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Eboni 6 v 1.1 configuration

Eboni 6 v 1.1 configuration

2015-11-19 by janbecket.net@...

Iʻve been using the original Eboni 6 in an Epson 4880, in all 8 slots. Now I need to order more ink and with the new Eboni 6 v1.1, I wonder if people are using eight-cartridge wide-format printers with different configurations, since a couple of the cartridge slots contain identical dilutions of Eboni. Maybe just 6 or 7 cartridge slots are necessary for the Eboni?

Also, those who are using the new Eboni v 1.1 — did you need to make new profiles or were the old ones close enough?


Re: [QuadtoneRIP] Eboni 6 v 1.1 configuration

2015-11-19 by Paul Roark

You will probably want to relinearize your original Eb6 profiles for the new version 1.1.

I use all sorts of different ink arrangements. With Eb6 v. 1.1, I've also started to incorporate a light blue toner to offset the carbon warmth at the option, of course, of the photographer/printer. See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/3880-Eboni-Variable-Tone.pdf for a good example of that setup. The profiles in the Profiles Zip file linked to that PDF will probably port to a 4880 set up similarly with only a relinearization.

I increasingly use the QTR sliders to control where the "neutral" profile is used and how much, and where the 100% carbon profile is used in a print. It takes care of the cloud, snow, and white water warmth that I do not favor, while leaving the mid and shadow values warm. It allows us to control the nature and extent of split toning. Since both of these profiles use the identical carbon partition, the sliders are simply controlling the amount of toner used. The Lab L ramp stays perfect.

I have also recently tended to not use the Eb6-Y (2%) mix that is diluted with my generic base. I usually dilute my own "Eb6" using my generic base version C6b (see http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/Ink-Mixing.pdf and https://www.inksupply.com/roarkslab.cfm )

There are several reasons I'm dropping the 2% blend. First, it's not necessary to have an ink that is so dilute. In my old 7500 and ancient 3000, it tamed those large drop sizes, but no modern printer needs an ink that is almost entirely clear base. Second, while the 2% mix gave a relatively neutral highlight image with the original Eb6, it is not more neutral than the 6% (Eb6 LM) ink with v. 1.1 and modern inkjet papers. Third, I am increasingly trying to hold down the fluid on the paper unless there is a reason to have high dilution. You will note that I've changed the toner formula I use from one that used 90% clear base to one that uses 75% clear base. This more recent mix results in a blue toner that is essentially equal in density to the Eb6-LM (lightest carbon I now use). Forth, why spend money on water and more time refilling printers due to very weak inks when there is no upside? Fifth, with my dilution base I've now seen two instances of the 2% dilution producing strange results in 1.5 pl printers. (I suspect the pH can drift out of range.)

Another trend in my person wide format printers (not so much those setups aimed at a wider audience) is the use of 2 MK and 2 Eb6-C positions. The 2 MK positions are due to the fact that Arches (uncoated) watercolor paper does not reach its dmax until over 120% ink load is achieved. The second Eb6-C (30% dilution) is used (as is the second MK) to hold the warmth of the 100% carbon print down. Even 3.5 pl printers can use the 30% dilution in small amounts all the way into the highlights. So, I end up with a standard QTR partition that uses 5 carbons. Then I have a "QTR toner" channel (not the blue) that uses the second 30%. This is often taken to a manual curve so that I can use that to refine the pre-linearized curve.

In determining the optimum mix for the 100% carbon for large print sizes and different papers (including matte canvas), I start by having a standard QTR parition profile, a C-K profile, and a BO profile. I use the sliders to determine what mix of these compromises the print warmth v. smoothness for the print size needed. Sometimes I combine all of these into a single profile.

Note that the blue toner distribution is close to the same for all papers. So, once I have a manual curve for that, I just copy the points to new profiles and do minor refinement. This way it does not take a separate QTR "toner" channel.

With this in mind, this is the ink setup I anticipate using in the 9880 I'll pick up in a couple of weeks:

Y = Eboni MK (100%)

LM = Eb6-LM (6%)
LC = Eb6-LC (9%)
M = Eb6-M (18%)
C = Eb6-C (30%)

LLK = light blue toner (13.75% Canon Lucia Blue, 11.25% Canon Lucia Cyan [note this is a 55%-45% color pigment blend], and 75% clear base [C6b])

LK = Eb6-C (30%)
K = Eboni MK

FWIW

Paul

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On Wed, Nov 18, 2015 at 11:10 PM, janbecket.net@... [QuadtoneRIP] <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Iʻve been using the original Eboni 6 in an Epson 4880, in all 8 slots. Now I need to order more ink and with the new Eboni 6 v1.1, I wonder if people are using eight-cartridge wide-format printers with different configurations, since a couple of the cartridge slots contain identical dilutions of Eboni. Maybe just 6 or 7 cartridge slots are necessary for the Eboni?

Also, those who are using the new Eboni v 1.1 — did you need to make new profiles or were the old ones close enough?



Re: Eboni 6 v 1.1 configuration

2015-11-20 by janbecket.net@...

Many thanks for the wealth of information, Paul. Much appreciated. The cartridge configuration you describe looks like a good way to go. My ears really perked up when you mentioned Arches, since I have begun experimenting with hot press Aquarelle, which even with the standard Eboni-6 inks from MIS looks pretty decent. Iʻll look forward to trying out the C6c base with the two-positions for MK ink.

Congratulations on the acquisition of the 9880. Iʻm jealous.

Epson 9800 Piezography ink setup

2015-11-20 by Mark Savoia

Just getting back to looking at QTR for running my Epson 9800 with Piezography inks. Currently using StudioPrint to drive it. Have it set up with 4 selenium inks, shade 1,2,4,5 and 3 carbon sepia inks shades 2,4,5. They both share the selenium shade 1 when printing.

Tired of fighting Windows XP. Would much rather do this on one of my Macs. I have a X-Rite DTP-41

Can I use QTR to print to this printer with this ink setup? Can it “drive” just the ink positions I want depending on ink set I need to print with? Can it perform a split inkset.

Printer setup is as follows:

Position 1 - Flush fluid NOT USED
Position 2 - Shade #2 carbon sepia
Position 3 - Shade #4 carbon sepia
Position 4 - Shade #5 carbon sepia
Position 5 - Shade #1 selenium
Position 6 - Shade #2 selenium
Position 7 - Shade #4 selenium
Position 8 - Shade #5 selenium

Thanks,

Mark

Re: Epson 9800 Piezography ink setup

2015-11-21 by richard@...

Hi Mark,

Everything you require is something that QTR is perfectly capable of, and I've set up a few printers to run similar set ups. I have an older version of Studio Print that I got for this kind of set up, but QTR works so well that I never bothered to get a PC for it. I pretty much have this kind of multi-gray profiling down to a science and can walk you through the process using some tools I created for exactly this kind of use. If you want, email me through my site and we can talk about it directly.

The only thing that might be an issue is the X-rite spectro you have. I don't have experience with it, and don't know how the step wedges or reference files are formatted (I'm looking into it now). The step wedges that come with QTR might not work with so you may need to create new ones. It does seem like you can run it with ColorPort Utility so that shouldn't really be a problem though.


Richard Boutwell

http://www.richardboutwell.com/
http://www.bwmastery.com/


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