Yahoo Groups archive

QTR-Quadtone RIP

Index last updated: 2026-04-28 23:12 UTC

Thread

Curves help?

Curves help?

2006-09-29 by houstonspencer

Would be very grateful for any advice on how to get started with
developing curves to address the common issue outlined below. Having
asked once before without result, I'd be particularly glad of any reply.

I've just run my first few prints via QTR on a 2100. I'm not getting
anything like a match -- tonality and contrast --
between screen and print. Two calibrated monitors on two different
machines show significantly higher contrast and lighter mid-tones than
the prints. I've played with gamma and ink limit adjustment in QTR,
but they don't go nearly far enough to solve the problem.

(I'm using standard UC inks and standard EEM-equivalent paper.)

I'm assuming, at this point, I'm going to have to apply a curve,
either to the image in PS or directly in QTR. But, frankly, I don't
really know what I'm doing there, and I don't want to spend weeks
profiling.

Does anyone have any newbie-friendly advice?

If this has been addressed before, I'd be much obliged for a pointer
to the right thread, or any other good source.

Thanks in advance. --Houston

Re: Curves help?

2006-09-29 by Tom Moore

Houston

You have posed question that could have a very involved answer.
Responding to some of the questions below might get the discussion going.

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "houstonspencer"
<houston.spencer@...> wrote:
>
> 
> Would be very grateful for any advice on how to get started with
> developing curves to address the common issue outlined below. Having
> asked once before without result, I'd be particularly glad of any reply.
> 
> I've just run my first few prints via QTR on a 2100. I'm not getting
> anything like a match -- tonality and contrast --
> between screen and print. Two calibrated monitors on two different
> machines show significantly higher contrast and lighter mid-tones than
> the prints. I've played with gamma and ink limit adjustment in QTR,
> but they don't go nearly far enough to solve the problem.

With the appropriate QTR curve you shouldn't have to use much (if any)
gamma or ink limit adjustment to get close. 

> 
> (I'm using standard UC inks and standard EEM-equivalent paper.)
> 

When you say EEM equivalent paper what do you mean - which paper
exactly. You don't state which QTR curves you are using. Which are these.

> I'm assuming, at this point, I'm going to have to apply a curve,
> either to the image in PS or directly in QTR. But, frankly, I don't
> really know what I'm doing there, and I don't want to spend weeks
> profiling.

You should always be using at least 1 curve in QTR. If you're using UC
inks and EEM paper on a 2100, there should be should be curves already
available.

> 
> Does anyone have any newbie-friendly advice?
> 
> If this has been addressed before, I'd be much obliged for a pointer
> to the right thread, or any other good source.

Have you read the QTR User Guide?

It's also a good idea to state which machine type (PC or Mac), OS
version, QTR version, printer, inkset, paper brand and type, QTR
curves selected and any other details specific to your problem.  

> 
> Thanks in advance. --Houston
>
Tom Moore

Re: Curves help?

2006-10-29 by houstonspencer

Tom:

Many thanks for your guiding questions.  Apologies for my silence.
Travel commitments have kept me from printing.

Here are some -- I hope -- narrowing answers.

*You wrote*: "When you say EEM equivalent paper what do you mean -
which paper exactly. You don't state which QTR curves you are using.
Which are these."

I'm using Epson Archival Matte and Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight. 
Curves: mostly UC-EEnhMatte-warm. Warm is the tonality I'm looking
for, but I've also been playing with combinations with the other
UC-EEnhMatte curves to try to understand their properties.

*You wrote*: "You should always be using at least 1 curve in QTR. If
you're using UC inks and EEM paper on a 2100, there should be should
be curves already available."

Yep, thanks.  As you can see from the above, I am using them.

*You wrote*: "Have you read the QTR User Guide?"

Beginning to end, even the parts I didn't really understand about
curve creation.

*You wrote*: "It's also a good idea to state which machine type (PC or
Mac), OS version, QTR version, printer, inkset, paper brand and type,
QTR curves selected and any other details specific to your problem."

Sorry not to have done so: PC, XP, QTR 2.4.2.11, Epson 2100, UC inks,
paper as above, curves as above.  

To reiterate from my first post, my results are good -- smooth as silk
-- they're contrast just isn't very close to two different calibrated
monitors.

Appreciate any advice on tracking down likely culprits.

This is the last link in my transition out of the darkroom.  So,
thanks very much, in advance, for the newbie tolerance.

Cheers.  -Houston



--- In QuadtoneRIP@...m, "Tom Moore" <r.t.moore@...> wrote:
>
> Houston
> 
> You have posed question that could have a very involved answer.
> Responding to some of the questions below might get the discussion
going.
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "houstonspencer"
> <houston.spencer@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > Would be very grateful for any advice on how to get started with
> > developing curves to address the common issue outlined below. Having
> > asked once before without result, I'd be particularly glad of any
reply.
> > 
> > I've just run my first few prints via QTR on a 2100. I'm not getting
> > anything like a match -- tonality and contrast --
> > between screen and print. Two calibrated monitors on two different
> > machines show significantly higher contrast and lighter mid-tones than
> > the prints. I've played with gamma and ink limit adjustment in QTR,
> > but they don't go nearly far enough to solve the problem.
> 
> With the appropriate QTR curve you shouldn't have to use much (if any)
> gamma or ink limit adjustment to get close. 
> 
> > 
> > (I'm using standard UC inks and standard EEM-equivalent paper.)
> > 
> 
> When you say EEM equivalent paper what do you mean - which paper
> exactly. You don't state which QTR curves you are using. Which are
these.
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> 
> > I'm assuming, at this point, I'm going to have to apply a curve,
> > either to the image in PS or directly in QTR. But, frankly, I don't
> > really know what I'm doing there, and I don't want to spend weeks
> > profiling.
> 
> You should always be using at least 1 curve in QTR. If you're using UC
> inks and EEM paper on a 2100, there should be should be curves already
> available.
> 
> > 
> > Does anyone have any newbie-friendly advice?
> > 
> > If this has been addressed before, I'd be much obliged for a pointer
> > to the right thread, or any other good source.
> 
> Have you read the QTR User Guide?
> 
> It's also a good idea to state which machine type (PC or Mac), OS
> version, QTR version, printer, inkset, paper brand and type, QTR
> curves selected and any other details specific to your problem.  
> 
> > 
> > Thanks in advance. --Houston
> >
> Tom Moore
>

Re: Curves help?

2006-10-30 by Tom Moore

I've trimmed the previous posts to summarize the issue below. Perhaps
someone else will chime in with some suggestions.

Here are some more things to consider:
1. how are you softproofing your images (in order to establish your
expectation of how your printed image will appear)?
2. what ICC profile is associated with the TIFF file you are sending
to QTR? If you don't have the resources to use QTR-Create-ICC to
create an ICC profile for your printer/paper/ink combination, there
are generic QTR profiles you can use.
3. Have you tried printing (and measuring if possible) a stepwedge.
Since print the stepwedge directly through QTR without any
manipulation, you might be able to determine whether your problem is
related to your workflow or your printer/ink/paper combo.

Hope this helps

Tom Moore

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "houstonspencer"
<houston.spencer@...> wrote:
>
> 
....
> 
> I'm using Epson Archival Matte and Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight. 
> Curves: mostly UC-EEnhMatte-warm. Warm is the tonality I'm looking
> for, but I've also been playing with combinations with the other
> UC-EEnhMatte curves to try to understand their properties.
> 
...
> 
> *You wrote*: "Have you read the QTR User Guide?"
> 
> Beginning to end, even the parts I didn't really understand about
> curve creation.
> 
... PC, XP, QTR 2.4.2.11, Epson 2100, UC inks,
> paper as above, curves as above.  
> 
> To reiterate from my first post, my results are good -- smooth as silk
> -- they're contrast just isn't very close to two different calibrated
> monitors.
> 
> Appreciate any advice on tracking down likely culprits.
> 
...

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.