Digital BW, The Print

I think I asked this question before but can't find the answer. I've a
good working 4000 Pro that is about out of ink. I've been trying,
without much luck, to get neutral black and white prints from it using
QTR on my G5. I get much better results (or I'm just mis-reading
images:) from my PC. I can't get away from either green or magenta
tints so I'm going to jump into the deep end of the swimming pool and
switch over to MIS inks. I gather from what I read that I'll need a
spectro... device and software like Print Fix Pro 2(?) to make my own
".icc's" but I'm concerned when I read that QTR won't "see" those
custom profiles.

Any suggestion are greatly appreciated. I don't mind doing the "heavy
lifting" work to get quality B&W prints, I can't afford a new 4800
or wait for a 3800. And I don't want to give up 17 inch x 40 inch print
sizes from roll.

Thanks in advance. Alan

Alan,

>... I've a good working 4000 Pro that is about out of ink. ...
> I'm going to jump into the deep end of the swimming pool and
> switch over to MIS inks. 

Potentially suitable MIS inksets would include, from the deepest end of the
swimming pool, the UT-3D (http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT-3D_Readme.pdf),
the UT7 (see http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT-2200-Readme.htm for general
information and http://www.dirkhobman.com/MIScurves/MIScurves.html for 4000
curves), and the UT-R2 (see http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/R220_R2_Readme.pdf
for general information, as well as the other comments on my general index
at http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/index.htm) (While I have not run the R2 in
a 4000, it uses rather universal ink densities that would make it easily
controllable in the 4000.)

>I gather from what I read that I'll need a spectro... 

Not necessarily.  Many use pre-made curves.  Additionally, the R2 inkset can
be like a monotone inkset that may well be reasonably controllable with the
Epson drive sliders.

However, for a perfectionist, you'll want a spectro.  The Print Fix Pro
might be the most affordable one that works well (text output for Roy's
Create ICC), but it does not have a strip reader.  It takes me one minute to
read a 21-step test strip.

>... I'm concerned when I read that QTR won't "see" those custom profiles.

The ICCs made with Create ICC work fine in the Photoshop Print Preview when
using the Epson driver for printing.  That is how I use them.  While the
Create ICC program is in the QTR download, the rip has its own linearization
routine, which I believe works fine with the PFP spectro.  (I'm not a QTR
expert, however.)

Good luck with your B&W.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Thank you for the detailed description Paul. I think I'll be quite busy, and
eventually quite happy, with the results created with the UT-3D or UT7
inksets.

 

I forgot to ask two questions in my earlier post.. Should I use a flushing
set of cartridges to clean out the old Ultra-Chrome inks left over? And I've
a Monaco DP-94(?) reader, part of a Monaco XR Pro calibration system. 2
things come to mind, and I'll be posting one to ColorVision. Can I use the
Monaco with their system, saving me money by not buying a new Spyder; and 2
- does the Pulse reader do a good job of creating profiles that are usable
by QTR in Photoshop?

 

Hope these aren't too basic of questions, it's a big jump for me to not have
a printer that can print color:-)

 

Thanks again, Alan

 

  _____  

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Roark
Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2006 3:30 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Switching to B&W on G5 and Epson 4000 Pro

 

Alan,

>... I've a good working 4000 Pro that is about out of ink. ...
> I'm going to jump into the deep end of the swimming pool and
> switch over to MIS inks. 

Potentially suitable MIS inksets would include, from the deepest end of the
swimming pool, the UT-3D (http://home1.
<http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT-3D_Readme.pdf>
gte.net/res09aij/UT-3D_Readme.pdf),
the UT7 (see http://home1.
<http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/UT-2200-Readme.htm>
gte.net/res09aij/UT-2200-Readme.htm for general
information and http://www.dirkhobm
<http://www.dirkhobman.com/MIScurves/MIScurves.html>
an.com/MIScurves/MIScurves.html for 4000
curves), and the UT-R2 (see http://home1.
<http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/R220_R2_Readme.pdf>
gte.net/res09aij/R220_R2_Readme.pdf
for general information, as well as the other comments on my general index
at http://home1. <http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/index.htm>
gte.net/res09aij/index.htm) (While I have not run the R2 in
a 4000, it uses rather universal ink densities that would make it easily
controllable in the 4000.)

>I gather from what I read that I'll need a spectro... 

Not necessarily. Many use pre-made curves. Additionally, the R2 inkset can
be like a monotone inkset that may well be reasonably controllable with the
Epson drive sliders.

However, for a perfectionist, you'll want a spectro. The Print Fix Pro
might be the most affordable one that works well (text output for Roy's
Create ICC), but it does not have a strip reader. It takes me one minute to
read a 21-step test strip.

>... I'm concerned when I read that QTR won't "see" those custom profiles.

The ICCs made with Create ICC work fine in the Photoshop Print Preview when
using the Epson driver for printing. That is how I use them. While the
Create ICC program is in the QTR download, the rip has its own linearization
routine, which I believe works fine with the PFP spectro. (I'm not a QTR
expert, however.)

Good luck with your B&W.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 



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

>... Should I use a flushing set of cartridges to clean out the 
> old Ultra-Chrome inks left over? ...

I would not spend my money on such.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

Hi,

that's a pretty nice statement... Because I also was thinking I have
to clean my inklines before I can load BW inks.
Are some power cleaning cycles enough to get rid of the old ink?

Thanks 
Gerd.


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

>
> >... Should I use a flushing set of cartridges to clean out the 
> > old Ultra-Chrome inks left over? ...
> 
> I would not spend my money on such.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>

>... Are some power cleaning cycles enough to get rid of the old ink?

I have not been able to get clear answers from repair people as to what
method of getting the new ink into the lines is the least wearing on the
printer.  The fastest is to do a "prepare for transport" and/or "initial
fill" procedure.  I found with the initial fill procedure, where the color
was changed, more cleaning was needed the next morning as old ink polluted
the new ink somewhat.  Lately I've also been using purge patterns,
particularly if only a few inks are being replaced.  I modify the pattern to
print predominantly the color channels of interest. I use cheap butcher
paper to print on (with a 7500).

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

> Lately I've also been using purge patterns,
> particularly if only a few inks are being replaced.  I modify the
pattern to
> print predominantly the color channels of interest. I use cheap butcher
> paper to print on (with a 7500).
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com

Thanks for that Paul.
As you mention purge patterns: recently I prepared some purge patterns
to be used with QTR. So you can exactly determine whick ink channel
should be purged. 
This .tif file must be loaded in the Calibration Mode of QTR and then
be printed.
The red channel of the image determines which ink to use (127: ink 1,
191: ink 2, ...), the green channel controls the amount of ink (255:
no ink, 0: max ink). Blue channel is always 255.

Greetings
Gerd