QTR-Quadtone RIP

I am evaluating QTR and so far am very happy but have some strange 
behaviour that I haven't been able to figure out.

Basically if I print to file out of Qimage using an image size under 
a certain threshold QTR happily agrees to print the file. If the 
image size exceeds the threshold QTR complains of 'Invalid TIFF Tags 
in image' and 'TIFF format not supported'

My workflow is:

In PS CS2
Photoediting as a monochromatic RGB in QTR-RGB-Gray workspace
Resize image (without interpolation) and save as tiff  (with profile 
embedded). Note that I do the resize in PS simply to take note of the 
image dimensions.

In Qimage
Choose Print to File and assign exact dimensions of image as 
previously noted as paper size. Set resolution to 720 ppi.
Under Custom button in printing pane, select specify size and enter 
same size coordinates.
In Color Management settings enable Printer Profiles and select QTR-
RGB-Gray Matte Paper.

In QTR
Basic set up for Super A3 paper size (13x19 on the dropdown), curves 
etc…
Select Image from File Menu. This is where the wheels fall off.

I haven't determined exactly where the threshold is but if I print to 
file out of Qimage with an image size of 36 cm wide QTR shows me the 
thumbnail in the print pane and appears happy to print. If I work 
with 46 cm wide (which is what I want to do) I get the above 
noted  'Invalid TIFF Tags in image' and 'TIFF format not supported' 
warnings. 

Up until now I have been proofing with A4 EEM and everything has been 
fine as I have been working at image widths of 28 cm. The reason I am 
at 46 cm is I now want to make a print on Super A3 stock. I've not 
tried to print because I don't want to waste good paper given the 
error warnings.

Instead I have tried all sorts of combinations of the workflow 
including remaining with ProPhoto RGB in PS CS2 and not using any 
printer profile out of Qimage. I have uninstalled and reinstalled 
both QTR and Qimage (including using QTR cleanout), have backtracked 
from QTR 2.3 to 2.2f, and have installed the latest update of Qimage.
 
Nothing seems to work. A 46 cm wide image, as interpolated to 720 ppi 
by Qimage (from an 8 megapixel original) doesn't seem to fly in QTR. 
If I simply resize in PS CS2 to 46 cm wide and do not interpolate (so 
the resolution drops to 140 ppi or something like that), the file is 
happily brought into QTR. That seems the only way so far that I can 
get QTR to be ready to print a larger image like this, but I don't 
want to drop the resolution like this and forego the interpolation 
and smart sharpening capabilities of Qimage.

I have tried doing a lot of searches yesterday to come up with an 
explanation for this. I did see some posts on the Qimage list about a 
memory threshold problem, but that threshold was at a number of 
pixels that would far exceed what this image at 46 cm wide would have 
(which would be 13,039 in the longest dimension). I also read a good 
deal of exchange about the QTR-RGB and QTR-Gray profiles and their 
use in general and under Qimage and did note some remarks there about 
errors that could be generated, but I note this behaviour even 
without those profiles being used.

So I am stumped. Does anyone have an idea on how I can get Qimage and 
QTR working together to give me 720 ppi prints that make full use of 
the Super A3 capabilities of my Epson 2100?

Thanks for any insights,

Dave Meddings

If you can hone in on the boundary condition, it will help in finding this
problem. What is the length of the image? (You only mention 46 cm width.)

How much memory do you have on your system? I'm guessing you image is about a
half gigabyte in size.

You probably don't need to sample at 720 ppi. Try 360.

Anyway, even though you can't see the thumbnail, you should be able to try to
print.

-Stephen
 www.sbillard.org/Stephen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Meddings
> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 1:29 AM
> To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Qimage --> QTR workflow: 'Invalid TIFF 
> Tags in image' at 13x19 print size
> 
> 
> I am evaluating QTR and so far am very happy but have some strange 
> behaviour that I haven't been able to figure out.
> 
> Basically if I print to file out of Qimage using an image size under 
> a certain threshold QTR happily agrees to print the file. If the 
> image size exceeds the threshold QTR complains of 'Invalid TIFF Tags 
> in image' and 'TIFF format not supported'
> 
>

Thanks Stephen, and thanks for your great work on the GUI.

This particular image isn't that big - about 355 MB if memory serves 
as a 46 cm x 31 cm image at 720 ppi.

At 36 cm wide it is 24 cm high and comes in at 220 MB or something 
like that as a 720 ppi file.

I am running with 2 gigs of Corsair XMS RAM on a 2.6 GHz system. 
Photoediting is done on a RAID 0 array. I do have the system set up 
to give PS CS2 about 1.5 gigs of my RAM but I am quite sure this 
problem has occurred with and without PS running in the background.

I really do not feel as if I should be overstressing the 
capabilities of QTR asking it to handle a 720 ppi file that comes in 
at 355 megs. Surely many people here print at max resolution for 13 
x 19 format prints. 

I suppose I could hit the print button anyway...but I am rather 
reluctant as I have those big red warnings telling me some Invalid 
Tiff Tags are present etc. ....I hate to blow a sheet of HPR unless 
I know everything is ready to go.

Kind of am hoping that someone here can spot a simple thing I might 
be doing wrong, or even chime in if they have successfully fed 
images out of Qimage at 720 ppi into QTR.

Thanks for the comments,

Dave

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
wrote:
> If you can hone in on the boundary condition, it will help in 
finding this
> problem. What is the length of the image? (You only mention 46 cm 
width.)
> 
> How much memory do you have on your system? I'm guessing you image 
is about a
> half gigabyte in size.
> 
> You probably don't need to sample at 720 ppi. Try 360.
> 
> Anyway, even though you can't see the thumbnail, you should be 
able to try to

> print.
> 
> -Stephen
>  www.sbillard.org/Stephen

Isn't 46 cm simply too wide for a 2100?

Ian

-------------- Original message -------------- 
Thanks Stephen, and thanks for your great work on the GUI.

This particular image isn't that big - about 355 MB if memory serves 
as a 46 cm x 31 cm image at 720 ppi.

At 36 cm wide it is 24 cm high and comes in at 220 MB or something 
like that as a 720 ppi file.

I am running with 2 gigs of Corsair XMS RAM on a 2.6 GHz system. 
Photoediting is done on a RAID 0 array. I do have the system set up 
to give PS CS2 about 1.5 gigs of my RAM but I am quite sure this 
problem has occurred with and without PS running in the background.

I really do not feel as if I should be overstressing the 
capabilities of QTR asking it to handle a 720 ppi file that comes in 
at 355 megs. Surely many people here print at max resolution for 13 
x 19 format prints. 

I suppose I could hit the print button anyway...but I am rather 
reluctant as I have those big red warnings telling me some Invalid 
Tiff Tags are present etc. ....I hate to blow a sheet of HPR unless 
I know everything is ready to go.

Kind of am hoping that someone here can spot a simple thing I might 
be doing wrong, or even chime in if they have successfully fed 
images out of Qimage at 720 ppi into QTR.

Thanks for the comments,

Dave

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
wrote:
> If you can hone in on the boundary condition, it will help in 
finding this
> problem. What is the length of the image? (You only mention 46 cm 
width.)
> 
> How much memory do you have on your system? I'm guessing you image 
is about a
> half gigabyte in size.
> 
> You probably don't need to sample at 720 ppi. Try 360.
> 
> Anyway, even though you can't see the thumbnail, you should be 
able to try to
> print.
> 
> -Stephen
>  www.sbillard.org/Stephen






YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS 

 Visit your group "QuadtoneRIP" on the web.
  
 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
 QuadtoneRIP-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
  
 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

I suspect that there is a problem in handling the size file you are attempting
to print. I will look into it and see what I can find. The TIFF code is not
mine, so it is pretty hard to debug. 

Anyway, you don't need 720 ppi resolution. Change it to 320 ppi and I bet it
will work.

-Stephen
 www.sbillard.org/Stephen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Meddings
> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 12:33 PM
> To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Re: Qimage --> QTR workflow: 'Invalid 
> TIFF Tags in image' at 13x19 print size
> 
> 
> Thanks Stephen, and thanks for your great work on the GUI.
> 
> This particular image isn't that big - about 355 MB if memory serves 
> as a 46 cm x 31 cm image at 720 ppi.
> 
> At 36 cm wide it is 24 cm high and comes in at 220 MB or something 
> like that as a 720 ppi file.
> 
> I am running with 2 gigs of Corsair XMS RAM on a 2.6 GHz system. 
> Photoediting is done on a RAID 0 array. I do have the system set up 
> to give PS CS2 about 1.5 gigs of my RAM but I am quite sure this 
> problem has occurred with and without PS running in the background.
> 
> I really do not feel as if I should be overstressing the 
> capabilities of QTR asking it to handle a 720 ppi file that comes in 
> at 355 megs. Surely many people here print at max resolution for 13 
> x 19 format prints. 
> 
> I suppose I could hit the print button anyway...but I am rather 
> reluctant as I have those big red warnings telling me some Invalid 
> Tiff Tags are present etc. ....I hate to blow a sheet of HPR unless 
> I know everything is ready to go.
> 
> Kind of am hoping that someone here can spot a simple thing I might 
> be doing wrong, or even chime in if they have successfully fed 
> images out of Qimage at 720 ppi into QTR.
> 
> Thanks for the comments,
> 
> Dave
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
> wrote:
> > If you can hone in on the boundary condition, it will help in
> finding this
> > problem. What is the length of the image? (You only mention 46 cm
> width.)
> > 
> > How much memory do you have on your system? I'm guessing you image
> is about a
> > half gigabyte in size.
> > 
> > You probably don't need to sample at 720 ppi. Try 360.
> > 
> > Anyway, even though you can't see the thumbnail, you should be
> able to try to
> > print.
> > 
> > -Stephen
> >  www.sbillard.org/Stephen
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
> --------------------~--> 
> Life without art & music? Keep the arts alive today at 
> Network for Good! 
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/FXrMlA/dnQLAA/Zx0JAA/ucIolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> ------~-> 
> 
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
>

Thanks Stephen. It does seem to be a problem. One thought I have is 
that I will try resizing the file in PS to 46 cm at 720 ppi and see if 
QTR accepts that. That would at least isolate the problem to the QTR 
code rather than a possible issue with how Qimage packages the tif.

As to 'not needing' 720 ppi....thanks but with respect the difference 
between 360 ppi images and 720 ppi out of Qimage isn't even subtle. If 
you haven't tried this yet you should.

Also for the other poster's benefit 46 cm is 18.1 inches - well within 
the 2100/2200 printer model.

Best,

Dave

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
wrote:
> I suspect that there is a problem in handling the size file you are 
attempting
> to print. I will look into it and see what I can find. The TIFF code 
is not
> mine, so it is pretty hard to debug. 
> 
> Anyway, you don't need 720 ppi resolution. Change it to 320 ppi and 
I bet it

> will work.
> 
> -Stephen
>  www.sbillard.org/Stephen

Dave,

One thing that wasn't clear before is that your image seems to be in landscape
orientation i.e. 18in wide is really 18in length as printed.  So the whole image
must be rotated before printing.  I'm not sure whether Qimage tries to take
care of this but if not both the QTRgui front end and the QTR print code have
to do this rotation.   Although its not obvious the front end and print code are
completely separate and an error message from QTRgui really doesn't tell
whether the backend will work (this is why Stephen suggested to print even if
you can't see the preview). Anyway you might try rotating the image in Photoshop
before sending to Qimage.  This would at least see if that is part of the problem.

Roy

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "David Meddings" <meddings@f...> wrote:

> Thanks Stephen. It does seem to be a problem. One thought I have is 
> that I will try resizing the file in PS to 46 cm at 720 ppi and see if 
> QTR accepts that. That would at least isolate the problem to the QTR 
> code rather than a possible issue with how Qimage packages the tif.
> 
> As to 'not needing' 720 ppi....thanks but with respect the difference 
> between 360 ppi images and 720 ppi out of Qimage isn't even subtle. If 
> you haven't tried this yet you should.
> 
> Also for the other poster's benefit 46 cm is 18.1 inches - well within 
> the 2100/2200 printer model.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Dave
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
> wrote:
> > I suspect that there is a problem in handling the size file you are 
> attempting
> > to print. I will look into it and see what I can find. The TIFF code 
> is not
> > mine, so it is pretty hard to debug. 
> > 
> > Anyway, you don't need 720 ppi resolution. Change it to 320 ppi and 
> I bet it
> > will work.
> > 
> > -Stephen
> >  www.sbillard.org/Stephen

Roy, Stephen,

Thanks. In the last hour I've discovered something. I tried the 
interpolation in PS and had the same result - the thumbnail would 
not show and I had the two error messages.

Then, more out of frustration than anything else, I dragged and 
dropped the file out of Windows Explorer onto the printing pane in 
the QTR GUI. Voila! Beautiful thumbnail and no error messages (and 
this, incidentally with the PS file which at 662 MB was twice the 
size of Qimage's interpolation of the same image).

So....I went back to Qimage and set up the smart sharpening and 
interpolation as desired, printed to file, dropped that file out of 
Explorer into QTR and now the image is printing as I type.

Roy, I also shoot 4x5 on occasion and my scanned negs start at 335 
MB (and go up from there :~) so I was fairly sure this shouldn't 
have been a file size issue. 

It does seem that there may be a bug in the code in the execution of 
the File/Select Image routine.

Thanks again to both of you. I'll report back if the image comes out 
a muddied mess.....

Dave 

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Roy Harrington" <roy@h...> 
wrote:
> 
> Dave,
> 
> One thing that wasn't clear before is that your image seems to be 
in landscape
> orientation i.e. 18in wide is really 18in length as printed.  So 
the whole image
> must be rotated before printing.  I'm not sure whether Qimage 
tries to take
> care of this but if not both the QTRgui front end and the QTR 
print code have
> to do this rotation.   Although its not obvious the front end and 
print code are
> completely separate and an error message from QTRgui really 
doesn't tell
> whether the backend will work (this is why Stephen suggested to 
print even if
> you can't see the preview). Anyway you might try rotating the 
image in Photoshop
> before sending to Qimage.  This would at least see if that is part 
of the problem.
>

I believe the width of the 2100/2200 is 13". Unless you turn the print so 18.1" is in the machine direction, it will be too wide.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
Thanks Stephen. It does seem to be a problem. One thought I have is 
that I will try resizing the file in PS to 46 cm at 720 ppi and see if 
QTR accepts that. That would at least isolate the problem to the QTR 
code rather than a possible issue with how Qimage packages the tif.

As to 'not needing' 720 ppi....thanks but with respect the difference 
between 360 ppi images and 720 ppi out of Qimage isn't even subtle. If 
you haven't tried this yet you should.

Also for the other poster's benefit 46 cm is 18.1 inches - well within 
the 2100/2200 printer model.

Best,

Dave

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
wrote:
> I suspect that there is a problem in handling the size file you are 
attempting
> to print. I will look into it and see what I can find. The TIFF code 
is not
> mine, so it is pretty hard to debug. 
> 
> Anyway, you don't need 720 ppi resolution. Change it to 320 ppi and 
I bet it
> will work.
> 
> -Stephen
>  www.sbillard.org/Stephen





SPONSORED LINKS Digital wedding photography Learn digital photography Digital photography college 
Digital photography Digital photography web site Digital photography course 



YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS 

 Visit your group "QuadtoneRIP" on the web.
  
 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
 QuadtoneRIP-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
  
 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Glad it is working now. 

How were you getting the file to QTRgui previously?

-Stephen
 www.sbillard.org/Stephen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Meddings
> Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 11:47 PM
> To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Re: Qimage --> QTR workflow: 'Invalid 
> TIFF Tags in image' at 13x19 print size
> 
> 
> Roy, Stephen,
> 
> Thanks. In the last hour I've discovered something. I tried the 
> interpolation in PS and had the same result - the thumbnail would 
> not show and I had the two error messages.
> 
> Then, more out of frustration than anything else, I dragged and 
> dropped the file out of Windows Explorer onto the printing pane in 
> the QTR GUI. Voila! Beautiful thumbnail and no error messages (and 
> this, incidentally with the PS file which at 662 MB was twice the 
> size of Qimage's interpolation of the same image).
> 
> So....I went back to Qimage and set up the smart sharpening and 
> interpolation as desired, printed to file, dropped that file out of 
> Explorer into QTR and now the image is printing as I type.
>

Hi Stephen, thanks for your work on the fix for the latest version of 
the GUI.

Previously I was using the File/Select Image routine, and not the drag 
and drop method.

Interestingly, last night I tried drag and drop, could see the 
thumbnai display in the pane but also had the two same error msgs 
appear. I went ahead and pushed the print button anway and the print 
came out fine.


Dave M.
--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Billard" <stephen@s...> 
wrote:

> Glad it is working now. 
> 
> How were you getting the file to QTRgui previously?
> 
> -Stephen
>  www.sbillard.org/Stephen
>

I think there is a resource problem with the TIFF library I am using. I am
working on switching to a different one. Anyone who wants to volunteer to beta
test once I have converted, please let me know.

-Stephen
 www.sbillard.org/Stephen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com 
> [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Meddings
> Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 12:01 PM
> To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Re: Qimage --> QTR workflow: 'Invalid 
> TIFF Tags in image' at 13x19 print size
> 
> 
> Hi Stephen, thanks for your work on the fix for the latest version of 
> the GUI.
> 
> Previously I was using the File/Select Image routine, and not 
> the drag 
> and drop method.
> 
> Interestingly, last night I tried drag and drop, could see the 
> thumbnai display in the pane but also had the two same error msgs 
> appear. I went ahead and pushed the print button anway and the print 
> came out fine.
> 
> 
> Dave M.