Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

Using an Epson 3800 with K3 inks and Hahnemule Photo Rag Pearl and 
using Epson ABW driver. I am trying to increase Dmax and to check (and 
if necessary adjust) the linearity of the output. My questions are:

1. Dmax is a little disappointing at around 2.0 to 2.1. I have heard of 
2.3 to 2.4 from this paper/ink combination. Is there a setting in Epson 
ABW to lay down more ink or any other way to increase Dmax? At this 
stage would prefer to stick with ABW rather than 3rd party RIP.

2. I wish to check the linearity of the output. To do this I am 
printing a 21 step gray scale and then checking the results against the 
tables in the Tom Moore's QTR RIP user guide which purport to give 
ideal linearity responses for a variety of Dmax levels. Using the Dark 
setting in ABW (supposedly provides the most linear result), I find the 
results are a fair way off being linear. Is this a valid method to 
check linearity?

3. Then if I want to control linearity, can I do this using a Photoshop 
curve to make an ICC profile. If so should I use an rgb curve or a 
grayscale mode curve? Or is there a way in ABW to control linearity?

Many thanks for all and any contributions!

regards

Alistair Owens
owens@...

Hi Alistair,

On 09/02/2008, alistair_owens <owens@...> wrote:
>
>   Hi all,
>
> Using an Epson 3800 with K3 inks and Hahnemule Photo Rag Pearl and
> using Epson ABW driver. I am trying to increase Dmax and to check (and
> if necessary adjust) the linearity of the output. My questions are:
>
> 1. Dmax is a little disappointing at around 2.0 to 2.1. I have heard of
> 2.3 to 2.4 from this paper/ink combination. Is there a setting in Epson
> ABW to lay down more ink or any other way to increase Dmax? At this
> stage would prefer to stick with ABW rather than 3rd party RIP.
>

The way to change the dmax is to change the colour density in the "paper
config" in the driver settings.
I am not familiar with this paper, so I am not sure what dmax to expect.
Also Dmax changes with Paper type selection (some paper types can take more
ink than others).
Which Epson paper type selection in the driver are you using?


>   2. I wish to check the linearity of the output. To do this I am
> printing a 21 step gray scale and then checking the results against the
> tables in the Tom Moore's QTR RIP user guide which purport to give
> ideal linearity responses for a variety of Dmax levels. Using the Dark
> setting in ABW (supposedly provides the most linear result), I find the
> results are a fair way off being linear. Is this a valid method to
> check linearity?
>

Dark is not the most linear, it is the one that is most linear when using
2.2 gamma image.

   3. Then if I want to control linearity, can I do this using a Photoshop
> curve to make an ICC profile. If so should I use an rgb curve or a
> grayscale mode curve? Or is there a way in ABW to control linearity?
>

The easy way to do this is to use QTR create ICC. I print with ABW set to
normal and use QTR Create ICC for great results.
Search this forum and QTR forum for info on how to do this. Its easy and
let's you print on multiple papers with same tonal distribution.

ABW is great once you master it.

Mike



   Many thanks for all and any contributions!
>
> regards
>
> Alistair Owens
> owens@... <owens%40xtra.co.nz>
>
> 
>


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

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet on this thread is that the  
media settings
in the print settings dialogue box are Epson's preset ink limit and  
linearity settings.
If not using Epson papers, the logical choice here is not always the  
optimum setting.

One can often do much better by trying different choices here.


J.Z.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Michael King" 
<drmrking@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Alistair,

Hi Mike, thanks for the response.

> Which Epson paper type selection in the driver are you using?
  
Epson Pro semi gloss as I recall.
 
>> Dark is not the most linear, it is the one that is most linear 
when using 2.2 gamma image.

OK, thanks.


> The easy way to do this is to use QTR create ICC. I print with ABW 
>set to normal and use QTR Create ICC for great results. Search this 
>forum and QTR forum for info on how to do this. ABW is great once 
>you master it.

Yes, that is what I want to do. I will search the forum on that 
subject. Thanks and regards, Alistair.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Jon Zax 
<lotus@...> wrote:
> If not using Epson papers, the logical choice here is not always the  
> optimum setting.
> 
> One can often do much better by trying different choices here.

Thanks Jon, I will play around a little more with various paper type 
settings and see what gives me the best result.

regards

Alistair