Digital BW, The Print

Hello

I�ve recently been trying out Lyson Quad Black inks on an 1160. The neutral
black set prints out very well on several papers (from photoshop6) using no
colour adjustment in the Epson driver and a print destination space of
Greyscale Gamma=1.8

Lyson�s recommended approach is convert greyscale to RGB and then print  as
above, using photo film setting to keep ink use low enough.

After trying several paper samples with a step wedge and some test pictures,
I think the range of tones is excellent, with some warming under artificial
(tungsten) light quite acceptable to myself.

Now some questions�

Looking at a 95/96/97/98/100 wedge. Each division is clear, but there
appears to be a larger step in density between 97% and 98% such that from
normal viewing distances the wedge looks to be only two tones. This showed
in one image as slight posterisation of a shadow area. I�ve tried some
adjustment curves, but that step is very difficult to smooth. This effect is
present to some extent on all papers I tried

Has anyone else noticed this effect? If so what did you do?

In the Epson driver what actual differences do the different �standard�
paper settings make to ink coverage? (I�ve not been able to find any actual
�quantitative- info on this)

I�ve looked at several of the techniques discussed for other ink sets (I
have a postscript RIP -if- needed), but they are not for Lyson inks, and I
do not want to use up lots of ink and paper, just to get to a point that
someone else has already reached:  Also, I do not have a photometer to
actually measure things.

Any experiences or pointers to Lyson Quad Black printing gratefully
received..

Keith Cooper
Leicester, England

---------------------------------
System setup (Mac)

Images scanned from B/W negs using Canon FS4000 @14bit greyscale
Photoshop 6.0.1  B/W space grey Gamma2.2, Colour space AdobeRGB
Monitor calibrated and set to Gamma=1.8
Printer Epson 1160 via Epson driver or PowerRIP2000 V6 running on a Mac
9500/200 used as a file and print server
Papers used
Lyson Pro photo Glossy and Satin (I liked this paper), Epson photo, Lyson
matt photo, Lyson Standard and Rough fine art
(Lyson samples courtesy of Graphicstar in the UK
http://www.graphicstar.co.uk �not affiliated in any way)
---------------------------------

Keith-

You might want to try the profiles available on the lyson site. I 
haven't noticed a large difference in using them and not using them, 
but they are free and might solve your problem.

I have been using Lyson small gamut (tried one set of quad carts and 
switched to small gamut for the flexibility) and I always convert to 
grayscale and back to RGB. I think there is a bit of posterization 
printing in GS. I'm using a PC with the gamma settings at default, so 
that may be a little different than MAC.

I've found that the Lyson inks print great on almost every glossy 
paper. I especially like the Pictorico High Gloss White Film and 
Epson Premium Gloss Photo.

Tom O'Connell

TomOC@...
www.thomasoconnell.com


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Keith Cooper 
<yahoogroups@n...> wrote:
> Hello
> 
> I¹ve recently been trying out Lyson Quad Black inks on an 1160. The 
neutral
> black set prints out very well on several papers (from photoshop6) 
using no
> colour adjustment in the Epson driver and a print destination space 
of
> Greyscale Gamma=1.8
> 
> Lyson¹s recommended approach is convert greyscale to RGB and then 
print  as
> above, using photo film setting to keep ink use low enough.
> 
> After trying several paper samples with a step wedge and some test 
pictures,
> I think the range of tones is excellent, with some warming under 
artificial
> (tungsten) light quite acceptable to myself.
> 
> Now some questionsŠ
> 
> Looking at a 95/96/97/98/100 wedge. Each division is clear, but 
there
> appears to be a larger step in density between 97% and 98% such 
that from
> normal viewing distances the wedge looks to be only two tones. This 
showed
> in one image as slight posterisation of a shadow area. I¹ve tried 
some
> adjustment curves, but that step is very difficult to smooth. This 
effect is
> present to some extent on all papers I tried
> 
> Has anyone else noticed this effect? If so what did you do?
> 
> In the Epson driver what actual differences do the different 
³standard²
> paper settings make to ink coverage? (I¹ve not been able to find 
any actual
> ­quantitative- info on this)
> 
> I¹ve looked at several of the techniques discussed for other ink 
sets (I
> have a postscript RIP -if- needed), but they are not for Lyson 
inks, and I
> do not want to use up lots of ink and paper, just to get to a point 
that
> someone else has already reached:  Also, I do not have a photometer 
to
> actually measure things.
> 
> Any experiences or pointers to Lyson Quad Black printing gratefully
> received..
> 
> Keith Cooper
> Leicester, England
> 
> ---------------------------------
> System setup (Mac)
> 
> Images scanned from B/W negs using Canon FS4000 @14bit greyscale
> Photoshop 6.0.1  B/W space grey Gamma2.2, Colour space AdobeRGB
> Monitor calibrated and set to Gamma=1.8
> Printer Epson 1160 via Epson driver or PowerRIP2000 V6 running on a 
Mac
> 9500/200 used as a file and print server
> Papers used
> Lyson Pro photo Glossy and Satin (I liked this paper), Epson photo, 
Lyson

> matt photo, Lyson Standard and Rough fine art
> (Lyson samples courtesy of Graphicstar in the UK
> http://www.graphicstar.co.uk ­not affiliated in any way)
> ---------------------------------