Datacolor User to User Support Group.

Hello,

I just got a new Canon i9900 printer and am trying to make profiles
for Ilford Classic Gloss and Pearl paper. When I try to select the
suggested "high gloss photo film" media type, I find it is not in the
list for the i9900, unlike my old Canon s9000.

Also, I am having some troubles with moderate mottling in medium-dark
blues and grays, no matter what media type I choose (I had this same
problem with the S9000 and never resolved it). I've set print quality
to 1 (fine/slow), and turned on quiet mode in the driver, which is
supposed to slow down the print speed. 

Am I just out of luck using Ilford swellable polymer paper with BCI-6
inks? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (including
alternate swellable papers).

-- Dan Finnerty

You confirm what I was about to conclude, unfortunately. I'm going to
finish these profiles so I can use the IG papers I already have. Time
to check out some other options. Red River looks interesting, but they
don't have a swellable polymer paper. 

How large are the spectro's measurement spots? I'm wondering how much
the mottling will affect the calibrations. I will check by making
multiple measurements of some of the worst patches to see how much
they vary with position. 

Looking through the printing forum in DPReview, it seems that many
people are using the IG Classic papers with Canon S and i-series
printers (BCI-6 dye inks). I wonder if they just have not looked
closely enough to see the mottling problems? It is not highly visible
in actual prints, but now that I know what to look for, I can't stop
seeing it. In truth, its only obvious with my nose to the print. From
12 inches away, its invisible anywhere but a flat, uniform patch of
the right color. It also improves considerably when the paper is
completely dry (not surprising for swellable polymer coating).

One of the things I appreciate most about PFP is the ability to do
these kinds of detailed checks and begin to get some real insight into
how well the print process is working. Not that one can't do this
anyway, but between the media check facility and the help files, this
is a very effective educational tool. I am beginning to see subtleties
in color, tonality and fine detail that I had never noticed before. I
have become my own worst critic. Both a blessing and a curse!

Thanks for you help, David, I've learned a lot by reading through all
the other posts and your responses to them. It has prevented me from
making some of the same mistakes.

-- Dan Finnerty

--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, CDTobie@... wrote:
>
> If all media settings mottle, then (according to the help in
PrintFIX PRO) 
> you have an incompatible combination. It may not be hugely
incompatable, but 
> when you add the high amounts of Cyan, Magenta, and Black needed to
create dark 
> blue, you are exceeding the paper's ink limit. If it seldom occurs
in your 
> prints, then perhaps its not an issue for you. But I'd suggest
looking at other 

> media, as they don't all have this issue.
> 
> C. David Tobie
> Product Technology Manager
> ColorVision Business Unit
> Datacolor Inc.
> CDTobie@...
> www.colorvision.com
>

I haven't use the i9900, but the prints I got from the s9000 on Ilford
classic pearl were outstanding. 

One thing about the swellable polymers, they might be slow on the
uptake of ink under very dry environment conditions. You might try
storing some of the paper in a closed box under high humidity
conditions before trying to print. This could "pre-swell" the paper
slightly improving the absorption of the ink.

Just an idea that might help.

John Nollendorfs


--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, "dffinnert" <dfinnert@...>
wrote:

>
> Hello,
> 
> I just got a new Canon i9900 printer and am trying to make profiles
> for Ilford Classic Gloss and Pearl paper. When I try to select the
> suggested "high gloss photo film" media type, I find it is not in the
> list for the i9900, unlike my old Canon s9000.
> 
> Also, I am having some troubles with moderate mottling in medium-dark
> blues and grays, no matter what media type I choose (I had this same
> problem with the S9000 and never resolved it). I've set print quality
> to 1 (fine/slow), and turned on quiet mode in the driver, which is
> supposed to slow down the print speed. 
> 
> Am I just out of luck using Ilford swellable polymer paper with BCI-6
> inks? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (including
> alternate swellable papers).
> 
> -- Dan Finnerty
>

Your humidity suggestion is a good one, I'll give it a try. Low
humidity is the norm here in southern California, and we are heading
into the uber-dry Santa Ana wind season.

thanks,
Dan Finnerty


--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, "sinar001" <jnolly@...> wrote:

>
> I haven't use the i9900, but the prints I got from the s9000 on Ilford
> classic pearl were outstanding. 
> 
> One thing about the swellable polymers, they might be slow on the
> uptake of ink under very dry environment conditions. You might try
> storing some of the paper in a closed box under high humidity
> conditions before trying to print. This could "pre-swell" the paper
> slightly improving the absorption of the ink.
> 
> Just an idea that might help.
> 
> John Nollendorfs
> 
> 
> --- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, "dffinnert" <dfinnert@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> > 
> > I just got a new Canon i9900 printer and am trying to make profiles
> > for Ilford Classic Gloss and Pearl paper. When I try to select the
> > suggested "high gloss photo film" media type, I find it is not in the
> > list for the i9900, unlike my old Canon s9000.
> > 
> > Also, I am having some troubles with moderate mottling in medium-dark
> > blues and grays, no matter what media type I choose (I had this same
> > problem with the S9000 and never resolved it). I've set print quality
> > to 1 (fine/slow), and turned on quiet mode in the driver, which is
> > supposed to slow down the print speed. 
> > 
> > Am I just out of luck using Ilford swellable polymer paper with BCI-6
> > inks? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (including
> > alternate swellable papers).
> > 
> > -- Dan Finnerty
> >
>