Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 5/6/06 11:51:29 PM, m87507@... writes:


> This is a poor-man's solution of how to get a real close and
> accurate color profile using ProfilerPlus software in combination
> with the Epson 3170 scanner, and the Epson R200 printer, while
> eliminating most of the magenta cast in the grey tones of the prints
> (which equals good sepia tones). The software's user instructions
> are too vague for the Epson 3170 scanner driver,
> 

The instructions were written years before the 3170 was created... so it 
would be hard for them to anticipate its interface.

>  and I've tried
> numerous combinations until I stumbled onto this solution. I'm quite
> stunned by the accuracy of the color range here...I didn't think it
> could be done on the cheap (well, yeah I did)
> 
Lots of good luck occurs in this universe. I've had many people write me to 
tell me how happy they are with ProfilerPLUS results. The problem is that 
there's not much I can do for those who don't happen to hit that sweet spot!
> 
> Hopefully others will have the same success I have found using this
> formula, and it might be tried using other Epson scanners as well:
> 
> Profiler Plus:
> 
> Print out the color chart as per the software (i.e. my printer is
> the R200 with MIS color pigment inks, using No Color Adjustment in
> the Epson driver, Edge Smooth "on", Best Photo, Matte Paper
> Heavyweight (for Hahnemuhle Photorag, Epson Enhanced Matte, or
> Double sided Matte Paper)
> 
These directions are correct, but ProfilerPLUS is at a real disadvantage for 
Pigment inks, especially in a printer designed for Dyes, so this is a 
challenging combination!
> 
> Print out the color square chart using the printer settings above.
> LET THE PRINTOUT DRY OVERNIGHT
> 
Matte media, pigment inks, and you find color variation over many hours? 
Thats odd... finding relative density variation   (what this process is really 
measuring) would be even odder...
> 
> Scan the printout using the following (this is using the Epson 3170
> flatbed scanner):
> 48-bit
> 
ProfilerPLUS will only take 8 bits pre channel, so this has to get converted 
at some point...

> 300 dpi
> continous auto exposure
> 
Anything labeled auto is highly suspicious, as being variable... but if you 
are only after relative data, that may be okay.

> 1.8 gamma
> set b&w points w/eyedroppers on the upper left square for the black
> point, lower right for the white point.
> 
This eyedropper bit replicates stretching that the software will do, but if 
the black patch is not the darkest square on the print, then this trick may 
well improve results...

> Slide the output sliders to 0-255 points.
> 
Another "predigesting" trick, this one was never described by ColorVision 
Support, though...

> Scan, then build the ProfilerPlus profile using this scan. Save the
> file using a name such as, "4-7-06-1.8-48bit-contautoexp-R200Epson".
> 
> After saving the profile, close photoshop, then reopen to access the
> new profile.
> 
> Print>Print w/preview
> 
> print as per the above printout settings.
> 
You say for Sepia... I assume this isn't accurate enough for neutral B&W, and 
you aren't mentioning using it for full color... for Sepia, this may give you 
smoother tonality, the same way that QTR linearization with a scanner can 
improve smoothness, as its relying on relative measurements, not absolute, or 
colorimetric ones.

The moral of the story, or course, is to get PrintFIX PRO, and do it right; 
but that won't fit everyone's budget.

C. David Tobie
Product Technology Manager
ColorVision Business Division
DataColor Inc.
CDTobie@...
www.colorvision.com


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