Digital BW, The Print

Paul,

This weekend I'm finally getting to generate ICC's using your flatbed
scanner approach.  I am using a Microtek 5900 scanner.  Using PS7, I
got readings of A =95.5, B=16, and M=48 with default settings the
first time.

I then printed out the 21step black test strip from QTR. In the steps
from 55 to 75%, there were varying amounts of blotchiness.  Also, the
lighter shades (0 to 40%) tended to be on the warm side and the darker
shades (60 and up were cooler).  After reading your paper about UT-R2
on the R220, I realized I should get the tone shift since I am using
the variable tone UT-2 inks.  I am just seeing the shift in tone given
by UT-2's different toners.  Is this correct?

If this is the case, then is it possible to generate ICC's for the
UT-2 inkset, or for that matter, any variable tone inkset using Roy's
"Create ICC" program?  Are there combinations of the various UT-2 inks
that could be used to make a fixed tone inkset?  From information on
your website, I take it if I put M in the C position and LM in the LC
position, I'll have a warm inkset.  If I put C in M and LC in LM, I'll
have a cool inkset.  I should then be able to profile both of these
combinations using QTR_Create_ICC.  

By the way, your website says late 2004 your reformulated UT-2 to
eliminate the old magenta, the weakest ink at the time.  I purchased
my inks in March 2005.  Do you have any idea how long it takes MIS to
rotate out old inks?  I'm wondering what magenta I have.

Paul, thank you for all the time you spend on this forum, developing
inks, writing papers, and making it all public information.  It's
really allowed this hobbyist to learn a lot and have fun doing it!

Bob

Hi Bob,

>... ICC's using your flatbed scanner approach. ...

>I then printed out the 21step black test strip from QTR.

What profile did you use?

Did you actually use QTR to print, or are you simply using the 21-step test
strip that comes with QTR?

 
>In the steps from 55 to 75%, there were varying amounts 
>of blotchiness.

This can be caused by too much ink -- too high an ink limit.

What paper are you using?  EEM is sometimes blotchy regardless.

> Also, the lighter shades (0 to 40%) tended to be on the 
> warm side and the darker shades (60 and up were cooler). 
>After reading your paper about UT-R2 on the R220, 
>I realized I should get the tone shift since I am using
>the variable tone UT-2 inks.

Are you using the UT2 or a version of the R2 inks with both warm and cool R2
inks installed?

> I am just seeing the shift in tone given
> by UT-2's different toners. Is this correct?

Without more information, I'm not sure.

>If this is the case, then is it possible to generate ICC's 
>for the UT-2 inkset, or for that matter, any variable tone 
>inkset using Roy's "Create ICC" program?

I use that program with variable tone inksets only after the curve is made.
That is, Create ICC is for linearization.  It does not, by itself, generate
curves that control the tone of the print.

> Are there combinations of the various UT-2 inks
> that could be used to make a fixed tone inkset? 

The variable tone inksets are simply a way to separate the color inks from
the basic carbon inks so that papers can be profiled for tone.  Monotone
inksets can be made by mixing the toners in with the carbon inks, which in
the UT2 inkset are in the magenta channel.  However, you might find that
getting a monotone inkset that has the tones you want for paper A does not
produce the tones you want on paper B. 

> From information on your website, I take it if I put 
> M in the C position and LM in the LC
> position, I'll have a warm inkset.

In the UT2 inkset, M and LM are "pure" carbon (no color inks).  They are the
same as the UT-R2 warm inks (and the UT7 and 3D C and LC inks).  They are
simply carbon inks that use a standard dark gray that goes back to the FS
and Piezo C inks, with an LC that uses the standard Epson driver dilution
ratio.

> If I put C in M and LC in LM, I'll have a cool inkset.

You'll have a very cold inkset.  I think the UT2 toners have way too much
color in them to make a good inkset by themselves.

> I should then be able to profile both of these
> combinations using QTR_Create_ICC. 

Yes, that's right.  The R2 warm is basically that, and, being monotone,
Create ICC is all you need.

>By the way, your website says late 2004 your reformulated UT-2 
>to eliminate the old magenta, the weakest ink at the time. 
>I purchased my inks in March 2005. Do you have any idea how 
>long it takes MIS to rotate out old inks? 

I'm not sure.  There is probably not way to find out.  I would not worry too
much about it.  The very long life Livick measured was with the old UT2
insket.

Good luck with the experiments.

By the way, I'm just starting to profile the 220 with K, LK, LLK, LC, LM and
Y in it, using QTR.  With luck, I'll have a very simple approach to
profiling these standard inks in any Epson hextone or better with QTR.  So
far, so good; the prints are visually as good as anything I've seen.  With
generic inks, simple profiling, and the controls QTR 2.5 now has, I think
this approach will appeal to many people.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com