Digital BW, The Print

Clayton,

Under "Ink Configuration" in the Epson driver there is a slider for 
controlling ink density.  I don't know what it does when you are 
printing in BO mode, but you could try increasing the density slider 
value (I think +20 is the max) to boost ink output.

Carl

On Sunday, July 18, 2004, at 08:42  PM, Clayton Jones wrote:

> Hello Paul,
>
>> If I print a test target in NCA mode on my 2200, the 0,0,0 patch
>> generally looks a tad lighter than the nearby black patches. It
>> appears that 0,0,0 translates into pure K, while other small
>> values produce CMYK combinations that are actually darker. I would
>> think that good profiling software would be smart enough to avoid
>> pushing the printer into its pure K output range,
>> but apparently it isn't.
>
> I'm not sure what you mean by "CMYK combinations" when I'm printing BO
> from only the black cart.  Doesn't that mean combinations of various
> inks?
>
> I have been working with the assumption that in a grayscale mode image
> a pixel of 0 RGB value is as black as is possible, and that a patch of
> 0 pixels will be printed with the blackest ink combination that the
> printer is capable of (which in a BO print would be 100% coverage of
> dots).
>
> The big assumption is that more ink was laid down in the 2nd print.
> Based on that:
>
> I was talking with Steve K. about it today and we wondered what there
> was about the paper that would make the patch look darker the 2nd
> time, when the first print had what looked like 100% coverage.  It
> would mean the paper is capable of looking darker with that extra ink
> (up to a point I suppose).  That would mean that the quantity of ink
> is a factor as well as 100% coverage of dots.  Some questions:
>
> 1) Why did the S-curve, which didn't move the zero anchor point and
> theoretically didn't change any already zero pixels, make the printer
> put down more ink in a patch that was already solid zero pixels?
>
> 2) What does "more ink" actually mean in this case? Two squirts on
> each dot location instead of one?  Dot locations that overlap?
>
> 3) Why does adding more ink to an already 100% covered area of pure
> black increase Dmax?  Does a lesser amount of ink sink in deep and
> leave less on the surface, and a greater amount "fills it up" so to
> speak?
>
> 4) Will all papers react to extra ink that way?
>
> 5) Here's the biggie: The paper is capable of much better Dmax if you
> give it more ink.  I found that I can give it more ink with the curve
> (for whatever mysterious reason), but it ruined the pic because the
> rest of the image was too contrasty.  How can I make the printer give
> it more ink in zero RGB zones without changing the contrast?
>
> One reason I'm so interested is because the paper in question has
> paper color and ink color that are nearly identical to Photo Rag, but
> considerably less Dmax.  But the 2nd print was so much closer to PR
> that it could easily become a PR substitute at a far lower cost and,
> from my testing so far, without the flaking problem.  But how to get
> more ink to the paper in the black areas...
>
> Thanks for the input.
>
> Regards,
> Clayton
>
>
> Info on black and white digital printing at
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>
>
>
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other 
> resources as they are often being updated.
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish 
> to unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting 
> this same page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to 
> keep them short.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or 
> flames. Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from 
> the membership without notice.
> - Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital 
> B&W printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be 
> removed from the membership.
> - By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and 
> guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group 
> Owner and Moderators. See “Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines” in the 
> Files section:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
>
> BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE 
> PRINT YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE “OWNER” 
> AND “MODERATORS” OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE 
> LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, 
> CONSEQUENTIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 
> DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE 
> LOSSES (EVEN IF THE  “OWNER” AND “MODERATORS” OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT 
> YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), 
> RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, 
> THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF 
> YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD 
> PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER 
> MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>