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I am trying to create an easy-to-follow workflow for profiling ABW in the future. . . . I tend to forget what I figured out, so step-by-step instructions often help months or years later.

For those of you more knowledgeable about profiling with QTR, could you tell me whether this is an acceptable description of how to "linearize" Epson's ABW mode?

My setup: Mac, QTR-Print, QTR-Create-ICC.app, Epson 4880 printer, Epson 4880 driver, X-Rite 810 densitometer. All software is the most current version (2013-10-19).

Profiling ABW (Epson 4880 printer driver) on a Mac:

1) Print “munki-21steps.tiff” (or Step-21-gray.tif) using QTR Print or Adobe Color Print Utility.

The image is not color managed. Do not colour manage it!

Print program setting: no color management

In the Epson 4880 driver - - - Print Settings:

Media Type: ____ (a similar surface, and one that allows ABW)

Color: Advanced B&W Photo

Color Toning: Neutral (or whatever you want to profile)

Superfine - 1440dpi

high speed (optional)

finest detail

Advanced Color Settings - neutral, darker (or whatever you want to profile)

2) Dry the print well, and then read the densities.

Create a text file named for the profile you want. (e.g. 4880-ABW-Lasal-Matte.txt)

The file should contain the measured densities from lightest to darkest, one per line.

3) In Finder, drag the text file to QTR-Create-ICC.app.

An ICC profile will be created.

____-out.txt (e.g. 4880-ABW-Lasal-Matte-out.txt) will show what happened, including any error.

4) Move the ICC to ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/

5) When printing, the ICC will appear in the list of profiles with a prefix of “QTR-”. (e.g. QTR-4880-ABW-Lasal-Matte)

You can now print images letting CSx, LRx, QTR-Print, ImageNest, etc. “control color” using this profile.

In the Epson driver you still choose ABW with exactly the same setting you used in step 1 above.

[end]

If step 2 above uses a spectrophotometer that gives Lab readings, the resulting text file will go from larger numbers (e.g. 92.7) to smaller (e.g. 17.1) (lightest to darkest). ???

Re "Media Type" - - - it must be something that allows ABW in the Epson driver. Enhanced Matte, for example, does not allow ABW, while Premium Luster Photo Paper does. It might be a good idea to try several (before profiling) with a 21-step grayscale to determine which gives the darkest black without mottling (overloading the paper with ink).

Thanks!

Myron

QTR-Quadtone RIP

QTR-Create-ICC and Epson ABW

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