QTR-Quadtone RIP

I apologize for the length of this at the start...

I'm not a technical genius, but I'm not a total techno-dork, either. 
I just can't seem to get prints out of my Epson 4800 that look like 
what I have on screen. I use Ham PhotoragBrtW. I've always had to 
use the sliders at the bottom of the QTR gui to get what I want from 
a print and that's always a paper burner. A friend told me that I 
shouldn't have to do that, but was not able to tell me more about 
how to get a good print without doing it. So, recently (this past 
weekend, nearly around the clock), I tried to develop a custom 
curve, thinking that might be the solution to my problem. The QTR 
instructions on doing this tell me to grab a similar curve and tell 
me where to look for the curves. There has to be a profile for this 
paper since I use it from the QTR paper drop box. Yet, I see nothing 
in the location in the directions for the 4800k7. There's no folder 
for this printer/ink combo, only one for 4800uc, so that was no 
help. I did a search and, again, nothing. The 21-step prints well 
for the paper using the existing profile, but I don't know where 
that profile is located, so there's no way I can "work it" to see if 
I can improve my prints and my productivity.

It's probably obvious to anyone reading this that I don't have a 
clue, but I have tried my best to follow the QTR directions on 
creating a profile. You should see the 21-step print from "my" 
profile! A total mess. 

I wonder if there's anything better to guide me through this process 
than the current QTR guide? Something like a "QTR for the 
Technically Brain Dead" or some equivalent?

I'm pretty sure I'm using the latest QTR (I did a download about a 
month ago). I'm running WindowsXP x64 on a PC I had built 
specifically for my photo work. It's got an Intel dual core 
processor and 6gigs RAM. 

I've fallen out of love with the 4800. I have to manually feed every 
sheet and get a "not straight" or "reload" message that forces me to 
re-feed my stock from 5 to 8 times before I can get the printer to 
accept it for printing. And there's no reason for it...the paper 
that finally prints is in only as straight as those that were 
rejected! 

I'm at wits end...I spent a fortune in investing in the move to 
digital and get away from having people who didn't know how to print 
make wet-prints of my large (8x10, 4x10, 5x7) negs. I work for days 
to get images to what I consider to be as close to perfect as I can 
and then I move to the printing and it all falls apart. Frustrating 
doesn't even get close to how I'm feeling at this point.

Any suggestions or more information anyone needs from me to offer 
help?

I'll appreciate anything than can move me forward.

Peter Kowalchuk

Have you calibrated/profiled your monitor?  That could be the source
of your problem.

Peter

In his most recent post Carl Schofield offered to easiest solution to your
problem. Just start with the QIDF file that was part of his email.

1. convert the text from the email to a QIDF
2. print an ink separation page (using QTR) to figure out your ink limits
3. edit the QIDF to adjust the ink limits for your paper
4. linearize the curve
5. start printing

Tom Moore

> -----Original Message-----
> From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of phkowalchuk
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 12:14 PM
> To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Printing Frustrations
> 
> I apologize for the length of this at the start...
> 

...

> paper since I use it from the QTR paper drop box. Yet, I see nothing
> in the location in the directions for the 4800k7. There's no folder
> for this printer/ink combo, only one for 4800uc, so that was no
> help. I did a search and, again, nothing. The 21-step prints well
> for the paper using the existing profile, but I don't know where
> that profile is located, so there's no way I can "work it" to see if
> I can improve my prints and my productivity.
> 
> It's probably obvious to anyone reading this that I don't have a
> clue, but I have tried my best to follow the QTR directions on
> creating a profile. You should see the 21-step print from "my"
> profile! A total mess.
> 
> I wonder if there's anything better to guide me through this process
> than the current QTR guide? Something like a "QTR for the
> Technically Brain Dead" or some equivalent?
> 

...

>