interviewer is good in technical stuff and asked all java related questions. This is so convenient interview process and they expect to answer in detail. More robust technology they expect to answer. Looks like they going to come up with more exciting technologies. Overall its good experience to share these details.
Interview Questions
- Tell about your experience for 5 minutes Answer Question


text:
Hasbro May Be Planning to Make a 'GoBots' Movie
We currently live in a world where society has stopped blinking incredulously at the mere idea of major film franchises based on the dumb toys you used to play with back in the '80s. So, it's not too surprising that Hasbro is apparently examining the possibility of a big screen 'GoBots' revival.
'Star Wars Rebels' Toys May Have Spoiled Major Trilogy Character's Return
This past Sunday saw 'Star Wars' animated series 'Star Wars Rebels' issuing its first full trailer before the fall debut, though any major surprises were absent. Now, early word suggests that a pivotal franchise character may yet have a role to play in the series, picking up after we last saw the character in 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars.'


text:
Create a free account to check out faster, store multiple shipping addresses, view and track your orders in your account, and much more.
Please enter your password to continue.
From painful sunburns to zebra-like streaks, tanning blunders litter our beauty wrap sheets. On a mission to expunge these past crimes, this lightweight daily lotion glides on easily and gradually creates a convincing sun-touched hue. Swap your daily moisturizer for this bronzer to maintain a fresh-from-the-beach tan—bikini season or not.
I usually put my self tanner on before bed so I don't smell so bad during the day from it. This self tanner actually smells good and its a bit thicker than other self tanners. My skin feels really good! Now if they could just make it so you don't have to wash your hands it'd be even better!5


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June 12, 2014
The WCS Film An Elephant's Tale: The Matriarch has been selected as a finalist for the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. This year's festival, from Sept. 27–Oct. 1, will feature a three-day summit supporting elephant conservation.
Read More
August 26, 2015
Congratulations are in order for three of WCS's conservationists who have worked tirelessly in their respective fields to protect wildlife: Joel Berger (in part for his work on wild yaks like this one), P. Dee Boersma, and Tim Davenport.
August 20, 2015
Thanks to a recent announcement from Sarawak's Chief Minister, orangutans are poised to receive a major boost in Malaysia.
July 24, 2015
Biodiversity offsets could be an important tool for conservationists. However Martine Maron and WCS's James Watson believe, "if promises [to protect biodiversity] have been made, then using offsets to keep them is admitting we planned to break them."
July 23, 2015
A logging company, working with local authorities and WCS, has agreed to begin dismantling abandoned logging roads currently being used by poachers to reach Amur (Siberian) tigers, like this one, in the Russian Far East.
July 17, 2015
This photograph, of a one-year-old female orangutan tucked in a knapsack, got lots of attention earlier this year. Now, the trader who put her there has been sentenced in Indonesia.
June 19, 2015
At the U.S. Ivory Crush in Times Square, WCS Executive Vice President John Calvelli places a piece of confiscated ivory on the conveyor belt to be crushed.
June 11, 2015
Two thirds of our planet is water. But only one percent of the ocean is truly protected. We must act, says our recent film, which was shown at the annual #WCSGala.
June 9, 2015
This is one of four Yangtze giant softshell turtles left in the world, and possibly the only female. Scientists recently artificially inseminated it as part of an effort to save the species.
June 1, 2015
African elephants may have just received a huge, much-needed boost from Asia. The Chinese government has announced plans to cease the processing and domestic sale of ivory.
The Government of Madagascar has officially inaugurated Makira Natural Park, home to 20 species of lemur (like this indri) and over 50 percent of Madagascar's plant biodiversity.
More Features
©2015 Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10460, (718) 220-5100 | Terms of Use/Privacy PolicyRSS


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Full look ahead to the 2015 Tour of Lombardy (October 4): contenders, route, teams and more
Stephen Puddicombe
Peter Sagan: How the World Championships was won
Peter Sagan's perfectly-timed move in Richmond to net him the world title dispelled the myth once and for all that he has power but lacks tactical nous
Lizzie Armitstead wins women's World Championship road race
Lizzie Armitstead wins thrilling sprint finale to take world title in Richmond, USA
World Championships 2015 road races preview
Following a week of thrills and spills in Richmond, the highlight events of the UCI Road World Championships will take place this weekend. First up on Saturday (September 26) will…
Elite men's 2015 World Championships time trial preview
Full look ahead to the elite men's individual time trial at the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond
Five talking points from stage 21 of the Vuelta a España
Degenkolb finally wins It's been a long time coming, but John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) finally landed the stage wins he's been courting these past three weeks. He may have started his…
Five talking points from stage 20 of the Vuelta a España
Today's Vuelta a España talking points: Astana strong; one stage too far for Dumoulin; thrilling finale; podium rejigged; and Plaza's epic solo
Five talking points from Vuelta a España stage 15
Rivals helped Rodriguez; How much has Dumoulin got in the tank?; Quintana's recovery; and more analysis from stage 15 of the 2015 Vuelta a España
Tour of Britain 2015 preview
Look ahead to the 2015 Tour of Britain (September 6-13): route, teams, past winners and more
Nicholas Roche taking his chance to shine at the Vuelta a España
At the start of Vuelta a España, few would have predicted Nicholas Roche to have been Team Sky's highest ranked rider, in fourth overall, four places and eleven seconds ahead…


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Book your room at Centre Point Sukhumvit 10
Deluxe RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Suite with Spa BathMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Suite, 1 BedroomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 1 child)
Deluxe Room, 2 BedroomsMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 1 child)
Family 3 BedroomsMax Occupancy: 6 guests (up to 1 child)
Executive Suite, 1 BedroomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 1 child)
Get an overview of this hotelFamily-friendly Bangkok hotel in Sukhumvit with free parking
This family-friendly Bangkok hotel is located in the entertainment district, within a 15-minute walk of Benjakiti Park and Terminal 21 Shopping Mall. Siam Paragon Mall and Pratunam Market are also within 3 mi (5 km).
Hotel Features
A restaurant, an outdoor pool, and a health club are available at this hotel. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Other amenities include a sauna, a steam room, and coffee/tea in the lobby.
Room Amenities
All 234 rooms have LCD TVs with cable channels and feature kitchenettes with refrigerators, stovetops, and microwaves. Guests will also find washers/dryers, free WiFi, and balconies.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
In addition to an outdoor pool, Centre Point Sukhumvit 10 provides a health club, a sauna, and a steam room. The hotel offers a restaurant. This 4-star property offers access to a business center.
Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. Event facilities measure 646 square feet (60 square meters). This family-friendly hotel also offers a library, coffee/tea in the lobby, and concierge services. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
- Free WiFi
- Porter/bellhop
- 24-hour front desk
- ATM/banking
- Number of floors - 30
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Business center
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Hair salon
- Health club
- Library
- Total number of rooms - 234
- Restaurant
- Conference space size (feet) - 646
- Free self parking
- Conference space size (meters) - 60
- Number of meeting rooms - 2
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Outdoor pool
- Year Built 1992
- Number of buildings/towers - 2
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Kitchenette
- Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
- Microwave
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Balcony
- Kitchenette
- Slippers
- Free toiletries
- Iron/ironing board
- Free bottled water
- Phone
- Hair dryer
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
- Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
- Stovetop
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Microwave
- Private bathroom
- Room service (limited hours)
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Cable TV service
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
Buffet breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 6 AM and 10 AM.
Rimsuan Restaurant - This restaurant specializes in Thai cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Room service (during limited hours) is available.
Nearby Activities
Recreational amenities at the hotel include an outdoor pool, a health club, a sauna, and a steam room.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Bicycle rentals on site
Hotel Policies
Check-in time ends at Midnight
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Check-out time is Noon
Payment types
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
The Penalty Charge is 100% for early check-out, and no-show.
- Fee for buffet breakfast: THB 450 for adults and THB 225 for children (approximately)
- An early check-in fee will be charged
- A late check-out fee will be charged
- Deposit: THB 2000 per night
- Rollaway bed fee: THB 1413 per night
We should mention
One child 4 years old or younger stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.


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People tend to check in during these times:
Add hours
LA Fitness encourages club members to live an active lifestyle, practice good health & Exercise Your Options®!
Keep Ya Head Up #getfit #modivation #goals
Plenty of machines but slammed right after work (5pm). No WiFi and AT&T signal not so great.
Pool is small, lanes are wide. Be considerate of others if you share a lane, which is likely.
I love this gym, daycare ladies are so sweet and nice!!!
Empty before 630am makes a perfect workout
Lots of machines. No waiting. Great sauna!
Parking sucks around after work
Best LA Fitness on the Northside of town!
No wifi here :-/
CHANNELS: 2 CBS. WSB Channel 23 FOX 54 CNN5. ESPN6. E!7. Fox News8. MSNBC9. NBC10. TBS11 Bravo12 Disney Channel
Change up your routine today! Try a group fitness class!
They offer Boot Camp which is a very awesome class!
Don't let the wifi connection fool you. It isn't functional "until there is a juice bar" I'm told
Always bring your own water because any given day the water fountains are famous for being out of service.
Always bring your own water because any given day the water fountains can be out of service.
Enjoy the GIANT spacious lockers. I hate those skinny no-good lockers at the Jimmy Carter location


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Auto Repair in Markleville
Our master mechanics identify the best auto repair shops in Markleville. Edit search×
- Coffee
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- Parts/Accessories
- Service Guarantee
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- Audi
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- Timing Belts
- Tire Sales/Repair
- Transmission Repair
Real Customer Review(s)
Your German Automobile Specialists! Reggie's Motorworks offers dealer-level diagnostics, repair and service of BMW, Mini Cooper, Audi, VW, Mercedes & Porsche's, as well as special interest autos. Founded in 2006 as a BMW vintage parts distributor that shipped to six of the seven continents around the world, Reggie's Motorworks has grown into one of the most respected BMW restoration and repair specialist in the Midwest.
There are 24 auto service shops and mechanics in Markleville. Edit searchSee other auto repair shops and dealerships
RepairPal has not certified the following shops.
The shops listed below are not committed to the fair price guarantee and minimum warranty of RepairPal Certified shops. When taking your car to a shop that has not passed RepairPal's inspection, we recommend that you:
- Look for a shop with ASE-certified technicians.
- Request written estimates from multiple shops and check them with the RepairPal estimator
- Verify that the shop you select is willing and able to clearly explain the work being performed.
Auto repair shops and dealerships near Markleville.
"Honest and knowledgable. They are the first people I recommend for repair. Not cheap, but less than a dealer with b..."
"Very good won't over charge you. "
"I brought my Celica into this shop and they replaced a gasket, but were unable to figure out what was making this noi..."


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Posts Tagged 'The Voice Ratings'
March 17th, 2015 at 9:36 am
Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Last Man on Earth', 'Secrets & Lies', 'Battle Creek' & '60 Minutes' Adjusted Up
Sunday final broadcast primetime ratings.[Read-More]
March 17th, 2015 at 8:57 am
NBC Wins Monday in Adults 18-34, 18-49 & 25-54; 'The Voice' is the Night's Top Show in Adults 18-49 by a 65 Percent Margin
NBC won Monday night among the Big 4 in every key demographic, as the #1 show of the night, "The Voice," topped[Read-More]
March 17th, 2015 at 8:31 am
TV Ratings Monday: 'Dancing With The Stars' Premieres Low, The Originals' & 'The Night Shift' Up, 'The Following' Flat, 'Castle' & 'Jane the Virgin' Down
NBC was number one among adults 18-49 while ABC won with total viewers.[Read-More]
March 16th, 2015 at 11:04 am
'The Bachelor' Finale Tops Nielsen's Twitter TV Ratings for the Week of March 9-15
The Bachelor finale topped Nielsen's Twitter ratings for the week of March 9-15.[Read-More]
March 16th, 2015 at 8:59 am
NBC's 'Dateline' Sunday Grows Week-to-Week in Adults 18-49 & Viewers
"Dateline NBC" (0.9/3 in 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall from 9-11 p.m. ET) grew week to week by +13% in[Read-More]
March 16th, 2015 at 8:27 am
TV Ratings Sunday: 'Once Upon A Time', 'Secrets & Lies' & 'The Last Man on Earth' Down, 'Madam Secretary' Up, 'Revenge' & 'The Good Wife' Flat
ABC was number one with adults 18-49 while CBS won with total viewers.[Read-More]
March 15th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
'The Big Bang Theory' Leads Adults 18-49 Gains + 'Glee' Tops Percentage Increases, 'The Blacklist' Wins in Viewer Growth in Live +7 Ratings for Week 23 Ending March 1
The Big Bang Theory was the week's top live + 7 ratings gainer among adults 18-49, adding 2.4 adults 18-49 ratings points.[Read-More]
March 12th, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Empire' & 'American Idol' Adjusted Up; 'CSI: Cyber' Adjusted Down
Wednesday's final ratings.[Read-More]


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Written on: 31/08/2007 by tim n (11 reviews written)
Good Points
Cheap, OK to use. The internal battery lasts ages.
Bad Points
Postcode is only to the first 5 digits, OK in a city but not in the country where a postcode covers 10 square miles or more.
Loves motorways way too much and you cannot tell it to ignore them.
General Comments
The Navman 320i is neat, OK to look at and cheap.
Apart from the bad points a good little unit I had mine for 12 months until I sold it for a better one.
As rated by our community of reviewers
" Satnavdvd " Read More
" NOT VERY SMART NAV " Read More
Written by Mick.ginger
" Difficult power connection " Read More
Written by absimj
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
© Copyright 2015 Newton Citizen
EAST POINT, Ga. (AP) An East Point police officer has been fired and arrested on a theft charge.Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Eric Miller last week on charges of theft by taking, violating his oath of office and giving false statements.
WXIA-TV reports that Miller was immediately fired from the East Point police force. In August, East Point officials had placed him on administrative leave.
Miller was released from jail Saturday and faces an Oct. 7 court hearing. A phone listing for Miller could not be located. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
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Simon Cowell, Jada Pinkett-Smith Producing D.J. Show
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Fantômas, the supergroup featuring Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle), and Buzz Osbourne and Dale Crover (Melvins), has posted the trailer for their upcoming live DVD, The Director's Cut Live: A New Year's Revolution. It's due out September 6, 2011 via Ipecac, and chronicles the band's 2008 New Year's Eve performance of their 2001 full-length Director's Cut (in which they place a unique twist on several famous movie compositions) at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA.
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China's curlers confounding expectations in Sochi - 0 Comments
SOCHI, Russia — A pre-Olympic list of potential gold-medal winners in men's curling definitely would have included Canada, Norway and Sweden. Britain, too, and maybe even Switzerland.
China? No chance.
Better revise those predictions.
The Chinese beat Switzerland 5-4 in the morning session and then Germany 11-7 in the evening to finish Wednesday at the top of the standings with four straight wins.


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Human Relations Award Competition Open
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Nominations are now open for the Human Relations Commission Award, sponsored by the City of Albany Human Relations Commission.
Marijuana in Albany
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On May 19, 2015, Oregon voters legalized sales, possession and personal use of marijuana by adults in private residences. Recreational marijuana became available for sale at medical marijuana dispensaries on October 1, 2015 in many Oregon communities; Albany has prohibited those sales.
Free Public Transportation for Try Transit Week, October 5-9, 2015
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Passengers on most mid-Willamette Valley public transportation systems will ride free during Try Transit Week, October 5-9, 2015.
Albany adopts time, space-saving electronic plans review
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Contractors, builders, remodelers, and others who develop land in Albany are getting building plans and permits reviewed and processed more easily since the City of Albany implemented ePlans, an end-to-end electronic plan review program.


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Pastor Mielke shows dads what it is all about.
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Being disciplined in following Dan's investment strategies can help you preserve principle during market fluctuations.
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The Kinkyness Test
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You kinkscore is pretty high. Most likely you're up for trying anything at least once, which show open-mindedness. You're probably a great lay, so just keep doing that thing you do! Read more
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Specialty Retail
Company Overview of Riverhead Building Supply, Corp.
Executive Profile
Edgar F. Goodale
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Mr. Edgar F. Goodale served as President of Riverhead Building Supply Corp. Mr. Goodale has been the Chairman of Suffolk County National Bank since February 2009. He served as the Chairman of Suffolk Bancorp., until May 29, 2012. He served as an Acting Chairman of the Board of Suffolk BanCorp. from August 7, 2008 to February 2009. He serves as a Director of Suffolk County National Bank, a subsidiary of Suffolk Bancorp. He has been a Director of Suffolk BanCorp. since ...
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October 13, 2015
A 22-year-old man has been killed, and two teenagers are wounded after multiple shots were fired at a Houston-area house party.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office says deputies were called to the party at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. They say there were more than 100 people at the outdoor party.
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Town Square
Fri: 'The Great Christmas Getaway' planned for Dec. 24
Original post made on Dec 20, 2011
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, December 22, 2011, 12:22 PM
Comments (2)
a resident of Canyon Oaks
on Dec 20, 2011 at 9:04 am
The Show is 'The Great Christmas Giveaway!' not 'getaway'. Quite a different meaning.
a resident of Castlewood Heights
on Dec 20, 2011 at 9:56 am
Saw the show last weekend and it was FANTASTIC!!! The kids did a wonderful job and the message was great! Thank you Centerpointe!!!!
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Session Guitar: Do You Suffer from Guitar-Tuner Dependency?
Session Guitar: Do You Suffer from Guitar-Tuner Dependency?
Related Content
It always starts with something small, a seemingly insignificant act that can have a huge effect on the rest of your life.
Horror stories usually begin like this.
Guitar tuners. We all use them. Clip-on. Stomp box. Software. Part of your modeler. Built in to your guitar.
I use them every day in the studio. But have you ever had to get in tune without one? No problem, right? Just do all the little tricks we do to get a guitar in tune and keep it in tune. After all, if you aren't in tune, nothing you play will sound good.
I was commenting this morning on a group page on Facebook. We were discussing robotic guitar tuners, tuning machines that tune themselves. I first saw this on a Gibson guitar. Now I saw a new one. Then I did a search. I even saw a robotic tuning tool.
It got me thinking: How may young guitarists are taught to tune the guitar by ear these days? I mean really taught, as in making it a requirement?
Back in the day, when dinosaurs walked the earth and a Strobo-Tuner cost a small fortune, we had to tune our guitars by ear. We'd tune to a pitchfork, piano or another guitar. This was an acquired and required skill. Imagine not being able to tune your own instrument! How would that affect your intonation? Your ability to bend in pitch to a half-step or whole step or more? Even pressing down too hard can alter the pitch.
Now let's take this part of our craft even further. If you don't learn how to hear pitch properly, you also will not be able to sing in tune — or listen deep for better part playing ... or hear intervallic relationships. Depending on an outside source to properly pitch your instrument is not very different than allowing Auto-Tune to pitch your voice! Or instrument! Does anybody but me see a problematic trend here?
How many of you are budding producers or engineers? Yesterday I was mixing a track that had bells on it. I felt they needed to be doubled with strings. They just didn't sound right. So I played the part and thought the string sample I was using was slightly out of tune. Then I shut off the bells and the strings sounded in tune. That meant the bells were the culprit. I had to tune the bell samples up by 10 cents. That is not a lot, but it's enough to make them uncomfortable.
I don't believe everything must be in perfect pitch. But I do require relative pitch. And being able to accurately tune slightly out of pitch and doubling to a guitar in perfect pitch gives a chorus effect a million times better than any digital emulation. Analog, baby! See? It's not only about being in tune! It is about controlling tuning. And you must be able to do this on the fly. Even locking systems go out.
I'd like you to try something. Buy a tuning fork — or use a keyboard to tune your guitar. Learn to hear and match pitches at least once a day. I agree with using a source to tune if you are onstage or in a noisy environment. And they certainly have their place in the studio or if you are recording alone. But a guitar is not a perfect instrument. String gauge, temperature fluctuations, fret height, tuning pegs, how hard you fret and pick, are the strings properly stretched, how many windings around the pole and actual quality of the construction can all have dramatic or subtle fluctuations that need to be constantly checked.
But for your practice time, try tuning by ear. Tune to a track, the radio, television or, if you are lucky enough these days, another instrument/player. This habit and skill can only improve your overall musicianship! Let's be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Be the best you can be. Start with a small, "insignificant" thing like tuning. It might be more important than you think.
I'd love to hear your comments and a raise of hands on how many tune by ear regularly or not.
Ron Zabrocki on Ron Zabrocki: I'm a session guitarist from New York, now living in Connecticut. I started playing at age 6, sight reading right off the bat. That's how I was taught, so I just believed everyone started that way! I could pretty much sight read anything within a few years, and that aided me in becoming a session guy later in life. I took lessons from anyone I could and was fortunate enough to have some wonderful instructors, including John Scofield, Joe Pass and Alan DeMausse. I've played many jingle sessions, and even now I not only play them but have written a few. I've "ghosted" for a few people that shall remain nameless, but they get the credit and I got the money! I've played sessions in every style, from pop to jazz.
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July 17, 2015 at 8:07am
Since the late 80s, orchestra bells (and all mallet percussion) made in Japan are tuned to A=442, instead of A=440, so you have to make adjustments. Either switch to US or European instruments, or have a handy-dandy pitch controller. Isn't technology amazing? I have thought the same of singers using autotune. Why learn to actually sing in tune when the engineer will fix it for you? Why learn to sing with great vocal depth when machines can add it for you? The death of true artistry comes in electronic form.
July 16, 2015 at 11:15pm
Great article. 40+ years ago I learned to tune to records, a 6-note pitch pipe, and a tuning fork. So yes, I HAD to use my ear for those methods! It was invaluable training and arguably one of the most important aspects of playing an instrument-- use your ears!
These days I'm tuner crazy; with one on a pedalboard, a backup in the rack, one on my smartphone, even clip-ons lying around the house. I'm blessed with a keen sense of relative pitch so I have a note in my head to get started if need be, so nothing can take that away. I think robot tuners and gizmos of that type take away an important aspect of learning the instrument-- and I do NOT want that crap on my guitars. I also hate when tuners put numbers on the strings instead of the names of the notes. I want to tune a low E, not a 6!
July 16, 2015 at 9:05pm
I love this article and have seen others regarding the same issue. Professionally I am a piano technician and tuner so I totally understand where you are coming from. I have been playing music semi-pro for about 30 years and it seems that each time I work with someone new (especially if they are younger) the critical technique of tuning is the last thing that these people ever worry about learning. I won't even mention the older players that aspire to play prog rock or jazz that can't tune their instruments. It's to their detriment because they will never get work regardless of how talented or driven they think they are. When I work as a producer my talent lays more in the writing/arranging/performance area rather than the twiddling of knobs. I always try to find a great engineer to work alongside but even in that capacity I still come across engineers that have been working for a very long time that can't hear when something is slightly out of tune. It drives me crazy and sometimes makes me think I am crazy! LOL! I understand the need for electronic tuners on a stage and in the studio for accuracy and use them myself but these new guitars that Gibson is putting out with the robo-tuners on them is a travesty to entire generations of guitar players that will never learn how to tune accurately and correctly by ear. I think it's an absolutely horrible idea and should be avoided like the plague. Learn to tune your instruments by ear and it will pay huge dividends in the future.
July 16, 2015 at 2:39pm
I've been spoiled by tuners. I used to tune by ear, but tuners get your tuning so perfect I hate doing it by ear now because I can just tell one of the strings is off.
January 20, 2015 at 8:07pm
this is accurate tuner. But if you found any difficulties you could also try this one http://onlinetuner.us
October 20, 2014 at 2:05pm
With that chorus effect you said have 1 gtr tuned and the other one how many cents sharp or flat do you have it set thanks. Does this work for phase or any other effects thanks. Ron. I love your column. So insightful, good to keep it old school.
October 17, 2014 at 2:24pm
One can make the same argument about driving with GPS systems--no more memorizing the scenery and drama of going awry. That's a negative trade-off of losing a connection with reality in favor of a dependence on technology. As far as guitar tuning goes I can tell you that my guitar goes a bit sharp over night as the strings react to cooler temps and not being played. If they all go sharp equally but in the tiny degree that they do, I won't notice it. But if I run the tuner installed in the bezel of my neck pickup, I make tiny adjustments to bring the readings right on. Is that technology dependence too? I really don't think so. It's a real hep compared to the old days of listening and either sending one string sharp or flat by adjusting another or just convincing yourself something is not right with your perception today. Now, I check, I play for hours and I my guitar stays in tune. I can check before I stop for the day. But it will show a few strings slightly sharp the next from rest and temperature causing the steel to slighly pull into atomic rest.
December 31, 2013 at 12:56pm
I have been playing for a very long time, and the bulk of my playing was done without a tuner. I tuned to a tuning fork and then a keyboard. I always managed to be in tune when needed, but now I use the Polytune, and I use it religiously. I am glad I learned to do it by ear, but I am equally glad that I can do it quickly and silently as well. Call me lazy, but I just want to be in tune, and I want to do it the quickest and easiest way possible. I want to concentrate on the song and not have to second guess if I am in tune or not.
December 24, 2013 at 3:03pm
Back in the old days (and I mean old, the 60s and 70s)we used to say, "Good enough for folk" when we'd all tune first to a piano and then to each other. Recently, with on-board tuners, I've discovered that my natural relative pitch is a bit sharp if I tune without using the electronics. So, it's interesting to have learned that and now try to better fix the correct pitch in my head, knowing that I am probably a touch sharp.
December 24, 2013 at 12:04am
You mentioned in your article about the number of string windings even affecting the intonation... How many windings do you use???? Is it different for every string, like I would imagine? Is it different for different types of guitars, i.e. a Strat and Les Paul, or even an acoustic??? Also, I love your column! Have a great holiday!!!!
December 20, 2013 at 3:50am
I totally agree with your point of the importance of being able to tune by ear.
The importance dawned on me particularly when I started playing guitars with tuning systems outside of 12 equal temperament. I've been playing guitars in 19, 15, and 22-equal temperament (ie 19 evenly spaced notes per octave) a lot over the last couple years and the electric tuners don't have a way to chromatically tune all the strings, because in the 19 equal temperament A is 7 cents sharp, B is 7 cents flat and G and D are both pretty sharp.
So I tune the E strings to the tuner then everything else relative. It's been tricky but tuning by ear like that sure makes your ears open up to subtle differences, and the effects have been very enjoyable!
December 19, 2013 at 11:50pm
I had been playing for many years before I ever bought an electronic tuner. I used to just use a tuning fork or a reference note from a pitch pipe (remember those?).
December 19, 2013 at 12:15am
I found a way of tuning using a tuning fork & a distorted guitar. play open A & place the vibrating fork an inch or two away from the string above a pick up. You hear the frequencies beating if out of tune & then tune accordingly. you do need to hold the fork at an angle of about 45 degrees to the strings for it to work. Then tune the rest.
December 19, 2013 at 12:11am
i've found that using a tuner consistently helps me tremendously on those rare occasions when i do not have a tuner available.
once you become accustomed hearing your strings at proper pitch and to to playing in tune all the time, it's much easier to hear/realize it when you aren't in tune. at least, it is for me.
in my case, i started learning to play back in the bad old days when electronic tuners were prohibitively expensive. as a result, i HAD to learn how to relatively tune my guitar - by ear - to a single "known to be accurate" pitch such as a tuning fork, pitch pipe or even a recording. so i know how it's done.
i have met some less-experienced players who haven't a clue on how to tune their instruments without the use of a tuner, so i believe "tuner dependency" to be a very real potential problem.
we're lucky to live in a time where reliable and accurate tuners are so inexpensive...
December 19, 2013 at 5:45pm
We sure are lucky! And I agree that hearing it over time will help a student recognize it. But there are so many quicker ways! Thanks!
December 18, 2013 at 10:15pm
I was born with severe hearing loss in both ears. So of course I decided to take up the guitar. Been playing for 16 years and I still have a hard time tuning by ear. Noise throws me off big time. Especially cars going by and any noise in the house. I'm stuck with my tuner but for me it is not a bad thing.
December 19, 2013 at 5:47pm
And I commend you for not letting your condition stop you! You are a hero! I mean it! We're all in need of some sort of technology. My eyes are bad so I wear glasses. You are an inspiration! Have a great Holiday Season!
Alex Rude
December 18, 2013 at 9:22pm
Thank you for the article!! I have been playing guitar seriously for probably 30+ years now and tuning was definitely something I needed to learn about when I first started. Today I make a good living as a piano tech/tuner along with playing guitar in my band and what I have learned is that practically 90% of the people I see playing guitar or bass (even drums!) have no clue how to tune their instruments! They rely on electronic tuners all the time. Live and in the studio accuracy is essential but if they were to lose their tuners they would be severely challenged to tune their respective instruments in any other setting. That is the one thing that drives me batty and keeps me from enjoying live music a lot of the time. Maybe it's because I have a deeper understanding of what "in tune" actually means and should sound like but I definitely believe that even the most accomplished musicians could learn a thing or two about tuning their instruments. Please write more about this in future issues of Guitar World as it will make for a much more harmonious world!
December 19, 2013 at 5:50pm
Being a piano tuner, your ears must be amazing! I remember back in the day before most sessions were using samples, we had a tuner before EVERY session. Part of the budget! I'll definitely keep it in mind. Instruments out of tune drives me crazy! And don't get me started on vocalists! HA! Thanks for commenting!
December 18, 2013 at 6:07pm
i hateeeeeeeeeeeeee being out of tune espichlly on a floyd rose guitar i cant stand it! it took me 7 years to figure out how to keep the dam thing in tune and once i did its SOOOO pleasuring after u keep it in tune and it lasts awhile! once u tune it the first time ur set X)
December 19, 2013 at 5:52pm
I hear you! Floyds are the most amazing innovation and a giant pain till you get it your technique on string changing down! I love em!I have some guitars I take out months later and they are in tune. Amazing! Enjoy the Season!
December 18, 2013 at 4:58pm
Based on experience, a long ride back from a gig with a tuner in a gig bag emitting its A440 tone in the trunk for the entire ride will give you the ability to hear an A for the rest of your life.
December 19, 2013 at 6:03pm
Hysterical! That will get it stuck for sure! You probably thought you had tinnitus! Great story! Have a great Holiday season and thanks for commenting.
December 18, 2013 at 3:50pm
December 19, 2013 at 6:16pm
Thanks for commenting. Hey, great that you found a technique that works for you! Success in the future and a great Holiday Season.
December 18, 2013 at 2:49pm
I used to tune by ear at the beginning of my guitar playing years (49 years playing and still going strong!) I loved to use a tuning fork, then gently ease all of the strings into tune. Of course, playing a gig in a noisy club meant I had to tune at a fairly high volume, and one day a bandleader told me to figure out a different way to tune, or figure out a different band.
'Nuff said!
When I'm practicing at home by myself, I love to use the online guitar tuners that play a pitch. That way, I can heterodyne each string into a very precise state. Not so for the clubs, though!
And here's a tip- if you happen to have an Ebow, use it to tune your strings since it excites them into a steady state. Yes, I know this ignores the pitch differential on the first attack, but you hear steady state longer than the attack… unless you're Yngwie.
December 19, 2013 at 6:20pm
Thanks for that Ebow tip mooseboy! Love that! Will definitely try it! Enjoy the Winter!
December 18, 2013 at 2:25pm
I have always tuned by ear for about 40 years. I get one string set and I am goog to go. But one of my guitars sounds better when tuned using an electronic tuner.
December 19, 2013 at 6:21pm
I hear ya! Every guitar is different and we do what works with each guitar! Enjoy the season!
Glenn Kennedy
December 18, 2013 at 2:20pm
Great article! Personally, I never owned a tuner at all until I was 22, nearly a decade after starting to play. I always trusted my ears more, and still do. So many slight things need to be compensated for, as you said, and they do make a big difference in the end.
I started using a tuner because of something that has been an issue ever since - working for bandleaders who do not allow audible tuning before performance. I've found that particularly those who play digital pianos have no real grasp of this necessity and often seem to assume you are just messing around or something, instead of properly preparing for performance. I have been sat under air-conditioning vents etc, had to tune silently and electronically because someone decided it was more important to sit or stand in complete silence than to check tuning audibly,and then expected to be in tune throughout the show, defying the laws of physics consistently as well as playing the music perfectly.
It's hard to get around that and I do wish there were more knowledge and understanding from other musicians about this integral part of the intrinsic nature of the guitar. But for rock shows and club gigs, it is certainly feasible to tune by ear - or even to tune with a tuner and let your ears provide the final "quality control". And if you're stuck using a tuner, it is always worth checking the octave and even the 5th, as well as the tonic open string.
December 19, 2013 at 6:27pm
Bandleaders....they are the boss! Thankfully we have the technology to not get them angry and be replaced! They have a lot on their plate anyway...better to just do what you can and take the check and walk away happy. And speaking of Happy! Happy Holidays!
December 18, 2013 at 2:00pm
This is interesting because I feel I am addicted to my on-board tuner. I literally turn it on and tune every time I pick up my acoustic-electric. I've tried to tune by ear but it never matches exactly what the onboard tuner says.
December 19, 2013 at 6:31pm
It's just a habit. Sometimes they are necessary. Just keep trying. Try it with just one string. Tune the A, then try and get another in tune using octaves and harmonics and whatever. You'll get it. But on board tuners make it too easy to not use! Thanks for commenting and enjoy the Holidays!
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