Digital BW, The Print

I tried to order UT-RC inks for my R260 from MIS and could not.
Mathew informed me that they no longer carry this ink.

Are any of the UT14 inks direct substitutes for the UT-RC shades?

Since the UT14 ink set only has an MK, what could I use for a PK?

Are there any formulas for mixing UT-RC myself?

IF
 none of the above are viable solutions.
AND
 since the R260 has been described in other posts as a small 1400.
AND
 since QTR only supports the R260 in Black Only mode.
COULD
 QTR be tricked into thinking the R260 was a 1400?
(i.e. select 1400 as printer in QTR but have R260 connected.)

If so I could then load the R260 with UT14 inks. If not ?????!

Thanks,
Cliff

Cliff,

The UT-RC inkset used a different set of steps from PK to the medium grays
and finally the light grays.  They are 1:1 (denser ink to clear dilution
base), as opposed to the more usual ones I used for the other inksets,
which are usually 30% denser ink, 70% base (or 1:2 if I expect home mixing
without scales).

The UT14-C is a neutral-cool PK that could be used as a starting point for
making an UT-RC type inkset.  MIS does sell the base required: "amber" base
(aka "glop").  So, you could make an inkset that would print similarly.

One thing I asked MIS to do, and they have, is make a UT14-LLC.  This is
not used in the UT14 inkset, but it allows one to have the 3 densities of
both carbon (K4 PK, LK, and LLK) as well as the 3 densities of the UT14
neutralized PKn (Ut14-C, LC, and LLC).

So, you can put UT14-C in the K position, UT14-LC in the M and C positions,
and UT14-LLC in the light ink positions and have an inkset that can be
printed in any hextone (or greater) printer with the Epson driver and
produce a neutral glossy B&W.  You may need to use some curves or other
profiling approach to get the characteristic curve you want (usually
meaning to match the monitor).  If you want warmer, you put some K4 100%
carbon inks in there to warm things up.  The goal here is to have the
inputs digital darkroom ink mixers need to make whatever B&W inkset they
want.  The home darkroom is not dead, it's just become mostly an ink mixing
room.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com



On Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 12:14 PM, f_56_f <f_5.6@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> I tried to order UT-RC inks for my R260 from MIS and could not.
> Mathew informed me that they no longer carry this ink.
>
> Are any of the UT14 inks direct substitutes for the UT-RC shades?
>
> Since the UT14 ink set only has an MK, what could I use for a PK?
>
> Are there any formulas for mixing UT-RC myself?
>
> IF
> none of the above are viable solutions.
> AND
> since the R260 has been described in other posts as a small 1400.
> AND
> since QTR only supports the R260 in Black Only mode.
> COULD
> QTR be tricked into thinking the R260 was a 1400?
> (i.e. select 1400 as printer in QTR but have R260 connected.)
>
> If so I could then load the R260 with UT14 inks. If not ?????!
>
> Thanks,
> Cliff
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Paul,
I'll try your UT14 suggestion.
I don't know anything about making curves yet but have read your directions for making ICC profiles.
Would my old XRite 400 B&W densitometer be OK for reading the step wedge values? My only scanner is the one on my Brother office printer and I don't know how good it is. I only use it for drawings and electrical schematics.
Cliff

I used an old X-Rite for years.  It was a bit awkward but basically worked
fine.  I don't know anything about that model.  If it will give you a Lab L
output, and read a 21-step test strip, it'll work.

Let me know how this inkset approach works you for you.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

On Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 7:16 AM, f_56_f <f_5.6@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
>
>
> Thanks Paul,
> I'll try your UT14 suggestion.
> I don't know anything about making curves yet but have read your
> directions for making ICC profiles.
> Would my old XRite 400 B&W densitometer be OK for reading the step wedge
> values? My only scanner is the one on my Brother office printer and I don't
> know how good it is. I only use it for drawings and electrical schematics.
> Cliff
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Paul,
The XRite 400 is a B&W reflection densitometer. It reads out in density units (0.00D-2.50D). I don't think the LAB system was around when this was manufactured ,so, no LAB L readings unless the D values can be converted. Looks like I may need to go shopping for a photo scanner. What specs, makes, models should I look for?
Cliff

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Paul Roark <roark.paul@...> wrote:

>
> I used an old X-Rite for years.  It was a bit awkward but basically worked
> fine.  I don't know anything about that model.  If it will give you a Lab L
> output, and read a 21-step test strip, it'll work.
> 
> Let me know how this inkset approach works you for you.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
> 
> On Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 7:16 AM, f_56_f <f_5.6@...> wrote:
> 
> > **
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks Paul,
> > I'll try your UT14 suggestion.
> > I don't know anything about making curves yet but have read your
> > directions for making ICC profiles.
> > Would my old XRite 400 B&W densitometer be OK for reading the step wedge
> > values? My only scanner is the one on my Brother office printer and I don't
> > know how good it is. I only use it for drawings and electrical schematics.
> > Cliff
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Paul Roark <roark.paul@...> wrote:
>
> Cliff,
> 
> The UT-RC inkset used a different set of steps from PK to the medium grays
> and finally the light grays.  They are 1:1 (denser ink to clear dilution
> base), as opposed to the more usual ones I used for the other inksets,
> which are usually 30% denser ink, 70% base (or 1:2 if I expect home mixing
> without scales).
> 
> The UT14-C is a neutral-cool PK that could be used as a starting point for
> making an UT-RC type inkset.  MIS does sell the base required: "amber" base
> (aka "glop").  So, you could make an inkset that would print similarly.
> 
Paul,

I've been reading and re-reading this and I think I have it but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Use UT14-C in the K position.
Dilute UT14-C 1:1 (by wt) with amber base to make medium gray for the C and M positions.
Dilute medium gray 1:1 (by wt) with amber base to make light gray for LC, LM and Y positions.

Cliff

Cliff,

Density readings should work for QTR.  I'm just accustomed to Lab L units
for that.  I believe the software recognizes what it's getting.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

On Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 11:42 AM, f_56_f <f_5.6@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Paul,
> The XRite 400 is a B&W reflection densitometer. It reads out in density
> units (0.00D-2.50D). I don't think the LAB system was around when this was
> manufactured ,so, no LAB L readings unless the D values can be converted.
> Looks like I may need to go shopping for a photo scanner. What specs,
> makes, models should I look for?
> Cliff
>
>
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Paul Roark
> <roark.paul@...> wrote:
> >
> > I used an old X-Rite for years. It was a bit awkward but basically worked
> > fine. I don't know anything about that model. If it will give you a Lab L
> > output, and read a 21-step test strip, it'll work.
> >
> > Let me know how this inkset approach works you for you.
> >
> > Paul
> > www.PaulRoark.com
> >
> > On Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 7:16 AM, f_56_f <f_5.6@...> wrote:
> >
> > > **
>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks Paul,
> > > I'll try your UT14 suggestion.
> > > I don't know anything about making curves yet but have read your
> > > directions for making ICC profiles.
> > > Would my old XRite 400 B&W densitometer be OK for reading the step
> wedge
> > > values? My only scanner is the one on my Brother office printer and I
> don't
> > > know how good it is. I only use it for drawings and electrical
> schematics.
> > > Cliff
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]