Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

For 1270 and 870 owners, a new set of Photoshop image adjustment curves has
been posted in the Files section of this forum.  The Files section is at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/

From there go to:  > Ink Sets, reviews and techniques > MIS Variable Mix >
870 and 1270 Curves

Martin has put all the curves in a Zip file that also includes a text file
with the setting information.

These curves use different settings than the older 1270 curves.  The first
difference is that the Epson driver color management setting is, "No Color
Adjustment."  So the sliders are disabled.  But, the trade-off is that the
curves should be cross-platform. (The names have a prominent "NCA" in them
to remind me and others of this change.)

I wrote the curves on an 870-PC platform.  So, I'd be most curious how they
work on a 1270-Mac platform.

These curves also use paper-type setting of Matte Heavy Weight, not Photo
Quality Ink Jet.  The curves, as usual, were written for Epson
Archival/Enhanced Matte.

The curves also are written for Adobe RGB (1998) working space.  (I set the
Color Settings (under "Edit") first to PS 5 defaults and then just change
the RGB working space to Adobe RGB (1998).)

I've re-named the "mw" curve the "nw" curve.  When this curve is used with
EAM, the print is initially dead neutral in the mid-ranges -- according to
the X-Rite densitometer I used to write the curves.  (Of course, the paper
tone affects the highlights, and the warm black affects the deep shadows.)
So, the "nw" curve starts neutral but will warm to medium warm.

Note also that one of the curves is a grayscale printing curve.  There is no
RGB mode conversion in the workflow for this curve.  Just apply the curve
and print.  (Be careful not to save an altered file, which will not be as
obvious as in the RGB workflows.)  The print is 0.01 unit cool in the
lighter tones and a bit cooler in the shadows, with a maximum 0.03 cool at
65-70%.  (These modern, hextone Epsons clearly do not need partitioning
curves to get smooth highlights.)

Let me know how these new curves work on your 1270s.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com

Paul,

This is great. Thank you. You appear to have found, as I did that 
with modern Epson 6 color printers it is not necessary to partition 
the curves to get dot-free highlights. Shadow smoothness may be 
another matter. Clearly, this means that an inkset with no curves 
adjustment (WYSIWYP) is possible, perhaps with minor adjustment to 
account for printer-to-priter variabilities. I bielive the FS inks 
are very close to acheiving this. I have more or less abandoned 
partitioned work-flows in favor of the FS inks with a global curve.

I did rough density measurents (scanner based) on Epson color dyes 
and the FS Quads, and I believe the FS inks loaded in the following 
order will require very small curves adjustments (I will try them in 
a couple of days):

CcMmYK (inks positions) = CYCYMK (FS inks) or Dark, Light, Dark, 
Light, Medium, Black. This is slightly different from my current ink 
positions of CcMmYK = CMCMYK.

Shilesh

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> For 1270 and 870 owners, a new set of Photoshop image adjustment 
curves has
> been posted in the Files section of this forum.  The Files section 
is at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
> 
> From there go to:  > Ink Sets, reviews and techniques > MIS 
Variable Mix >
> 870 and 1270 Curves
> 
> Martin has put all the curves in a Zip file that also includes a 
text file
> with the setting information.
> 
> These curves use different settings than the older 1270 curves.  
The first
> difference is that the Epson driver color management setting 
is, "No Color
> Adjustment."  So the sliders are disabled.  But, the trade-off is 
that the
> curves should be cross-platform. (The names have a prominent "NCA" 
in them
> to remind me and others of this change.)
> 
> I wrote the curves on an 870-PC platform.  So, I'd be most curious 
how they
> work on a 1270-Mac platform.
> 
> These curves also use paper-type setting of Matte Heavy Weight, not 
Photo
> Quality Ink Jet.  The curves, as usual, were written for Epson
> Archival/Enhanced Matte.
> 
> The curves also are written for Adobe RGB (1998) working space.  (I 
set the
> Color Settings (under "Edit") first to PS 5 defaults and then just 
change
> the RGB working space to Adobe RGB (1998).)
> 
> I've re-named the "mw" curve the "nw" curve.  When this curve is 
used with
> EAM, the print is initially dead neutral in the mid-ranges -- 
according to
> the X-Rite densitometer I used to write the curves.  (Of course, 
the paper
> tone affects the highlights, and the warm black affects the deep 
shadows.)
> So, the "nw" curve starts neutral but will warm to medium warm.
> 
> Note also that one of the curves is a grayscale printing curve.  
There is no
> RGB mode conversion in the workflow for this curve.  Just apply the 
curve
> and print.  (Be careful not to save an altered file, which will not 
be as
> obvious as in the RGB workflows.)  The print is 0.01 unit cool in 
the
> lighter tones and a bit cooler in the shadows, with a maximum 0.03 
cool at
> 65-70%.  (These modern, hextone Epsons clearly do not need 
partitioning

> curves to get smooth highlights.)
> 
> Let me know how these new curves work on your 1270s.
> 
> Paul
> http://www.PaulRoark.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> For 1270 and 870 owners, a new set of Photoshop image adjustment 
curves has
> been posted in the Files section of this forum.  The Files section 
is at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
> 

No question about it, these new curves are terrific.  I am using 
however: 1280 on PC with MIS CFS. Additionally, so far, I find the 
Premium Photo Glossy media type, 2880 No Color Adjustment, works the 
best.  I am looking so far at the NC curve.  The only thing I would 
like to try to get is 95 & 90 darker.  I have a very visible jump 
from 100 to 95, and 95 appears almost the same as 90.  RE: my media 
choice, I did try the suggested media settings, but for some reason I 
am getting better results with the Premium Photo Glossy.
Any advice on how to go about adjusting the curves to get 95 & 90 
darker, without throwing off the rest of the curve (which looks 
fantastic).

Best regards,
Kevin

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> For 1270 and 870 owners, a new set of Photoshop image adjustment 
curves has
> been posted in the Files section of this forum.  The Files section 
is at:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
> 

BTW:  Thank you VERY MUCH Paul, for your wonderful work !!!!
I am going to CC Bob Zeiss, as I have been speaking with him RE: 
trouble I was having with the VM Inkset, and my experience with the 
1280.

All the best,
Kevin Logan