Digital BW, The Print

I've just started testin QTR with mixed results.  I just made four
prints on lustre paper using the lustre profiles.  No matter whether I
used cool or warm, and any mix of settings on the curves, every print
looked the same - a fairly pronounced warm tone.  Color prints with
the Epson driver work fine, so there's no issue with the ink flow.  Ideas?

Also, I'm not sure I understand why there are two curve settings and
what they control and how to get a neutral print out of them.

There are two curves for the purpose of blending.  Your blend may 
range anywhere from 100% of one curve to 100% of the other. So, for 
instance, you might try to achieve a neutral print by trying a 50% 
blend each of a warm and cool curve.  If you are using Windows and the 
QTRgui you merely have to change the blend by the slider or by 
changing the number percentage of the curve on the left.  You might 
try to experiment with a 21 step ramp and change the blends and print 
one test below the other so that you have a page of trials to compare.

Andrew 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Spirer" 
<spearhead@y...> wrote:
> 
> I've just started testin QTR with mixed results.  I just made four
> prints on lustre paper using the lustre profiles.  No matter whether 
I
> used cool or warm, and any mix of settings on the curves, every print
> looked the same - a fairly pronounced warm tone.  Color prints with
> the Epson driver work fine, so there's no issue with the ink flow.  
Ideas?

> 
> Also, I'm not sure I understand why there are two curve settings and
> what they control and how to get a neutral print out of them.

Jeff,

I posted the same issue last week!  

Through some trial and error this week, I found out that the curves 
are actually working.  It is just that they are pretty close to each 
other.  (I am using MIS UT inks with an Epson 1160 by the way.)

The cool curve does not produce a cool print for me.  It is somewhat 
to the warm side of neutral in fact.  It is just not as warm as the 
warm.

Having said that, now I am experimenting the Curve Creation feature.

I basically went to the directory where the curves are kept, backed up 
the original .quad files, then experimented with replacing the curve 
for the toner (the cool ink in yellow position for me) with ones that 
I created myself.  I have gotten the cool curve to be somewhat cooler 
as a result.  Now it is a tad to the cool side of neutral in fact.  
Course now the gamma is off and my experiments continue... 

Theoritically, you can produce a set of curves that only use the toner 
ink to create a unique and very cool print.  You can mix in some black 
to tamper that, etc... I have not tried this yet.

Hope this gives you an idea.  For all this, you have to install and 
use the Curve Creation module that is prompted during the installation 
process.

Edwin


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Spirer" 
<spearhead@y...> wrote:
> 
> I've just started testin QTR with mixed results.  I just made four
> prints on lustre paper using the lustre profiles.  No matter whether 
I
> used cool or warm, and any mix of settings on the curves, every print
> looked the same - a fairly pronounced warm tone.  Color prints with
> the Epson driver work fine, so there's no issue with the ink flow.  
Ideas?

> 
> Also, I'm not sure I understand why there are two curve settings and
> what they control and how to get a neutral print out of them.