Datacolor User to User Support Group.

Thanks a lot for your input. 

I have tried the different media options, and the differences are 
extremely subtle (premium semigloss, archival matte, glossy).

When adjusting the ink density slider to -10%, the 1A patch reads L 
7,24 (density 2,10) and the 1B patch reads L 7,47 (density 2,08). 
However, the 6K patch reads L 6,82 (density 2,12). Anyway, I made a 
profile from this target and the shadows were still blocked up with 
no details (on my calibrated and profiled NEC 2180UX I can see plenty 
of details in the shadows). I had to make an adjustment curve in 
Photoshop, opening up the dark shadows and leaving everything else as 
was. This made the print much better in terms of shadow detail. I now 
understand that printer profiling isn't just about reading patches 
and producing the ICC profile. It really needs a bit of tweaking. But 
back to the 6K patch - should I reduce the density to -15% and check 
if this makes the 6K patch brighter than the 1A patch? Or should I 
just go for the method you suggested (adjust the black point from 0 
to e.g. 10)? Is it normal that you have to open up the shadows by a 
curves adjustment to get shadow details in the print? I really want 
to produce a profile which is so accurate that I can rely on soft-
proofing.

Oistein
www.captureoflight.com



 
--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> 
> In a message dated 12/22/07 6:45:02 PM, oisteinthomassen@... writes:
> 
> 
> > Let me add that I'm using Spyder3print.. anyone? Should I reduce 
the
> > ink density (this is possible in the Epson 2100 printer driver)?
> > 
> 
> What you are describing is a situation where ink black is not as 
dark as a 
> "rich" black blend from whatever CMY Plus Black the driver offers 
just before 
> black. You should start by trying other media settings (including 
ones that 
> might not sound logical) to see if you can get a more linear result 
near black 
> with some other setting. Next, you could consider moving to a paper 
that offers 
> better blacks. And finally, you could consider adjusting the ink 
density 
> slider, though it will have other effects you may not be happy 
with. 
> 
> If you don't get the result you want from any of these, then its 
possible to 
> sometimes improve profile results by "tricking" the profile, by 
reading the 
> second patch twice, and never reading the first patch. And you 
could just give 
> up and use the "rich" black for your blacks by creating a curve 
where the 
> composite curve ends a bit above black, so blacks are mapped to 
that dark blend. 
> This curve can be created as a Photoshop RGB .acv curve, and once 
you have it 
> just right, can be imported into Spyder3Print and applied to your 
paper profile 
> to "fix" the issue at the profile level, instead of at the image 
level.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> Digital Imaging & Home Theater
> Datacolor Inc.
> CDTobie@...
> www.datacolor.com/spyder3
> 
> 
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