RE: [Digital BW] Getting print contrast to match screen contrast with Epson C86 (or Defense Against the Dark Arts of Curve Editing)
2005-08-07 by Paul Roark
Phil,
> ... Photoshop v. 7 and ... Epson C86 ... Enhanced Matte paper.
> The tonality of the printed image does not match ... my monitor,...
Getting a match between the apparent light-dark density range of the print
and monitor does help. With most of my systems I use the PS preview/soft
proofing method outlined here:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/Monitor-Profiling.htm . I ignore matching
color or hue.
With the C86, one might be able to get a fairly close match just with the
sliders -- without using a printing curve. I have some starting settings at
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/C86-EZ-UT-Readme.htm .
For my use of the C86 to print files made to my usual and expected printing
ramp (in short for historical reasons that should not affect one starting
out fresh), I use a preview curve on my monitor as well as a printing curve.
One might just as easily either match the print and monitor with the sliders
and no curves, or use at most one monotone curve (perhaps loaded as a
transfer function) to take the place of both curves I use.
>
> I've taken a number of steps to calibrate my printing process, but the
> printed image is lighter, overall, than the image on screen ...
Yep, it was an artifact of a limited (256) scale and an attempt to optimize
the efficiency with which that scale was used. Now we ought to just use 16
bit and trash the old B&W standard. Use RGB and Lab as the guideposts.
I think I'll take a shot at a C86 Lab curve that puts L 50 in the middle.
I'll be curious how that works.
> I suspect that I'll have to cross the threshold into the Dark
> Arts of adjustment-curve editing (for which I would avail myself of Paul
> Roark's excellent instructions at
> http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/Monotone_Curves.htm).
That would be a last resort, of course.
By the way, be sure you're using your "color" inks with the C86. My
approach is not a "Black ink only" ("BO") one.
Paul
www.PaulRoark.com
Before I take that
> step,
> however, I want to see if I've missed anything else in the process. Here
> is
> the summary of what I have done so far:
>
> 1) Using the Photoshop gamma utility, I've created a monitor profile and
> confirmed (right-click desktop->Settings->Advanced->Color Management) that
> the profile is being used by my PC.
>
> 2) Photoshop working settings are as follows:
> - Image->Mode->Grayscale
> - Image->Mode->Assign Profile->Don't Color Manage
> -Edit->Color Settings->Working Spaces->RGB Mode->Adobe RGB (1998)
> -Edit->Color Settings->Working Spaces->Gray->Gray Gamma 2.2
>
> 3) In Photoshop, I created an Adjustment layer into which I loaded Paul's
> C86-EZ-EEM-Con-15.acv, verified that it is the topmost layer and that it
> is
> visible when I print.
>
> 4) In C86 printer driver:
> - Color Management is Gamma 2.2
> - Brightness and Contrast sliders are both at 0
> - Paper is Matte Heavy
> - Print Options are Black Ink Only and Edge Smoothing
NO.Show quoted textHide quoted text
> > First of all, I want to clarify that I'm using the adjustment curve > correctly. I've loaded C86-EZ-EEM-Con-15.acv into an adjustment layer. > When > editing, I make the adjustment layer non-visible; when I print, I make it > visible. I gather that the printed result should look the same as the > result > on screen when the adjustment layer is _not_ visible. Do I have this part > of > things correctly? > > If I do need to modify the curve, I have these questions: > a) Should I start with the C86-EZ-EEM-Con-15.acv or is there some other > curve I should be using? > b) Which of the various step tablets (K156, K168, K180, K220, K240) I > should > be using for the C86/Eboni Black/Epson Enhanced Matte combination? > > Thanks for your help! > > --Phil > > > > > > > > > Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, and other resources as > they are often being updated. > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint > > If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to > unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same > page. > > Please follow these basic guidelines: > - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep > them short. > - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames. > Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from the > membership without notice. > - Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of digital B&W > printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be removed from > the membership. > - By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules and > guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the group Owner > and Moderators. See Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines in the Files > section: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/ > > BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT > YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE OWNER AND > MODERATORS OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO > YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR > EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF > PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE > OWNER AND MODERATORS OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN > ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE > OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii) > UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION OF YOUR TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii) > STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD PARTY ON THE DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT > YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER MATTER RELATING TO THE DIGITAL BW, THE > PRINT YAHOO GROUP. > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > >