QTR-Quadtone RIP

Greetings QTR Group,

I'm a new kid on the block.

Just downloaded QTR from Harrington site. I work strictly in digital 
B&W. I have an Epson 2200 that I have had great luck with, including 
a number of print sales, but metamerism is a big issue for me 
(prints look very-acceptable neutral in incandescent light, but 
greenish in natural light and magenta-ish in flourescent light. I've 
read numerous times that's the nature of the 2200 beast, but for me 
it's a bit too beastly. Of course enhancing the tonal range and 
subtlety, luminescence, etc., of my B&W prints would also be a real 
plus, if possible.

Am generally weak with computers and software and am a bit paralyzed 
about this major change. Have not installed the QTR for fear of what 
will occur, and the thought of a whole new set of print settings to 
sort out (it took a LONG time to get the right settings in the Epson)
print setup screens)is really intimidating.

First BIG question: Will this QTR software bundle truly make an 
improvement in my B&W Epson 2200 prints? (I use the matte black 
cartridge and print on Epson Enhanced Matte paper -- a good 
combination that produces very good prints. I would like to keep 
that combination if possible.)

Second BIG question: Will I be able to pull this off and make it 
work? Is the readme documentation that's part of the download simple 
and explicit enough to take me through the process? If not, is there 
a Web resource (maybe you guys) that can get me through this?

Help, guys! More questions later, but right now I need to know if 
taking this major step (and trying to fix something that is only 
somewhat broken, is what I want to do.

(I have a modest WEb site of my work at lee-permenter.com 
Of course, metamerism isn't an issue on the Web site, but in my 
prints... Oy vey!) 

Lee Permenter
New Market, Maryland

Hi Lee,

I think between this group and the Digital Black and White the Print
group you'll find that everyone is very helpful.

> First BIG question: Will this QTR software bundle truly make an 
> improvement in my B&W Epson 2200 prints? (I use the matte black 
> cartridge and print on Epson Enhanced Matte paper -- a good 
> combination that produces very good prints. I would like to keep 
> that combination if possible.)

I have a 2200 and am using the Epson UC matte black ink with EEM.  I
find that my prints are the best I've done using the existing curves
that come with the software.  I just modified the cool curve for my
2200 and like it even better.  So yes, I think you'll find that your
prints will improve using QTR.

> Second BIG question: Will I be able to pull this off and make it 
> work? Is the readme documentation that's part of the download simple 
> and explicit enough to take me through the process? If not, is there 
> a Web resource (maybe you guys) that can get me through this?

Using QTR with the curves that come with the software is pretty easy
to do and the documentation is pretty clear.  It gets a little more
tricky when creating a custom curve for your specific printer (you'll
need a densitometer or at least a scanner) but it's certainly doable.
 Again, you'll find folks here very helpful if you get stuck.  I know
as I ask a bunch of questions.
 
> Help, guys! More questions later, but right now I need to know if 
> taking this major step (and trying to fix something that is only 
> somewhat broken, is what I want to do.

You can't go wrong with QTR.  It's shareware so you can really see if
it's what you're looking for.  Use it for a while and I think you'll
see that it makes a difference.
 
> (I have a modest WEb site of my work at lee-permenter.com 
> Of course, metamerism isn't an issue on the Web site, but in my 
> prints... Oy vey!) 

Nice images!  Really liked the benches covered with snow.

Good luck,

Tom

> First BIG question: Will this QTR software bundle truly make an
> improvement in my B&W Epson 2200 prints?

Yes

> Second BIG question: Will I be able to pull this off and make it
> work?

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people have, you should be able to also.
Installing QTR/Gui is very simple now. It was kind of a pain when it first
appeared but Roy and Stephen have greatly simplified and streamlined 
installation.  Don't worry about any of the custom-curve stuff for now, just 
install it and use it with the canned EEM curves that you'll be downloading.

Some people, including me, use the MIS Eboni black ink in place of the Epson 
matte black, that will add a little density to your deepest blacks and will 
produce a slightly cooler black but the difference isn't dramatic.

Once you get it installed set one of the sliders to 75% cool and the other 
to  warm (which will automatically give you 75% cool, 25% warm) for 
starters. That should give you something close to a neutral print.  If you 
have a 21 step wedge downloaded you might try printing it at different 
settings to see what they look like but 75/25 will do for starters  with 
EEM.

Once you have it installed and start using it don't forget to pay $50 to 
Roy.




----- Original Message ----- 

From: "leepermenter" <leepermenter@...>
To: <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2005 9:36 AM
Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Just downloaded QTR from Harrington


> Greetings QTR Group,
>
> I'm a new kid on the block.
>
> Just downloaded QTR from Harrington site. I work strictly in digital
> B&W. I have an Epson 2200 that I have had great luck with, including
> a number of print sales, but metamerism is a big issue for me
> (prints look very-acceptable neutral in incandescent light, but
> greenish in natural light and magenta-ish in flourescent light. I've
> read numerous times that's the nature of the 2200 beast, but for me
> it's a bit too beastly. Of course enhancing the tonal range and
> subtlety, luminescence, etc., of my B&W prints would also be a real
> plus, if possible.
>
> Am generally weak with computers and software and am a bit paralyzed
> about this major change. Have not installed the QTR for fear of what
> will occur, and the thought of a whole new set of print settings to
> sort out (it took a LONG time to get the right settings in the Epson)
> print setup screens)is really intimidating.
>
> First BIG question: Will this QTR software bundle truly make an
> improvement in my B&W Epson 2200 prints? (I use the matte black
> cartridge and print on Epson Enhanced Matte paper -- a good
> combination that produces very good prints. I would like to keep
> that combination if possible.)
>
> Second BIG question: Will I be able to pull this off and make it
> work? Is the readme documentation that's part of the download simple
> and explicit enough to take me through the process? If not, is there
> a Web resource (maybe you guys) that can get me through this?
>
> Help, guys! More questions later, but right now I need to know if
> taking this major step (and trying to fix something that is only
> somewhat broken, is what I want to do.
>
> (I have a modest WEb site of my work at lee-permenter.com
> Of course, metamerism isn't an issue on the Web site, but in my
> prints... Oy vey!)
>
> Lee Permenter
> New Market, Maryland
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Brian,

Thanks for the encouragement. I did install it and actually printed 
image, took it outside and was amazed to not see the green cast I am 
used to seeing in natural light. Right on, brother.

I am confused about one thing. Why is there not a  curve for the 
matte black Epson cartride and EEM paper combination? They have 
touted this combination, and I have used it with success, so I was 
surpised that it was not among the choices. Does this mean that the 
curves that only state UC (no photo or matte black designation) can 
be used with either the matte or photo black cartridges? There are 
curves for UCmk and UCpk cartridges, but none of them involve EEM 
paper. (?)

At any rate, thanks for the help and encouragement. I'm thrilled so 
far!

Lee Permenter
New Market, Maryland

 In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Ellis" <bellis60@v...> wrote:
> > First BIG question: Will this QTR software bundle truly make an
> > improvement in my B&W Epson 2200 prints?
> 
> Yes
> 
> > Second BIG question: Will I be able to pull this off and make it
> > work?
> 
> Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people have, you should be able to 
also.
> Installing QTR/Gui is very simple now. It was kind of a pain when 
it first
> appeared but Roy and Stephen have greatly simplified and 
streamlined 
> installation.  Don't worry about any of the custom-curve stuff for 
now, just 
> install it and use it with the canned EEM curves that you'll be 
downloading.
> 
> Some people, including me, use the MIS Eboni black ink in place of 
the Epson 
> matte black, that will add a little density to your deepest blacks 
and will 
> produce a slightly cooler black but the difference isn't dramatic.
> 
> Once you get it installed set one of the sliders to 75% cool and 
the other 
> to  warm (which will automatically give you 75% cool, 25% warm) 
for 
> starters. That should give you something close to a neutral 
print.  If you 
> have a 21 step wedge downloaded you might try printing it at 
different 
> settings to see what they look like but 75/25 will do for 
starters  with 
> EEM.
> 
> Once you have it installed and start using it don't forget to pay 
$50 to 
> Roy.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "leepermenter" <leepermenter@y...>
> To: <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2005 9:36 AM
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Just downloaded QTR from Harrington
> 
> 
> > Greetings QTR Group,
> >
> > I'm a new kid on the block.
> >
> > Just downloaded QTR from Harrington site. I work strictly in 
digital
> > B&W. I have an Epson 2200 that I have had great luck with, 
including
> > a number of print sales, but metamerism is a big issue for me
> > (prints look very-acceptable neutral in incandescent light, but
> > greenish in natural light and magenta-ish in flourescent light. 
I've
> > read numerous times that's the nature of the 2200 beast, but for 
me
> > it's a bit too beastly. Of course enhancing the tonal range and
> > subtlety, luminescence, etc., of my B&W prints would also be a 
real
> > plus, if possible.
> >
> > Am generally weak with computers and software and am a bit 
paralyzed
> > about this major change. Have not installed the QTR for fear of 
what
> > will occur, and the thought of a whole new set of print settings 
to
> > sort out (it took a LONG time to get the right settings in the 
Epson)
> > print setup screens)is really intimidating.
> >
> > First BIG question: Will this QTR software bundle truly make an
> > improvement in my B&W Epson 2200 prints? (I use the matte black
> > cartridge and print on Epson Enhanced Matte paper -- a good
> > combination that produces very good prints. I would like to keep
> > that combination if possible.)
> >
> > Second BIG question: Will I be able to pull this off and make it
> > work? Is the readme documentation that's part of the download 
simple
> > and explicit enough to take me through the process? If not, is 
there

> > a Web resource (maybe you guys) that can get me through this?
> >
> > Help, guys! More questions later, but right now I need to know if
> > taking this major step (and trying to fix something that is only
> > somewhat broken, is what I want to do.
> >
> > (I have a modest WEb site of my work at lee-permenter.com
> > Of course, metamerism isn't an issue on the Web site, but in my
> > prints... Oy vey!)
> >
> > Lee Permenter
> > New Market, Maryland
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

>Does this mean that the
> curves that only state UC (no photo or matte black designation) can
> be used with either the matte or photo black cartridges?

Well yes and no. You certainly can use the curves with either type of 
cartridge in the sense that they'll work after a fashion with either type. 
However, they will work best if you are using the type of cartridge 
appropriate to the curve you select, i.e. a pk cartridge with a curve for a 
glossy paper and an mk cartridge with a curve for a matte paper (such as the 
EEM curve). I believe that if you're using say a pk cartridge with a matte 
paper curve you'll get a print but the blacks won't be as dense as they 
would be if you had the correct cartridge installed for that type of paper.

>There are
> curves for UCmk and UCpk cartridges, but none of them involve EEM
> paper. (?)
>
Sorry, but I don't see these curves. Are you perhaps referring to the "gray 
matte" and "gray photo" options in the working space and soft proofing 
portion of QTR? If so it's my understanding that these aren't curves, 
they're generic ICC profiles and you select the one that's appropriate for 
the type paper you're using.  Again, if you're using the Epson black inks 
(as opposed to the MIS Eboni black) things will work best if you use the ink 
that's best suited for the type paper you're using (i.e. the mk cartridge 
for matte paper and the pk cartridge for glossy paper) but the profiles 
don't distinguish between these two types of inks.

If this isn't responsive to your question let me know and I'll try again or
perhaps someone else can explain it better than I've done here.

Brian

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "leepermenter" <leepermenter@...>
To: <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2005 8:16 PM
Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Re: Just downloaded QTR from Harrington


> Brian,
>
> Thanks for the encouragement. I did install it and actually printed
> image, took it outside and was amazed to not see the green cast I am
> used to seeing in natural light. Right on, brother.
>
> I am confused about one thing. Why is there not a  curve for the
> matte black Epson cartride and EEM paper combination? They have
> touted this combination, and I have used it with success, so I was
> surpised that it was not among the choices. Does this mean that the
> curves that only state UC (no photo or matte black designation) can
> be used with either the matte or photo black cartridges? There are
> curves for UCmk and UCpk cartridges, but none of them involve EEM
> paper. (?)
>
> At any rate, thanks for the help and encouragement. I'm thrilled so
> far!
>
> Lee Permenter
> New Market, Maryland

Lee

The names of the curves are set by the curve creators. The use of UCpk...
and UCmk... are in accordance with a convention that has gradually come into
use. Actually, the UC curves for EEM are for use with the mk ink. The EEM
curves were some of the first made for the 2200 and may have been created
before the naming convention came into common use. They just haven't been
renamed to conform to the convention.

Tom Moore

> -----Original Message-----
> From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of leepermenter

...

> 
> Thanks for the encouragement. I did install it and actually printed
> image, took it outside and was amazed to not see the green cast I am
> used to seeing in natural light. Right on, brother.
> 
> I am confused about one thing. Why is there not a  curve for the
> matte black Epson cartride and EEM paper combination? They have
> touted this combination, and I have used it with success, so I was
> surpised that it was not among the choices. Does this mean that the
> curves that only state UC (no photo or matte black designation) can
> be used with either the matte or photo black cartridges? There are
> curves for UCmk and UCpk cartridges, but none of them involve EEM
> paper. (?)

...