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If anyone out there is using the newest version of QuadToneProfiler-QuickCurve DN (version 3.1.3) by Richard Boutwell? I am wondering exactly where you are supposed to enter the Blocking Density from the blocking density test. His instructions gloss over specifics. In my case I can up with a blocking density of 35 (see attached screen capture). I am applying the Blocking Density number by manipulating the "Total Ink Load" slider on the Starter Curve Setup page as on the attached screenshot. This worked for me, but I am not precisely sure if this was the planned use. Another individual told me to use 100-(Blocking Density) as goal for the "Maximum Black Percentage" which threw me way off course. Robert Hartung Bettendorf, IA USA RobertHartungPhoto.com https://rwhart3675.myportfolio.com
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UltraChrome ink and printers
4
They don't sell the original ink for my Epson R2880 anymore. And I've checked the Epson website for printers that use UltraChrome ink, but they don't sell them anymore in The Netherlands. Does anyone else has this problem to? And what is the solution?
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Dear all: I am a beginner and I have a question regarding the determination of the ink densities to be used under the 'Ink Setup' tab when using multiple gray inks. O.k., Paul Roark calls it a 'judgement call'. With my very limited experience I fully agree. But regardless of that I would like to better understand the procedure which I found in several documents. Accordingly, the ink density to be entered under 'Ink Setup' should be the result of the product of the fractions of the respective next darker ink which would yield the same density (or Lab L) as the ink at 100%. I measured the Lab L values from a print of the calibration image for Hahnem¨¹hle Photo Rag 308, the GCVT ink set of Paul Roark, resolution 2880-super and 50% global ink limit. The results for each ink are shown as circles in the image below. All data can be well represented by exponentially decaying functions (lines). If I follow the above mentioned standard procedure, the fractions are indicated by the labelled plusses and the densities to be entered under 'Ink Setup' are represented by the K values below the full diamonds (they do not lie on the K-curve, because the ink curves are not linear). Am I correct that these densities, i.e. products of fractions, should be used? I am asking, because the products of the fractions, although they certainly carry relevant information, have no obvious meaning which would help to visually understand the resulting ink curves. Hendrik PS: From the curves in my ink separation plot, is the global ink limit I selected (50%) adequate? The lighter inks still have a significant slope at 100%.
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Printer descriptor file (ppd) not found for printer quad error
7
Hi, I am trying to install a profile on an intel mac using qtr 2.8.2 for a p5000. The printer is already installed and has profiles on it already but when I try to install a new profile, I get this error "printer descriptor file (ppd) not found for printer quad". I tried reinstalling qtr but I still get the same error message. Any ideas as to why. Thanks, Greg
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Widget for creating linearization files
This is kind of a PSA I guess. When I teach workshops in digital negatives and DTP processes using QuadToneRIP, many people get heartburn at the notion of spending anywhere from $300 to $3000 for a used or new X-rite spectro. I found this little colorimeter sold by ColorMuse that connects to an app on your phone and gives remarkably accurate LAB values when compared to my X-Rite i1 Pro2. The second version of this little device is around $100.: https://variableinc.com/product/color-muse-2-paint-matching-solution/ The knock on it is that creating a data file that you can use in either the QuadToneRIP linearization or Richard's QuadToneProfiler apps is a little tedious. The device itself is a little chunky, so you probably will want to print targets that have ?" or larger squares so you can hit the measurement exactly. I have a few of those in the downloads area of my website. I wrote a little javascript widget that can be found here: https://clayharmonblog.com/Color-Muse-Data-3.html that lets you enter the measured values as you read them and then downloads a standardized 21-step text file that you can use in these programs. This is a more sophisticated version of an earlier table based entry form because there is no requirement that you have evenly spaced steps. It uses a cubic spline to resample whatever garbage you enter into a 21-step text file. You can graphically edit the L or A or B files if you want to manually smooth them before downloading the text file. This is only really relevant to someone who only occasionally needs to linearize a quad file. If you are a high volume measurer, you will probably want to get a more capable measuring device. Note that I am not a programmer of any great skill, but I think this is reasonably robust. Give it a try and send me any feedback if you find problems.
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Thought this group would appreciate this comparison. Started the classic cyanotype unit a week ago and several students¡¯ prints came out as the one on the left so I ASSUMED the P900 profile I translated to the P5370 would not work. I scrambled to make a new profile on the fly. BEFORE I saw their negatives. Then I looked at the negative (and Print-Tool settings) and realized the student had not pulled down the profile so printed the negative with None (no profile) and so did the students after him, since Print-Tool defaults to last used settings, did the same. There¡¯s always something in a gang lab. The classic cyanotype P900 on the P5370 profile works fine. And I bet those students will pay more attention next time. Of course, they now have a detailed handout. Chris
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Hello All, Does anyone have UV densities (from a UV densitometer) of the Proinks @ 100% on via calibration mode. thanks! Shane
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presets, settings and illusions
Thanks for this. Very informative. [BTW the current version DXO Photolab 8 creates four presets for the Epson 3880, but gets the names reversed for matte and photo papers.] * Myron
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New (old) Mac
22
Yesterday I bought a 2015 MACbook for running QTR, Epson print driver, QCDN V3, and SpyderPrint. The laptop is running OS 13 (Mojave) and cost me $100 with charger. I am hoping this small investment will save me the wasted time and frustration caused by Apple updates and incompatibility issues. I will do all of the QTR curve creation functions on the MacBook, and I will process image files on my Mac Studio and transfer the files to the MacBook via file transfer for printing.
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Hello All, I am hoping to get some guidance on using P900 and P908 on Windows 11 using QTR GUI. Using P900, I have been able to successfully create MK profiles using K, LK, LLK, M and LM and K only (BO). What is weird is that I used P900 (not P908) to accomplish this, using "matte ink" in drop down menu. This seems contradictory to release notes 2.8.2. I am getting densities in 1.5 to 1.65 on matte papers, so I am confident MK ink is being used. I used the customary curves creation dialog in GUI to define inks, densities, and limits, followed by linearization. I am getting good results. Ideally, I would like to utilize V ink in the deep shadows (70 - 100%) to create an "eggplant" hue in these areas. The hue will not be visually evident in the last 90 to 100%. I understand V ink is not supported for Windows. But according to 2.8.2 Release Notes, I can create full 10 ink curves on a Mac. Can I use these curves on Win GUI? And they would utilize V ink? I am not familiar (at all) using Mac, but I was able to get a retired MacBook Pro (2011 edition) from my niece which has El Capitan (10.11) OS. I figured out how to create and linearize curves in Mac OS (in my mind, not actually done yet). I was able to print the 10 ink calibration page just fine. So, can this be done? Create curves/profiles on a clunker Mac, but install them in Win 11 and be able to utilize V? Thank you all.
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Hi, I use QTR 2.8.2 on a Mac Studio and EPSON P800 printer. I do both digital inkjet prints and gum bichromate prints. So far I have been using Photoshop along with custom curve to make digital negatives for my gum printing. Now I want to use QTR to make my digital negatives. I wanted to print an ink pattern page to check UV blocking capability. I find that the inkseparation8.tif in my QuadToneRIP/Images does not have the actual colors.. Please see below. How do I get a proper inkseparation image for my P800? Appreciate help in resolving this... Regards, Ramesh
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hello I'm wondering if I can use only black ( matt) with this software I have it since 4-5 years and I love it but now I have a epson 3880 that I only need the black matt ink and replacing al the other can get expensive and the are only there to west when the printer is doing a head cleaning cycle ... but I can't use the printer if there one color missing $$$ so I wnat just use the black Matt and put all generic fill with cleaning liquid to make the printer think there full... the cleaning fuel is 50$ a litre so I will save a lot of money and never get my head dry.....so my question is can I us only black matt and forget about the other ink that I dont use?? or is there another way to tell the printer to print if it,s missing a color ink!?!? thank you!!
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Epson P900
4
Hi all. This morning I'm trying to print on a plate in a carrier. The printer seems to be stuck on "receiving data". This is the first time this is happening. Can anyone shed some light? I tried through the printer's dialog and also through Print Tool. Same issue. thanks Joe
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Hello - this is my first post in this group- I need some guidance to be able to install the print tool on my new minimac m4 computer. I am new to quadftonerip. I am a photographer that prints cyanotypes on high temperature porcelain. I have been using EDN to do my adjustment curves but would like to use quadtonerip ands move beyond the cyanotypes to other alt processes printed on thin hight temp porcelain tiles. To do this I bought a new MiniMac M4 computer (Sequoia 15.1) and a new SCp700 printer (10 ink). I have always been a windows user but know that to use quadtonerip and do my curves and print need a Mac computer. I have had trouble installing my epson SCp700. I was able to install quadtonerip and I installed the profiles of the p700. I can see them in my library and in photoshop I see the quadp700 printer. What I have not been able is to install the print tool. When I try to download Print-Tool-2.3.4.zip it downloads a DMG file (SCP700_Lite_64NR2_NA.dmg) not a folder. When I click on the DMG file it takes me to the Epson installer and reinstall the epson software and drivers not the print-tool. I am not able to get print tool dialog box. Can someone help me? Am I doing something wrong? Your help would be much appreciated Thanks Hector
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Hello, I am new to this forum. I converted my R2880 into a black-only printer using the inks according to Paul's GCVT formulation. After two head cleans I made the first test print of Keith Cooper's jpg test image using QTR v2.7.0.0 (win10) on Hahne PR308 using the quad GCVT-Pa325-warm-carb.quad. I used an A4 sheet in portrait orientation (only to print in the upper half of the sheet) and selected the scale "To fit". The small preview in QTR seemed o.k. (width fits), but the width of the print was too narrow (about 170mm instead of about 200mm). Since the print had some residual tint (only 2 head cleanings after replacing the OEM carts), I wanted to quantify this effect. Therefore, I used only one color channel out of C, LC, M, LM of the above quad and printed a square (30x30mm, 2880ppi, Lab=(40,0,0)). This time I used in QTR the scale "100%" (as recommended earlier on this forum), the resolution 2880, and specified the placement (top left corner of the printed square) such to align the four patches in a row. The tint was obvious and consistent. After another (3rd head clean) the tint was almost gone ('second row'). However, the positions of the squares scattered in a (for me) unpredictable way. In the attached image the tick marks indicate the targeted vertical and horizontal positions of the upper left corner of each square. What am I doing wrong? Best, Hendrik
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Convert .quad file to .qidf file?
4
Hi, is there a way (utility) to recreate a .qidf file from the .quad file? Thanks.
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Everyday backlit prints
6
A few years ago I discovered that prints on Kirkland glossy paper looked good when framed and hung in a window so they would be backlit. The frames were Dollar Store double glass frames (photograph between two pieces of glass, no matting). I would place a second piece of glossy paper against the back of the print, with the surface facing out or away. The frame was then hung in a window. I assumed that any UV from sunlight or skylight would be absorbed before it made its way to the ink layer. During the day the print would mostly be lit from behind, and when it was dark outside the image would be lit by ordinary room lighting. I was surprised at how well this worked in my home. I no longer have access to Kirkland paper (if it is still made). Epson Premium Luster is a good substitute for everyday printing, but it has watermarks on the back. Does someone make a similar quality paper without watermarks? Is anyone using glossy paper as a digital negative (for contact printing in the darkroom)? I live well off the beaten path, so it¡¯s not easy to have a look at a variety of paper. Thanks! Myron
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Hi there ! I am using Richard Boutwell's program QuadToneProfiler-DN v3 to create .quad curve for the gold toned Vandyke Brown process... I am using Bergger COT320 paper and Tecco SF140 transparencies. I am using an EPSON P600 printer. When printing the blocking density test, I found that the blocking density (which is patch 20) is considerably less than the default ink load. In this case, the following is adviced by Richard Boutwell : If you find the blocking density is considerably less than the default ink load (a value of 30, for example) you might not want to lower it too much lower than the default setting because it might make it harder to linearize given that the lower overall ink load is too low throughout the whole scale¡ªespecially the mid tones. If this is the case, you should just rely on the linearization function to correct for the increased contrast in the highlights of the print If I understand correctly, I should move the "Black Boost" slider so that the "Maximum Black Percentage" value that is shown at the top is 20... But even if I drag the slider to the left hand side , the minimum value of the "Maximum Black Percentage" I get is 25... What should I do ? Also, I think there are bugs in this dialog.... If I change the process preset in the bottom dropdown, the value of the "Maximum Black Percentage" changes accordingly, also the curves in the graph changes, but the values of the sliders do not change.... This is perturbing, to say the less. (since the curves and Maximum Black Percentage value are derived from the sliders values, right ?) Thank you for your replies and help ! Best regards, Lo?c
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P6000 Digital Negative via QTR with OEM inkset
3
Hello All, I have taken a very long break from making digital negatives for gum over Pl/Pd. I've decided to get back to it. I was using a 9800 with Cone K7 inks. The inks are now way too old, and the printer is being maintenance and flushed as we speak. A couple of years back I acquired a 7800 with OEM inks. The printer is currently cleared and up and running with oem inks to experiment with profiling. I understand I have limited time with these older printers, so I am thinking about getting a used P6000. Questions for P6000 users: 1. Does the printer handle transparency well? 2. Are you happy with the OEM ink set for negatives? 3. Reliability? 4. I can easily tear apart a 78**/98**, is the P6000 cap/flush/blade easily accessible without being a mechanical engineer scholar? FYI... not interested in positive printing. Any information would be helpful. Thanks for your alls' time and sharing your experiences. Shane Knight
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Vivid Light Magenta
3
Anyone know if Vivid Light Magenta is the same ink formulation across all ink lineups? eg: K3, HDR etc... Can I buy VLM for the 7890/9890/9900 and use it in a 7880 or 9880 in refillable carts? Is it the same ink?
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