QTR-Quadtone RIP

Hello,
I'm new & having a few questions as I go through calibrating.
I'm running Leopard.
I've made my ink descriptor file and printed the 21 step wedge. Using profile-maker measure 
tool, I measured the 21 step wedge. After a number of readings ( measuring by patch), I'm 
sure that I measured all the steps. I moved the printed patch high enough to see all the 
numerical divisions from the top of the step wedge in order to read each individual gray. 
After I have read all of them I'm asked to choose a file. Text file is chosen & saved to desk 
top. When I put this into the the QTR-Linearize-Data, a message appears at the bottom of 
the file, telling me 'The lab values are not in order, cannot be linearized'.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks
Joel

Joel,
There are several possible causes. Apparently, the droplet rejects the file if there is not a 
steady progression from light to dark. If for example you have printed a step wedge where 
the 90, 95 and 100 percent blocks are over-inked they may read a lower dMax.

This is why I have found that first I have to determine what resolution and paper type to use 
to ensure the best dMax. For example, there is one paper I tested that, when printed at 2880 
with PK ink on a 2200 the dMax was highest at about 60% and then started to get lower 
again. When printed at 1440 the dMax was best at 100%, and as high as the best reading at 
2880.

Also, I have found that it is best to read the step wedges with several sheets of blank paper 
underneath. The paper, even heavy photo rag etc. is somewhat transmissive and it may be 
that the spectrometer light is bouncing off the desk and causing a problem.

David

David,
Thanks for getting back to me. Sorry I got a bit ahead of my self.  
What I was supposed to do was make the profile from the ink descriptor  
file first. I filled out the ink descr. file, doing the partitioning  
of inks by percentage, and keeping shadow=8 & highlight=4.
I dropped it into 'Drop-Quad_Profile' & it put it into my quad 7800-K7  
folder with the rest of the profiles. But when I went to print the 21  
step wedge & apply this profile ( so I can add the linearize info to  
the bottom of my ink desc. file) it will not appear in the curve  
choices in the qtr rip print dialogue box.
Why is happening? It does have a .quad after it's name (I call my ink  
des. file 7800_k7), so I know it has been converted to a profile.
I'm close to understanding this, I can see it through the fog.
Thanks
Joel
On Mar 3, 2008, at 9:21 PM, dmwket wrote:

> Joel,
> There are several possible causes. Apparently, the droplet rejects  
> the file if there is not a
> steady progression from light to dark. If for example you have  
> printed a step wedge where
> the 90, 95 and 100 percent blocks are over-inked they may read a  
> lower dMax.
>
> This is why I have found that first I have to determine what  
> resolution and paper type to use
> to ensure the best dMax. For example, there is one paper I tested  
> that, when printed at 2880
> with PK ink on a 2200 the dMax was highest at about 60% and then  
> started to get lower
> again. When printed at 1440 the dMax was best at 100%, and as high  
> as the best reading at
> 2880.
>
> Also, I have found that it is best to read the step wedges with  
> several sheets of blank paper
> underneath. The paper, even heavy photo rag etc. is somewhat  
> transmissive and it may be
> that the spectrometer light is bouncing off the desk and causing a  
> problem.
>
> David
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

joel,
I have had that happen to me a couple of times.
The reason seemed to be that I had forgotten to quit Photoshop.

So, the procedure I developed is:
take the text file for the curve and put it into the profile folder.
Make sure that Photoshop and the QTR printer are closed (i.e. no blue dot under them in the 
dock.) Not sure how scientific but that's how I confirm it. 

click on install script for the printer in the profile folder.

confirm that it "installed" the curve in the text log for the terminal session that is started by 
the install script.

reopen Photoshop, select a file, go to the print dialog, click on QTR, select the preset for the 
paper and check to confirm the curve is there.

This has always worked for me, providing that Photoshop is quit when I run the install script.

David

David,
Thanks, that worked. I was not activating the install script. It makes  
perfect sense, but as I was following the "curve creation, James Haney  
v01" that wasn't mentioned. But, that outline helps make sense of the  
process.
Appreciate it!
Joel
On Mar 4, 2008, at 11:37 AM, dmwket wrote:

> joel,
> I have had that happen to me a couple of times.
> The reason seemed to be that I had forgotten to quit Photoshop.
>
> So, the procedure I developed is:
> take the text file for the curve and put it into the profile folder.
> Make sure that Photoshop and the QTR printer are closed (i.e. no  
> blue dot under them in the
> dock.) Not sure how scientific but that's how I confirm it.
>
> click on install script for the printer in the profile folder.
>
> confirm that it "installed" the curve in the text log for the  
> terminal session that is started by
> the install script.
>
> reopen Photoshop, select a file, go to the print dialog, click on  
> QTR, select the preset for the
> paper and check to confirm the curve is there.
>
> This has always worked for me, providing that Photoshop is quit when  
> I run the install script.
>
> David
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Glad to help.

David