QTR-Quadtone RIP

First, you could do what Walker said in the other thread and follow the Piezography instructions. Or learn to create custom profiles for your printer. I have tools and instructions that can help you do that (see the link below).

About your printer: not knowing the condition of the inks, or even which inks you're using, it is hard to say what your exact problem is and you won't know for sure unless you remove the variables that are obviously causing some of the problems.

The first step there would be to use a supported paper and quad curve. If you are still having posterization issues you can print an ink separation image and see if there is any obvious problem with positions being out of order or otherwise not printing correctly. From there you can determine if there is a mechanical problem that can be overcome by simply relinearizing an existing curve, having a custom one made for you from master curves, or creating your own curves from scratch.

as i mentioned with no curve selected im getting a passable but slightly dark image on cheap test paper.

and a way off image using EpEnchancedmatte curve.

im reading my way thru the community edition documentation which is very good, thanks keith,

my simple question is which if any curve in the standard k7 7600 would be suitable for this type of off the shelf inkjet paper. I'll move onto expensive paper when im happy the printer is producing half way decent images on regular paper. makes sense to me.

im using the piezo inks shades 1,6,2,4,3,5,7 as listed in the manual for matte paper on the inkjetmall site. (but does not agree with the 7600 matte positions in the community manual. fun fun!!)

the ink spiration print test sounds sensible and will figure out how to do that. i would think a nozzle check would be similar simple way to check ink flow.

ill check out your link when i get ready to profile some custom papers that warrant it.

cheers

ps is there a 7600 piezo forum ?? to discuss hardware issues also?

thanks very much for your feedback. ill try the piezo forums as you suggest.

your comment on the best base curves is very useful. as is you explanation of the possible causes for the posterization. in fact i think i will post my nozzles check it it doesn't fit the verbal description of it ive been told to expect. so i suspect my cartridges have been mis labeled by previous owner or misfiled (possibly by me as i had to top up the shade 5 after buying a new bottle from you guys.

it's my scottish blood that insists i use cheap papers until. 1 i know what im doing, 2 i get a reasonably decent print. i have just bought some epson archival matte for further testing and yes its printing similar problems and very similar to the cheap papers but obviously with a much better dmax. i am using the EP ENhanced matte curves they don't show as the file names exactly in the mac print qtr dialogue curve box though or im quoting the names in the QTR stand curve list not the full quad file names. so please excuse that confusion. i am indeed using the K7-2880 set of quad files.

the no-curve images are dark. but dont seem posterized. might just be a result of falling into the non ink swapped tone range if indeed inks are swapped. .Ink positions (as carts are labeled) agree with your positioning. how do i print an "ink separation" image as richard suggests. ive not come across that term yet. do ink positions agree with the order in the nozzle check print?

i have used the marrut purge file to try to improve the nozzle checks when one is not performing well. is there a 7600 nozzle check online i can visually check to see if mine matches. as i suspect it a mislabeled cartridge. although as you said the inks are mostly old.

much appreciated.