QTR-Quadtone RIP

Sounds like you may need to do a nozzle check and cleaning cycle.

On Nov 27, 2005, at 2:48 PM, mturner55 wrote:

>
> Hello everybody. I just joined the group and I've looked over some  
> of the previous posts
> and it appears that most of you are quite a bit further along than  
> me in your knowledge of
> this almost-too-good-to-be-true RIP. I downloaded it for evaluation  
> and my first efforts a
> few months ago were excellent. I made a couple of prints and  
> thought my long search for
> a replacement for my old silver darkroom was over.
>
> I'm still very hopeful but I seem to have hit a wall. After that  
> first trial, I didn't print
> anything for a few months (waiting to scrape together money for  
> supplies). Over the past
> few days I've been trying to get a print like the first ones I made  
> and have had bewildering
> results. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but after reading over  
> the documentation
> many times, I can't figure out where things went off the tracks.  
> Can anybody give me a
> hint about where my error might lie?
>
> I'm running Photoshop 7 on a Mac G4, printing to an Epson 2200  
> stocked with
> Piezography Neutral K7 inks. I'm using Quadtone RIP 2.3.2.
>
> I downloaded the dmg file and double-clicked to install. Then I  
> went to the Profiles folder
> and double-clicked on the Install program for the 2200 profiles.  
> Sure enough, when I went
> to my Photoshop Print with Preview dialog box and from there to  
> Page Setup, there was a
> menu option for Quadtone 2200-NK7. (I'm always amazed when really  
> tech-y things seem
> to work, in spite of my general technical ineptitude.) When I went  
> back to the Print with
> Preview dialog box, I chose for color management Source: Gray Gamma  
> 2.2 and for print
> space, QTR Gray Matte Paper, Perceptual and Black Point  
> Compensation. When I clicked
> "Print," I used pull-down menus to choose "Quad2200-NK7" as my  
> printer, then chose the
> Quadtone RIP menu item from a drop-down menu, then chose Mode:  
> QuadTone RIP, then
> Manual Feed, then for Curve 1 I chose 2880 Bradford Brilliant White  
> Duo (the paper I am
> using), then nothing for Curve 2, then resolution 2880, then Better  
> rather than Faster, then
> I left the other menus (Tone Blend, etc.) alone (at least on the  
> first 50 or 60 attempts).
>
> Here is the sketchy history of the past few days of efforts.
>
> My first print, using the same file from which I pulled an  
> excellent print a few months ago,
> was . . . not excellent. It displayed what seemed to be  
> posterization, sort of. There was no
> subtle gradation of tones. Areas that should have been very light  
> grey were instead middle
> tones. Very, very muddy and posterized.
>
> I tried several things and each print came out the same. Then, I  
> tried uninstalling the RIP,
> then reinstalling it and restarting Photoshop. Sometime after this  
> procedure (I don't
> remember exactly if it was immediately following the procedure), I  
> got an okay print. It still
> didn't hold a candle to the excellent prints I got a few months  
> ago, but there was nothing
> hugely wrong with it. It didn't have the broad tonal range of the  
> first prints, but it was
> close enough that I thought I could tweak the Photoshop file (TIFF)  
> and eventually get what
> I was looking for.
>
> Unfortunately, that was the last decent print I got. Every print  
> since then has been beyond
> bad. They look like there is only one part of the spectrum being  
> printed. They look,
> basically, like bad photocopies of photocopies --- very contrasty,  
> many large areas blown
> out, no tonal range at all.
>
> I have uninstalled and reinstalled the RIP and the profiles  
> numerous times, to no avail.
>
> Complicating all this is the fact that I have difficulty  
> troubleshooting my printer, since my
> EPSON Printer Utility (version 2.14) doesn't seem to work with  
> Tiger (OSX 10.4). I say
> "seems" because it will work once for every 30 attempts. All other  
> attempts end in crashes.
>
> Sorry for the novel-length post. If you're still reading, you are a  
> trooper and an unusually
> altruistic person. Thank you just for reading, even if you can't  
> help me. But if you can help
> me, please respond to this post. Below, I'm adding what I got from  
> the diagnostic Terminal
> program, which I'm afraid is Greek to me. Again, thanks for listening.
>
> Last login: Sun Nov 27 14:06:42 on ttyp1
> Welcome to Darwin!
> /Volumes/QTRIP2.3/DiagnosticScript.command; exit
> [cpe-065-188-147-168:~] michaelt% /Volumes/QTRIP2.3/ 
> DiagnosticScript.command;
> exit
>
> ********************************************************************
>
> **** QuadToneRIP 2.3.2 Diagnostic Script --- Save Output for  
> Analysis ****
>
> ********************************************************************
>
> Sun Nov 27 14:13:45 EST 2005
>
> **** System Info ****
> Darwin Kernel Version 8.3.0: Mon Oct  3 20:04:04 PDT 2005;  
> root:xnu-792.6.22.obj~2/
> RELEASE_PPC
>
> **** Printer Info ****
> scheduler is running
> system default destination: Stylus_Photo_2200-2
> device for Quad2200-NK7: usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%202200?
> serial=L72010302070729100
> device for Stylus_C42: usb://EPSON/Stylus%20C42? 
> serial=FM4BB0208270347260
> device for Stylus_Photo_2200: ///dev/null
> device for Stylus_Photo_2200-1: usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%202200?
> serial=L72010302070729100
> device for Stylus_Photo_2200-2: usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%202200?
> serial=L72010302070729100
> Quad2200-NK7 accepting requests since Jan 01 00:00
> Stylus_C42 accepting requests since Jan 01 00:00
> Stylus_Photo_2200 accepting requests since Jan 01 00:00
> Stylus_Photo_2200-1 accepting requests since Jan 01 00:00
> Stylus_Photo_2200-2 accepting requests since Jan 01 00:00
> printer Quad2200-NK7 is idle.  enabled since Jan 01 00:00
>         Ready to print.
> printer Stylus_C42 is idle.  enabled since Jan 01 00:00
> printer Stylus_Photo_2200 is idle.  enabled since Jan 01 00:00
> printer Stylus_Photo_2200-1 is idle.  enabled since Jan 01 00:00
> printer Stylus_Photo_2200-2 is idle.  enabled since Jan 01 00:00
>
> **** QTR Programs ****
> /usr/local/bin
> Quad.pm*        qcurve*         qgamma*         qmerge*          
> qspline*
> qacv*           qdensity*       qgraph*         qpart*           
> quadcurves*
> qacvraw*        qdiff*          qlimit*         qpart2*          
> quadprofile*
> qadd*           qdotgain*       qline*          qplot*
>
> /usr/libexec/cups/filter
> quadtoneprint*  quadtoprinter*
>
> **** Plugin Programs ****
> total 0
> drwxrwxrwx   4 root      admin  136 Oct 24 18:35 AdobePDFPDE.plugin
> drwxr-xr-x   3 michaelt  501    102 Aug 11  2004 QuadTone.plugin
>
> **** QTR Printer Descriptions ****
> /usr/share/cups/model/C
> escp2-1160-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-860-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-1200-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-870-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-1270-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-890-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-1280-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-9000-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-1290-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-9500-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-2000-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-9600-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-2100-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-980-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-2200-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-9800-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-3000-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-EX-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-4000-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-R1800-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-4800-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-R200-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-7000-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-R2400-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-7500-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-R300-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-7600-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-R320-quad.ppd.gz
> escp2-7800-quad.ppd.gz          escp2-R800-quad.ppd.gz
>
> **** QTR Profiles ****
> K7-1440-HanPhotoRag.quad                NK7-2880-HanPhotoRag.quad
> NK7-2880-BradfordBCoolMatte.quad        NK7-2880-HanWhiteVelvet.quad
> NK7-2880-BradfordRBrightW.quad          NK7-2880-HanWilliamTurner.quad
> NK7-2880-BradfordRBrilliantWD.quad      NK7-2880- 
> InnovaColdPressArt.quad
> NK7-2880-BradfordRNaturalW.quad         NK7-2880- 
> InnovaPhotoFibraP.quad
> NK7-2880-EpEnhancedMatte.quad           NK7-2880- 
> InnovaPhotoSmoothC.quad
> NK7-2880-HanAlbrechtDurer.quad          NK7-2880-InnovaSoftTexArt.quad
> NK7-2880-HanArtProof.quad               NK7-2880- 
> LgnSomersetPEnhVel.quad
> NK7-2880-HanEtching.quad
>
> **** USB connections ****
> -rwxr-xr-x   1 root  wheel  29516 May 31 19:44 /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> backend/usb
> direct usb "Unknown" "USB Printer (usb)"
> direct usb://EPSON/Stylus%20C42?serial=FM4BB0208270347260 "EPSON  
> Stylus C42"
> "Stylus C42"
> direct usb://EPSON/Stylus%20Photo%202200?serial=L72010302070729100  
> "EPSON Stylus
> Photo 2200" "Stylus Photo 2200"
>
> **** CUPS Info ****
> N [27/Nov/2005:13:45:50 -0500] [Job 70] : cupsWidth = 5940
> N [27/Nov/2005:13:45:50 -0500] [Job 70] : cupsHeight = 7740
> N [27/Nov/2005:13:45:50 -0500] [Job 70] : stp_get_resolution(v) |2880|
> N [27/Nov/2005:13:45:50 -0500] [Job 70] : stp_get_dither_algorithm 
> (v) |Ordered|
> N [27/Nov/2005:13:45:50 -0500] [Job 70] : GIMP-PRINT w=612 l=9  
> r=603  h=792 t=783
> b=9
> N [27/Nov/2005:13:45:50 -0500] [Job 70] : GIMP-PRINT w=5940 l=90  
> r=90  h=7740
> t=90 b=90
> E [27/Nov/2005:14:01:20 -0500] get_printer_attrs: resource name '/ 
> printers/ ' no good!
> E [27/Nov/2005:14:01:20 -0500] get_printer_attrs: resource name '/ 
> printers/ ' no good!
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:02:39 -0500] Adding start banner page "none" to  
> job 71.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:02:39 -0500] Job 71 queued on 'Quad2200-NK7' by  
> 'michaelturner'.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:02:39 -0500] Started filter /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> filter/cgpdftoraster (PID
> 346) for job 71.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:02:39 -0500] Started filter /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> filter/quadtoneprint (PID
> 347) for job 71.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:02:39 -0500] Started backend /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> backend/usb (PID
> 348) for job 71.
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:41 -0500] [Job 71] : QuadToneRIP: using curve  
> NK7-2880-
> BradfordRBrilliantWD
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : QTR using curve file  
> NK7-2880-
> BradfordRBrilliantWD
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : HWResolution = [ 720 720 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : ImagingBoundingBox = [ 9  
> 9 594 774 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : Margins = [ 0 0 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : PageSize = [ 612 792 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : cupsWidth = 5940
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : cupsHeight = 7740
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : stp_get_resolution(v) |1440|
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : stp_get_dither_algorithm 
> (v) |Ordered|
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : GIMP-PRINT w=612 l=9  
> r=603  h=792 t=783
> b=9
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:02:42 -0500] [Job 71] : GIMP-PRINT w=5940 l=90  
> r=90  h=7740
> t=90 b=90
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:43 -0500] Saving printers.conf...
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:43 -0500] Printer 'Quad2200-NK7' modified by ''.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:43 -0500] Setting Quad2200-NK7 printer-is- 
> accepting-jobs to 1
> (was 1.)
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:43 -0500] Setting Quad2200-NK7 printer-state  
> to 3 (was 3.)
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:43 -0500] Saving printers.conf...
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:43 -0500] Printer 'Quad2200-NK7' modified by ''.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:47 -0500] Saving printers.conf...
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:06:47 -0500] Printer 'Quad2200-NK7' modified by ''.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:08:59 -0500] Adding start banner page "none" to  
> job 72.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:08:59 -0500] Job 72 queued on 'Quad2200-NK7' by  
> 'michaelturner'.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:08:59 -0500] Started filter /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> filter/cgpdftoraster (PID
> 436) for job 72.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:08:59 -0500] Started filter /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> filter/quadtoneprint (PID
> 437) for job 72.
> I [27/Nov/2005:14:08:59 -0500] Started backend /usr/libexec/cups/ 
> backend/usb (PID
> 438) for job 72.
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:08:59 -0500] [Job 72] : QuadToneRIP: using curve  
> NK7-2880-
> BradfordRBrilliantWD
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : QTR using curve file  
> NK7-2880-
> BradfordRBrilliantWD
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : HWResolution = [ 720 720 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : ImagingBoundingBox = [ 9  
> 9 594 774 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : Margins = [ 0 0 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : PageSize = [ 612 792 ]
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : cupsWidth = 5940
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : cupsHeight = 7740
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : stp_get_resolution(v) |2880|
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : stp_get_dither_algorithm 
> (v) |Ordered|
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : GIMP-PRINT w=612 l=9  
> r=603  h=792 t=783
> b=9
> N [27/Nov/2005:14:09:00 -0500] [Job 72] : GIMP-PRINT w=5940 l=90  
> r=90  h=7740
> t=90 b=90
>
> ********************************************************************
>
> **** QuadToneRIP Diagnostic Script --- Save Output for Analysis ****
>
> ********************************************************************
>
> logout
> [Process completed]
>