Datacolor User to User Support Group.

> "How does Epson ColorBase calibrate my Epson printer?

I have a copy of the R2400/R1800 Service Manual which gives details of the 
printer calibration:-


The Manual talks about the calibration of the printhead during manufacture,
in which the weight of ink fired out of each nozzle is measured and this
info stored in the Head ID which has to be entered into the Epson Software
Utility after installation of the head to roughly correct the ink output for 
each printer.
OK, that is well known.

What I hadn't heard before is the use of a Color ID as well. This is a
factory color calibration of the whole printer after assembly. This is to
take account of the individual variation in the electronics of each computer
(mainboard, headboard, etc). For each printer a color chart is printed and
read with an i1 and the results fed into another Epson calibration utility
which produces a Color ID for that individual printer. That Color ID, stored
in the printer, is sent to the driver and basically tells the driver how
many ink drops of a particular size will produce the required ink output for
each nozzle. So for example, instead of normally firing say 10 drops of ink
to achieve a certain result, the Color ID will tell the driver that that
particular nozzle produces 10% less than normal output, therefore 11 drops 
are required
instead of 10.

The manual states that Epson Service Centres can do this themselves after 
major
servicing, or, if not large enough, can send in the printed charts to larger
centres for reading and producing the Color ID. It even talks of customer
calibration kits, for customers to do this themselves! The Color ID doesn't
take the place of the Head ID, which must still be entered into the printer
first as it contains other info about head waveforms etc.

This presumbly was what led Epson on to producing the consumer Colorbase 
utility for
the R2400 and larger printers, so that the color output of printers can be
recalibrated after changing inks, papers, or simply wear and tear, by the
users.

Another interesting point mentioned was that if the printer does NOT have a
Color ID (only uses the Head ID), greater ink safety margins are required.
With Head and Color IDs, 2-5% less ink will be left in the cartridge,
because the printer can more accurately measure the ink usage.



I use it on my two R2400s and they then work perfectly with the 
USA/Epson-supplied Epson paper profiles (with Epson papers and inks, of 
course). But that is not what David wants to hear! I don't use my 
ColorMouse/Profiler any more.

Bob Frost



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "WhoCares" <ghibliii@...>