Digital BW, The Print

Greetings all!

I recently put together my epson 1400 with the K-6 set from MIS. When 
I print BO using the QTR program with a single channel, I get great 
results. I am hoping to improve that by using all the channels and the 
K-6 inks. I got the inks, filled my carts, and started printing. 
Printing using Photoshop, with the gamma set at 2.2, I get really 
wierd results...Highlights and midtones are ok, but when the tones 
move from a highlight to a shadow, I get a strange tone, that almost 
looks like the print was solarized in parts. I also tried using qtr 
with the settings selected for k-6, so it used all the channels, same 
result. Any ideas?

Scott

niteowl1004 wrote:
> Greetings all!
>
> I recently put together my epson 1400 with the K-6 set from MIS. When 
> I print BO using the QTR program with a single channel, I get great 
> results. I am hoping to improve that by using all the channels and the 
> K-6 inks. I got the inks, filled my carts, and started printing. 
> Printing using Photoshop, with the gamma set at 2.2, I get really 
> wierd results...Highlights and midtones are ok, but when the tones 
> move from a highlight to a shadow, I get a strange tone, that almost 
> looks like the print was solarized in parts. I also tried using qtr 
> with the settings selected for k-6, so it used all the channels, same 
> result. Any ideas?
>
> Scott 
Inks not in right order?
--
Bruce Watson



















/
/

Double check if you got the right inksets. From what you have written,
you might have mix-up;  MIS inks are Eboni-6 and K6 from Cone. Both
Co.'s inksets placement
are different. Both inksets can prints BO but I think MIS/Paul Roark
have not release any QTR's
profiles for 1400 yet.

Hope this helps.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "niteowl1004"
<cohen.scott@...> wrote:
>
> Greetings all!
>
> I recently put together my epson 1400 with the K-6 set from MIS. When
> I print BO using the QTR program with a single channel, I get great
> results. I am hoping to improve that by using all the channels and the
> K-6 inks. I got the inks, filled my carts, and started printing.
> Printing using Photoshop, with the gamma set at 2.2, I get really
> wierd results...Highlights and midtones are ok, but when the tones
> move from a highlight to a shadow, I get a strange tone, that almost
> looks like the print was solarized in parts. I also tried using qtr
> with the settings selected for k-6, so it used all the channels, same
> result. Any ideas?
>
> Scott
>



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

> Double check if you got the right inksets. 
> ... you might have mix-up;  MIS inks are Eboni-6 and 
> K6 [is] from Cone. 
>...I think MIS/Paul Roark have not release any QTR's
> profiles for 1400 yet.

QTR v. 2.6.1 has 1400 black only profiles.  I use the Epson driver for 
the Eboni-6 inkset in the 1400.

Be sure the nozzle check is perfect.  

The ink density order should be, from darkest to lightest: K, C, M, LC, 
LM, Y.  You can print a QTR Calibration Mode print to check this ink 
order.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

When we say "black only", do we mean only a cart or carts filled with
100% Eboni? I was wondering about this because Eboni-6 is, in a sense,
only using Eboni ink, but only one at 100%, and since the others are
more dilute versions of Eboni, we therefore strictly speaking can't
call Eboni-6 "black only".

Just trying to learn the terminology here!

> QTR v. 2.6.1 has 1400 black only profiles.  I use the Epson driver for 
> the Eboni-6 inkset in the 1400.
> 
> Be sure the nozzle check is perfect.  
> 
> The ink density order should be, from darkest to lightest: K, C, M, LC, 
> LM, Y.  You can print a QTR Calibration Mode print to check this ink 
> order.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>

> When we say "black only", do we mean only a cart or carts 
> filled with 100% Eboni?

I've been using "black only" as 100% Eboni and no dilute Eboni inks.  
100% Eboni MK only prints have a distinct tonal response relative to 
the dilute Eboni inksets.

> ... Eboni-6 is, in a sense, only using Eboni ink, 
> but ... since the others are more dilute versions 
> of Eboni, we therefore strictly speaking can't
> call Eboni-6 "black only".

I agree.  The dilute Eboni inksets are 100% carbon pigment, but I try 
to avoid calling them "black only" approaches.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com  

----

> 
> > QTR v. 2.6.1 has 1400 black only profiles.  

> > I use the Epson driver for the Eboni-6 inkset in the 1400.

> > Be sure the nozzle check is perfect.  

> > The ink density order should be, 
> > from darkest to lightest: K, C, M, LC, LM, Y.  ...

Thanks much, Paul, it's as I suspected. It's slowly sinking in!

Paul (W.)

> > When we say "black only", do we mean only a cart or carts 
> > filled with 100% Eboni?
> 
> I've been using "black only" as 100% Eboni and no dilute Eboni inks.  
> 100% Eboni MK only prints have a distinct tonal response relative to 
> the dilute Eboni inksets.
> 
> > ... Eboni-6 is, in a sense, only using Eboni ink, 
> > but ... since the others are more dilute versions 
> > of Eboni, we therefore strictly speaking can't
> > call Eboni-6 "black only".
> 
> I agree.  The dilute Eboni inksets are 100% carbon pigment, but I try 
> to avoid calling them "black only" approaches.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com

Thanks to everyone who helped with my inkset problem! It turned out 
that a good cleaning and nozzle check did the trick! Paul, your 
input has really helped me figure this process out. Whenever I get 
frustrated, I just go to my darkroom, open a bottle of fixer, and 
take a big whiff ;<). 

Ok so now I have more questions. I use PS elements 3 right now, do I 
need to upgrade to work with curves or ICCS? (forgive me, I don't 
have all the verbage correct)I am getting good results, but I do 
like to tinker. Could you guys send me in right direction to learn 
how to work with this? When I open my version of PS, I don"t see a 
place to insert a curve/ICC. 


Thanks again for all the help!

Scott

>
> ...a good cleaning and nozzle check did the trick!

I routinely check the nozzles before printing a photo if the printer 
has not been used that day yet.

 
>  I use PS elements 3 right now, do I 
> need to upgrade to work with curves or ICCS?

Not necessarily, but full Photoshop is probably worth it if you're an 
avid photographer and the financial situation is OK.

However, Elements has a print preview that works just as well as full 
PS with respect to the ICCs.

While Elements does not have the curves adjustments built in, there 
are plug-ins that can supply that capability.  In fact, the one I 
have on Elements is called SmartCurve by Easy Filter.  You'll have to 
Google those terms to find the download.  I think it was a freebie, 
but I'm not sure where I got it.

I actually have this installed on my full PS also.  It shows all the 
curves at once, color coded.  As such, I can see the relationships 
among the curves.  In particular, I can see that the convergence of 
the R, G, and B curves is even and, as such, the black & gray ink 
substitutions should be even.

On the other hand, I much prefer full PS over Elements and think it's 
worth the investment.

Hope this helps.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com