QTR-Quadtone RIP

I hope this is not too far off the topic, but the Piezography types of
inksets and, more broadly, dedicated B&W inksets and rips, are great tools
that definitely have their places in the field.

For example, even yesterday with my 7500, the Eboni-6 inkset (basically a
K6-type, dedicated B&W monotone inkset), and QTR gave me the tools I needed
to solve some printing problems.

First, a new paper roll needed a quick re-profiling.  The Epson driver
overloaded the midtones with the old profile.  If the ink limit was lowered
via the Epson driver's paper types setting, the dmax dropped too much.  So,
with QTR I simply controlled the midtone ink limits at a lower place than
the K ink limit.  

Second, (I'm embarrassed to say) I apparently screwed up an ink load and put
M in the LC cart.  (Oops)  Oh well, one nice thing about these inksets is
that there is enough redundancy to easily program around a dead (or
miss-loaded) channel.  So I quickly re-profiled the Eboni-6 as a K-5 inkset,
using QTR's semi-automatic partitioning algorithm.  The 7500 does fine in a
K-5 configuration with the QTR profile.

Additionally, I made 2 profiles, one using each of the redundant inks.  By
setting the sliders to 50% for each profile, I was able to use all 6 inks.

Bottom line, I think this type of inkset and rips are alive and well, and
will be here for a while.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 
 

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>...
> QTR is partially responsible, as it is a very nice piece 
> of software ... The curve designer has a
> lot of control over each and every ink. 
> The Epson driver is less "handy" for that kind of work.

> It's not the difference between the drivers, or the inks, 
> it's the difference between to entirely different methods 
> of putting ink down on paper, and how the mthods are imnplemented.

> I have not tested it, but I have a suspicion that a well put 
> together ink setup in QTR with the UCs, with a nice tight 
> 3 part black with minimal toning inks might also outresolve 
> the ABW driver...

Tyler
http://www.custom-digital.com/
...