QTR-Quadtone RIP

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eric Neilsen 
  To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 11:52 PM
  Subject: RE: [QuadtoneRIP] QTR Help for photoceramic curve?


  Harry, I'll assume you are responding to me, the Dane not an Englishman ; ) 

  If you are only using one channel to run your image, you should be able to
  get a better transition if you add a dilution to the mix and run it in one
  of the other ink slots. I'd even go so far as to say you could use all four.
  With QTR, you run an ink limit to get to a controlled out put. If you have
  the measuring devices, then you read the before, your substrate, and your
  after, the kiln fired ceramic. I'd use big squares like you'll find in the
  100 step target in QTR. Print it out after your "image curve" and plot the
  points. You are printing an image, and then transferring that to a ceramic
  receiver and firing it. 

  You are looking to get better separation in the highlights, where now you
  are currently getting black to white without good transitions? I haven't
  been using the program much lately, but you should be able to make some
  curves to show output values with your final reflected readings. 

  I'd be tempted to run extremely high dilutions with 4 slots rather than
  curve the heck out of the image in PS. 

  Eric Neilsen Photography

  4101 Commerce Street

  Suite 9

  Dallas, TX 75226

  http://e.neilsen.home.att.net

  http://ericneilsenphotography.com

  Skype ejprinter

  _____ 

  From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On
  Behalf Of Harry Burnett Jr
  Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 7:41 PM
  To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] QTR Help for photoceramic curve?

  Dear Mr Nelson:

  Yes_ I have a reflection and transmission densitometer. I probably am not
  being clear enough to elicit an answer that is helpful. Let me try again to
  better explain what I am printing and how I use the print.

  I am using a homemade digital fluid in an Epson 1280. The paper which is
  printed is water slide decal paper. It is paper that has a heavy layer of
  dextrine ( water soluable glue that is used on stamps- before peel and
  stick) Pigments imbeded in the digital fluid are finely ground china ceramic
  paint pigments. After the pigmented dot image is dried, it is coated with a
  flexable organic lacquer. This consolidates the dots and holds the image
  together. The paper with the coated decal is soaked in water to disolve the
  dextrine glue. The decal is transferred to a ceramic surface and squeeged to
  conform to surface curves. The decal coated ceramic is put into a kiln and
  fired to 1100 -1300 degrees F where all organics are consumed and the
  ceramic color particals melt and fuse into and onto the ceramic surface.
  This produces a very long lasting and durable photo image.

  Now that is explained, let me call your attention to the printing
  consideration I am trying to improve. The "DOT GAIN" is great, very great!
  The first big dot gain occurs on the water slide decal paper. The next dot
  gains occur during the firing phase. My present printing procedure is to
  manage the image so a good BW image shows on the monitor. I may slightly
  over sharpen, then desaturate and save as Tif. Next I apply a strong curve
  that makes the monitor image look almost white. I send this RGB desatuated
  image to the 1280 printer using black only, glossy color paper, at gamma 1.5
  settings. It does not take too much imagination to realize the difficulty of
  controlling toneality. Oh yes- I have my digital fluid only in the black
  cartridge. Image color is determined by color of the ceramic particals.
  Final image is monochrome.

  I wish to improve the low contrast details- especially in the lighter tones
  and keep details and contrast in the darkest areas. I am using a 4 pico
  liter -all the same size dot printer and only a one nozzle pattern. If I
  could use a two nozzle output and control each pattern, it should allow
  better control of the dot patterns. I visualize smoother and better edges of
  contrasty areas and perhaps more detail in lighter tones. This is where QTR
  could help me examine and test possibilites were I able to program my test
  curves. My trials with QTR curve creations have not been successful as I am
  not knowledgable in digital programming. I have asked if there is a QTR
  class or some one who would mentor me I will be more than willing to send
  you examples of decals and a ceramic tile if this will help you guide me to
  better understand QTR curve creation. Many thanks for taking time to read
  and perhaps consider my request.

  Harry L Burnett Jr.

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


  Sorry about the last name.....

  Thanks for the reply.  Again I am not being understood completly.  I have only one digital fluid that will jet reasonably well.  It cannot be diluted or thinned.  So I can could use this same fluid one or more positions and control each position independantly of others. When using using a "normal" set of curves, dot gain for three or four positions printing simultaneously adds up and  is imense.  This indicates I must generate a set of very low contrast curves that together will yield normal results.  This is at the heart of my request for help.  How can I use QTR to create these low contrast curves?  Thanks again. Harry L Burnett Jr

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