QTR-Quadtone RIP

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "dellicson" <davinellicson@...> 
wrote:
>
> Joost,
> 
> I've been printing from a 15% dot gain profile. I converted to QTR 
Gray Lab and the print looks the same. 

I do not know how the 15% dot gain profile and the gray lab profile 
exactly compare, but they are different. "the same" is always a bit a 
tricky statement, it took me some time to appreciate some 
differences.   

> Also, there is always going to be a bit of difference from what I 
see on 
> screen, hence the need for soft proofing and making adjustments 
before printing, right? 

Yes and no. My experience is that I get a decent to good print in one 
go if the image is of average tonal character(not very light, not 
very dark). If I'm very critical I usually need 2-4 iterations to get 
it exactly right. But we're talking subtle differences here.

A question suddenly pops up: it should go without saying, but is your 
screen decently calibrated? If not, drop everything you're doing and 
fix that.

> Also, I am using the stock QTR Velvet Fine Art profile for my 
Hahnemuhle Natural Art Duo 
> Matte paper and have not made custom profiles. 

Ah... this might be key problem. You can't just take a QTR curve of 
one paper and use it for another. You just need a QTR curve for each 
specific combo of printer/inkset/paper.... I you do not want to go 
into curve creation yet, I suggest you purchase some paper that is 
already supported. I find Epson Enhanced/Archival Matte a good test 
paper (not for final prints as it is non-archival, no matter its 
name).

Good luck

Joost





QTR allows for much more gradation of 
> tone than the standard Epson driver and it seems that's why I seem 
to need to darken 
> and/or up the contrast a bit to keep the look I want. Does this 
sound right?
> 
> Thanks again.
> 
> Davin Ellicson
>