Digital BW, The Print

Sounds like you've done all the right things. But I would have a
look in the resulting quad file to be sure nothing is amiss. 

I would check that all the numbers increase as you would
expect and that the ink channel for the black you expect is really
being used.

I have fooled myself a number of ways, and checking the final output
values often indicates where the problem lies.

I don't understand your reply here. Please rephrase:

> 3. Did you delete the LINEARIZE statement to print the test strip?
It was deleted with the new one after linearization

What I do is to delete the LINEARIZE statement. Compile the descriptor. Print the test strip.
Add the resulting LINEARIZE. Recompile.  Then print a test image that allows you to check 
the deep shadows. 

I expect you are doing the same.

good luck,
Costa


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Johnny Eades" <jeades1@s...> 
wrote:
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "ccolbertbw"
> <ccolbert@u...> wrote:
> > 
> > Johnny,
> > All in all those numbers don't look that odd, except for perhaps the
> > low dmax, but I don't know what it should be for that paper. On
> > Photorag I would expect closer to 1.7.
> > 
> > The following sort of assumes you are using a Mac. On a PC there
> > may be other ways to not get what you want.
> 
> 
> No, I use a PC and Roy's QTR 2.2b for Windows.
>  
> > So, a couple of clarifications:
> > 
> > 1. Are you using the exact same file as your "supplied paper curve"
> > with the exception of the LINEARIZE statement?
> 
> Yes 
> > It sounds like you might be printing with the wrong black.
> > 
> I'm using MIS Eboni inks UT2 for the Epson 1280
> 
> > 2. Did you use the same settings for dpi etc?
> Yes everything was the same but for the density reading replaced with
> mine.
> 
> > Printing at a different dpi will change the curve.
> 
> DPI was the same for both 
> 
> > 3. Did you delete the LINEARIZE statement to print the test strip?
>  
> It was deleted with the new one after linearization  
> 
> > You don't want the old one in effect, since there is only one
> linearization
> > done, so that when you put new values in, you would lose the effect
> > of the old one.
> > 
> > 4. Does the linearize statement look like: LINEARIZE="0.03 .10 .19
> and so on
> > all on one line?
> 
> Yes
> > 
> > 5. Are you getting any errors during the curve generation? They can
> go by
> > very quickly. Do the individual inks come in and go out in a
> reasonable way?
> > Sometimes you can get NAN and other indications of an error.
> Usually, in 
> > that case you can't use the curve, however.
> > 
> 
> No error were noted or observed by me.
> 
> > Hope that's a start.
> > 
> > Costa
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Johnny Eades"
> <jeades1@s...> 
> > wrote:
> > > 
> > > Today I had access to a densitometer for about an hour at a nearby
> > > print shop. The gentleman showed me how to read paper white and then
> > > the rest of the 21 step grayscale. After the numbers were recorded I
> > > brought the readings into QTR to linearize. Printing a previous 21
> > > step grayscale with the supplied paper curve and comparing it to one
> > > printed with my paper curve created from the readings, mine is
> > > extremely dark and flat. I've changed the ink limit and the black
> > > boost with no favorable results. I'm bidding on an X-Rite 810
> > > densitometer on Ebay. The one I used today at the print shop was an
> > > X-Rite 500. With the supplied paper curve, the 85-100 steps were
> > > clearly separated; but with my readings, 85-100 was totally black and
> > > shiny with ink lay down. The actual numbers for my readings were much
> > > smaller than those with the supplied curves. My DMax was 1.52 and the
> > > paper white was .03. I am using H'Muhle Photo Matte 170gsm paper with
> > > UT2 inks.
> > > 
> > > Could someone make sense from the percentage readings?
> > > 0--.03
> > > 5--.10
> > > 10--.19
> > > 15--.26
> > > 20--.34
> > > 25--.44
> > > 30--.52
> > > 35--.60
> > > 40--.70
> > > 45--.80
> > > 50--.89
> > > 55--.97
> > > 60--1.03
> > > 65--1.09
> > > 70--1.13
> > > 75--1.18
> > > 80--1.23
> > > 85--1.29
> > > 90--1.34
> > > 95--1.38
> > > 100--1.52
> > > 
> > > My ink limit for the test was 70% with Black Boost of 85%.
> > > 
> > > Any and all help will be greatly appreciated in helping me get this
> > > resolved.
> > > 
> > > Your frustrated friend in Photography,
> > > 
> > > Johnny