QTR-Quadtone RIP

Am using the Eb6 inkset in my 1400 and scanning some old family b/w photos. Until recently, until the last 3 or 4 prints, the blacks were deep and rich. Now they're a bit faded and weak. And using Red River Aurora Natural with this profile that came with QTR: Eb6-RedRivAurora-11-2011. quad For some reason I can't find its parent .QIDF file in my Profiles folder. I'll keep looking or maybe some kind soul would sent it to me - then it could be tweaked if need be. I would definitely need help with that.

Recently filled all the carts (I mix my own, so it's really the Cb6 inkset) and nozzle checks are perfect.

Thanks all,

Paul

found it! I forgot I had downloaded the full set of profiles, must have been from Paul's or Roy's website:

(I haven't tried making my own profile or relinearizing this one.)

#Notes www.PaulRoark.com 11-8-2011
PRINTER=Quad1400-MIS
CURVE_NAME=Eb6-RedRivAurora-11-2011
GRAPH_CURVE=YES
N_OF_INKS=6
DEFAULT_INK_LIMIT=45
BOOST_K=45
LIMIT_K=40
LIMIT_C=
LIMIT_M=
LIMIT_Y=
LIMIT_LC=
LIMIT_LM=
N_OF_GRAY_PARTS=6
GRAY_INK_1=K
GRAY_VAL_1=100
GRAY_INK_2=C
GRAY_VAL_2=70
GRAY_INK_3=M
GRAY_VAL_3=42
GRAY_INK_4=LC
GRAY_VAL_4=23.7
GRAY_INK_5=LM
GRAY_VAL_5=18.5
GRAY_INK_6=Y
GRAY_VAL_6=6.8
GRAY_HIGHLIGHT=10
GRAY_SHADOW=10
GRAY_OVERLAP=
GRAY_GAMMA=1
GRAY_CURVE=
N_OF_TONER_PARTS=0
TONER_HIGHLIGHT=10
TONER_SHADOW=10
TONER_GAMMA=1
TONER_CURVE=
N_OF_TONER_2_PARTS=0
TONER_2_HIGHLIGHT=10
TONER_2_SHADOW=10
TONER_2_GAMMA=1
TONER_2_CURVE=
N_OF_UNUSED=0
LINEARIZE="96.84 94.4 91.16 86.34 82.06 77 72.12 67.02 62.18 57.92 53.77 50.12 46.55 42.24 38.39 34.95 31.87 28.9 26.3 22.85 19.98 "

Paul kindly sent me his qidf, it helped verify I was using the right one. All parameters were the same. So with that question out of the way, can anyone suggest a tweak that would get my blacks back the way they were? Should I relinearize? Mix up a new batch of Cb6? But I was getting good blacks with the current batch of ink, it was a fresh mix. Paper's the same. Nozzle checks are perfect. I can't think of anything I changed.

Just went to my shop and my Eboni 1.0 is dated 2015-12-11. I think that means Dec. 11 - or is Nov. 12? Anyway, either way I'm within the zone.

Paul W.

Thank you, Paul,

I did agitate those bottles but did that right before I loaded the carts, not the night before. I was under the assumption this was a good thing to do in order to minimize air bubbles. I guess I was wrong about my timing for the agitation.

I learned on another thread to look at the nozzle check more carefully. It's not only to have all dashes print, but we're looking for the steps to be distinct, we don't want two steps at the same level. We also want to see a clean, not ragged, vertical line separating the patch for each cart. My nozzle checks passed that test, so I don't think I had any clogging from suspended ink particles.

But the prints I did after my refill were fine anyway, it's just in the last several days the black has weakened. My prints are now a bit warmer as well.

I do have that 21 step file, thank you, and did a printout with the K-0-100 profile. It's my understanding we are looking for the patch where the scale doesn't get darker. It's a tough call, but it seems to be about 35. However, our qidf shows that entry as 45. I'm not sure how to interpret this as it may relate to my problem.

Well, we're going away for a few days, leaving tomorrow, back Saturday. Maybe I should let this issue simmer a while.

Thanks for the tips!

Paul