Digital BW, The Print

Hi All, I have recently converted my Stylus Pro 9500 to run the 4K+
inkset, and am using QTR.  I have been messing around with the ink
limits in the printer profile, and was wondering if anyone was using a
similar setup and could give me some good starting points.  I am
having trouble obtaining a good balance between "too warm" and "too
magenta," and would like to be able to achieve a more subtle gradation
in the grays.  All of my tests have been on matte paper so far (HPR,
Moab Entrada Bright) but would like to test it on glossy as well. 
Does anyone know a good starting point for the ink limits on glossy? 
I have an eye-one spectrometer but have not gotten around to profiling
any papers yet.  Thanks,

-Chris Lee
cklee313@...

Chris:

I can't help you with the 9500, but based on my experience with 
developing QTR profiles for my R1800 for the K4+Ccm inkset, I suggest 
starting with a carbon profile (just the 4 black/gray inks).  Once you 
get this under your belt, then create a neutral or cool profile by 
adding in the magenta and cyan tones.  You can then use the curve 
blending feature of QTR to get intermediate results.

Note:  I also am experimenting with just a magenta/cyan QTR profile 
and blending it with the carbon profile to achieve cooler tones. 

To conserve on expensive paper as I experiment (I am a matte guy), I 
first create profiles for EEM or PremierArt Matte B/W (aka PremierArt 
Fine Art 210 dual sided matte).

>. Stylus Pro 9500 to run the 4K+ inkset, and . QTR. 

 

As Jeff suggested, I think getting a good carbon core ramp is the first
thing I'd do.  As such the notes at
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/QTR_2200_4K+_MBW-Carb-w7.pdf should be
useful.  It's a step by step description of what I did. Even though the
printer is different, the process of making the curve should be the same.
Also, I've found the relative ratios of the inks stays reasonably similar
when going from one printer to the next.  I'm using Epson light magenta and
the rest is MIS.  The Epson LM may profile just a little differently than
the MIS LM.  As you can see from the notes, I find the LM and LC in my setup
can use the same curve, just at different limits.  Not also that I'm using
an LC that is a 50% dilution.  If you use full strength LC, the ink limit
would be half of what I am using.  

 

I find that once the curve is set up, to move Lab a right or left, I just
swap LC and LM limits - that is, one up and other down.  Lab b stays rather
stable.  To move up or down the Lab b axis, I add or subtract LC and LM in
"equal" amounts (adjusted for 50% dilution or not, depending on what you're
using).  This gives relatively independent control of the Lab axes.  

 

See the curves and numeric coordinates used for a profile with QTR at
http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/QTR_2200_4K+C+cm_MBW-N.pdf, pp. 2 - 3.

 

For my 7500, I use IJC.  So, it's a slightly different workflow (harder to
get the core carbon profiled smoothly).  However, the relative limits may be
useful for you.  Look at http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/PM_Split_Tone.pdf,
p. 4.  IJC uses a scale of 1 - 26 for its ink limits.  (IJC also uses a
26-step test strip instead of the 21-step version I've usually used.)

 

Hope this helps.

 

Paul

www.PaulRoark.com <http://www.paulroark.com/>  

 



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

Hi Jeff/Paul,

Thanks for the info, I am going to start profiling as soon as I get a
minute.  Have either of you used Inkpress Print Plus Heavyweight
2-sided matte?  It seems to have roughly the same specs as Premier
Matte (215gsm, 12 mil, acid/lingin free) but its way cheaper. BH is
selling 250 sheets (letter) for $44. 

-Chris   



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Randall"
<jrandall@...> wrote:

>
> Chris:
> 
> I can't help you with the 9500, but based on my experience with 
> developing QTR profiles for my R1800 for the K4+Ccm inkset, I suggest 
> starting with a carbon profile (just the 4 black/gray inks).  Once you 
> get this under your belt, then create a neutral or cool profile by 
> adding in the magenta and cyan tones.  You can then use the curve 
> blending feature of QTR to get intermediate results.
> 
> Note:  I also am experimenting with just a magenta/cyan QTR profile 
> and blending it with the carbon profile to achieve cooler tones. 
> 
> To conserve on expensive paper as I experiment (I am a matte guy), I 
> first create profiles for EEM or PremierArt Matte B/W (aka PremierArt 
> Fine Art 210 dual sided matte).
>

Chris:  No experience with Inkpress papers.  I get my Premier Art Fine 
Art 210 Dual Sided Matte 8.5"x11"(PA B/W Matte) from 
www.itsupplies.com for $99 for 500 sheets including shipping.  I use 
it for all my matte proofing and profile building (btw--you will use a 
lot of paper!).  It is NOT the PA Hot Press cotton base that is much 
more expensive (but a really nice paper).

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "guangchengshui" 
<cklee313@...> wrote:

> Thanks for the info, I am going to start profiling as soon as I get a
> minute.  Have either of you used Inkpress Print Plus Heavyweight
> 2-sided matte?  It seems to have roughly the same specs as Premier
> Matte (215gsm, 12 mil, acid/lingin free) but its way cheaper. BH is
> selling 250 sheets (letter) for $44.