QTR-Quadtone RIP

Roy,

Bad news (for me): I started from scratch -- fresh carts, brand new K6 inks, flushed printer with cleaning fluid, new inks absolutely in correct slots -- and still have the problem of being too dark through the midranges, then a sharp falloff. This problem:
 
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4304293462_f5d52b1d3b_b.jpg

So, I'm back where I started. 

Any other ideas? I feel very close: I am able to mostly correct for it with an adjustment  curve in Photoshop created by eyeball. But I'd like to do better if at all possible. 

Thanks and best,
JP







--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "jespes" <jesse@...> wrote:
>
> Roy: 
> Wow. Thanks. I'll bite the bullet and start fresh. I did pick up secondhand K7 Neutral from someone switching inksets. Mislabeled or mixed bottles maybe. Because I'm very sure I didn't mix. Anyway, ugh.
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, Roy Harrington <roy@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Jesse,
> > 
> > In looking at the linearize numbers you had before, I'm pretty sure you
> > have inks that are not the correct density.  This produces a curve that is
> > too much to linearize -- hence the error.   To use the inks you have, you need
> > to refigure out the relative densities of the inks.  This means you need to
> > do the inkseparation file in calibration mode.  See Calibration.pdf
> > But if you buy inks again they may not be the same.
> > 
> > Roy
> > 
> > On Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 9:52 AM, jespes <jesse@> wrote:
> > > Roy and anyone else who's listening:
> > >
> > >  Argh.
> > >
> > >  I tried Roy's guidance below for printing the untagged 21-step file. But, now, when I try to create the curve by running the Install7000-K6.command, I get this error:
> > >
> > > Invalid linearize curve -- not constantly increasing
> > >
> > > Question: Is there a step-by-step "how to make a QTR curve for dummies" anywhere out there? I'm at wit's end with the StepWedge tool. I've read every document I can find on quadtonerip.com. I've pieced together clues from the Eye-One-ReadMe.pdf, the calibration instructions -- everything I can find.
> > >
> > > I understand in principle what the StepWedge tool is trying to do. But I cannot seem to make it work.
> > >
> > > Help?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "jespes" <jesse@> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Roy,
> > >>
> > >> Many thanks. I'm away from the printer now so can't redo my linearization at this moment, but: Do you think this solves my issue (described below)?
> > >>
> > >> Basically, I'm trying to use StepWedge to linearize a 7000 with K6 inks. I'm a newbie at linearization. And it's resulting in prints that are much too dark.
> > >>
> > >> My step-by-step process is outlined below in this email chain.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks again,
> > >> JP
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, Roy Harrington <roy@> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > In CS4 the "no color management" selection is broken.   So to get the same
> > >> > result you need to leave the file as "untagged", and print with
> > >> > photoshop manages
> > >> > color and the print profile set to the working space.   For calibration mode use
> > >> > the RGB working space and for the regular Gray stepwedges use the gray
> > >> > working space.
> > >> > (the idea here is to match the mode of the file).
> > >> >
> > >> > Roy
> > >> >
> > >> > On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 10:14 AM, jespes <jesse@> wrote:
> > >> > > Question: Does the StepWedge tool require me to print the 21-step target untagged with no color management?
> > >> > >
> > >> > > If so, how do I do that on CS4 on a Mac, which doesn't allow me to select "no color management" in the print dialog box. Or am I misunderstanding something?
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > > I ask this question after noticing the following passage in the "Eye-One-ReadMe.pdf" file:
> > >> > >
> > >> > > Printing the Target Stepwedge Image
> > >> > > Print targets with QTR and all the selections you want to profile or linearize. The intended resolution is very important. The targets are Untagged and should NOT be color managed in any way. Do not Convert an image. Always print with No Color Management or Same As Source.
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > > thanks,
> > >> > > JP
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > >
> > >> > > --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "jespes" <jesse@> wrote:
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> I'm trying Roy's new StepWedge tool and running into obstacles. I am a newbie at curves and and would be very appreciative if someone could look at what I'm doing and offer any advice.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> The setup: Snow Leopard Mac, Photoshop CS4. I don't have access to a densitometer or spectrophotometer. The printer is an Epson 7000 with K6 inks. Printer works fine. (Good nozzle checks etc.)
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> QTR's stock K6 curves for the 7000 get me close, but with one major problem: They're not giving a smooth transition through the midtones. Instead, the midtones stay too dark, then fall off sharply around 30%-40%.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> When I try to modify the QTR profile following the instructions with the StepWedge tool, do I get a smoother transition, but overall a MUCH, MUCH DARKER result.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> I've tried the StepWedge tool several times. Here's the basic approach. Can you spot my mistake(s)?:
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> (1) I do a nozzle check on the printer to confirm all is well.
> > >> > >> (2) Open the the "Step-21-gray.tif" in CS4.
> > >> > >> (3) Since CS4 on the Mac won't let you print with "no color management," I assign the tif a profile. I've tried several profiles, including "QTR-Gray Lab."
> > >> > >> (4) Print the tif on Epson Enhanced Matte, using the standard QTR profile for EAM paper for the 7000. (Printer settings: 1400, unidirectional.)
> > >> > >> (5) Using a Canon Lide 200 flatbed scanner, I scan the printout of the tif alongside a standard Kodak Q13 grayscale card. (The Q13 is new.)
> > >> > >> (6) Open the resulting side-by-side scan in CS4, and run the StepWedge tool per instructions.
> > >> > >> (7) Drop the resulting text file on to the "QTR-Linearize-Data" script, which produces a new text file containing lots of data that I don't understand, as well as a "linearize" line that looks roughly like this:
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> LINEARIZE="94.92 90.66 87.27 84.02 80.6 76.01 68.1 61.28 56.8 53.91 50.88 46.88 43.74 41.07 38.64 35.45 30.91 26.4 22.96 19.94 18.47"
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> (8) In my QTR folder, I create a new profile by making a copy of QTR's standard EAM profile for the 7000.
> > >> > >> (9) I open that copy, replace the "LINEARIZE" line in it with my newly created "LINEARIZE" line, and then save and close my new profile.
> > >> > >> (10) Then, I run the QTR 7000 install script. (This makes my newly created profile show up properly in my printer-dialogue box).
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Lastly, I make a test print with my newly created profile and the test print is very, very dark.
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Whew. That was a lot of words. Does any of that make sense? Do you see any obvious problems in my process?
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> Many thanks to all for any advice. I feel like I'm very close with this printer....
> > >> > >>
> > >> > >> All the best,
> > >> > >> JP
> >
>