Ross,
?
I, too, am fairly new to QTR.? I demoed
it for several weeks and just sent Roy my 'shareware' for it since I decided its
the best thing I've found thus far (affordable at least) for monoprints without
metamerism.
?
One of the first things I learned (via the b/w
maillist) was that the one curve labeled 'no black-neutral' uses no color
ink--BUT--it is warm (this drove me crazy) because the 2200's black inks,
particularly PK--is warm.? I knew that--but I hadn't gotten my head around
the fact that it was using only the black inks I guess.? Anyhow--I was told
that this was one NOT to use or to use in conjunction with other curves--not by
itself.
?
Ah, forgot your first question--no, they both
apply to the print--just a blend of the 2 curves.? Someone on the b/w list
suggested that you print a 'roundabout' of the blends--perhaps starting at
100%-10%/90%-90%/10%-100% and 10% each step.? I haven't yet done that
myself though? *smile*.
?
Then--the curve on the left is the one that is
represented by the number.
?
The coding, as I understand it
is---UC--ultrachrome inks (the OEM colored inks),? PK for photoblack
cartridge, MK for matteblack cartridge.? Then--the name of the particular
paper, and warm, cool or sepia.
?
Another thing that is helpful--you can drag
the print within the white window--if you are printing a small print--and want
to place it on the page--its done there most easily.
?
Have you found the tutorial for the
'proofing'?? Lou Dina (I believe) also wrote a quite easy to follow one for
PCs:
?
I quote:
Here is a step by
step for Windows XP Users.
First, download Roy's Lab profiles
and unzip them to your desktop.
Here is the link:
After
unzipping them, copy the files to the following
directory:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\color
Start
photoshop and open a file, whether it be RGB or grayscale. If
you
like the tonality as it exists on your calibrated monitor, then
you
will want to convert the file to the Lab Grayscale profile,
as
follows:
Image > Mode > Convert to Profile
> Gray-Lab.icc
Be sure rendering intent is perceptual and black
point compensation
is checked. Now, you file has been converted to
the generic gray lab
space. If you wish, edit the file in photoshop
until you get it the
way you want it. When happy, save it with the
embedded profile as a
TIF, PSD or JPG file. Now you have a "master"
file which you can use
to create a file for
printing.
If you want to output to matte paper, do another
conversion the same
as above, but use the "Gray-Matte" profile, with
perceptual and BPC
checked. Save this and import it into QTR or
IJC/OPM for printing.
If you wanted to send the file to glossy
or semi gloss type paper,
use your master file and convert to the
"Gray-Photo" profile, using
perceptual and BPC. Save and import into
QTR or IJC/OPM for printing.
When printing from QTR or IJC/OPM,
you will need to select the
appropriate profile for matte or glossy
paper, and your other
settings as you usually do. When the print
comes off the printer, it
should be a pretty close match from a
tonality standpoint to what you
saw on your calibrated
monitor.
Apparently, the Mac allows you to convert on the fly.
With Windows
you have to save the converted file first as documented
above. Hope
that clarifies it.
Lou
?
Unquote:
?
Hope the above is
helpful.? I'm also hoping this list develops since there seem to be quite a
few of us using QTR with the 2200/2100 and there seems to be quite a bit to
discover with it.? I haven't, for instance, tried to create my own curves
yet.
?
Diane
-----------
Diane
B. Fields
picnic@...
photo
site?
?
?
?
--
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005 10:47
PM
Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] QTR Newbie
Greeting Fellow Rippers,
I just discovered that
there was a Windows version of QTR a few days
ago.? I have downloaded
it and have been churning out test prints.
Here is my
config:
OS:???????
Windows
Printer:?? Epson
2200
Inks:????? UC with Photo
Black
Paper:???? Epson Prem. Luster, Kirkland Pro.
glossy
QTR:?????? 2.2.1 standalone with
QTRgui
Current goal:? To print Neutral BW prints on a variety of
papers.
Like others I often print color on this printer, as well so I
am not
interested in switching to dedicated BW inks at this time.
I
am currently trying to understand Curves.? I have read through
the
QTRgui help, but I am still pretty ignorant.? Here is a list of
my
current questions:
1. There are two curves used in
printing.? What is the difference
between the two?? Is one
applied to highlights and the other to
shadows, or are they just blended
uniformly?
2. The "blend percentage: is described as:
??
"The blend percentage shows the amount of the left
??? hand
tone curve to be used."
? ??? What does this mean precisely??
Since there is a slider that
moves from the left to the right curve, I
assume that this adjusts the
"balance" between the left curve and the right
curve.? Again is this
the point at which one curve takes over or is it
an overall blending
across all parts of the image?
3. There appears
to be only one neutral curve "UC-NoBlack-neutral".
All other curves appear
to have some form of toning.? I'm guessing
that this curve can be used
with all papers?? I have used this preset
for both the left and right
curves for almost all of my printing so
far. I this the correct way to get
neutral prints?? Are there other
options I should
investigate?
4. The curve names appear to be some kind of encoding of
the ink,
paper, and tone.? Is there any way to get a full decoding of
the curve
name?
5. Are there any docs or webpages I should be
reading to bring me up
to speed?? Please don't suggest that I trudge
through the thousands of
posts in DBWTP.
Thanks in advance for your
help.? I am excited about the possiblities
QTR offers!? Once I
have done a fairly thorough testing of glossy and
luster papers I will
switch over to matte ink and papers for
testing.
-Ross
