[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

RE: Digital Pt/Pd tones continued - Ink Question

I use the MIS inks.  Because the MIS inks are supposedly archival, they
aren't cheap.  As my use is for printing negatives, I'm not all that
concerned about the archival nature of the inks.  I was thinking about the
possibility of just diluting the "cheapo" black ink that MIS sells,
according to the 75%, 50%, 25% formula that purportedly is used for the
archival inks.  Has anyone tried this, or has anyone a reason why it
shouldn't work?

Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Makris [mailto:nick@mcn.org]
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 12:53 PM
To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
Subject: Re: Digital Pt/Pd tones continued


Keith, The sepia is done with Duotone and is part of my developed Photoshop
'action' and I can't tell you more than it uses two pantone inks, 158CV and
Black CV - it will be more clear when you have the action to review.  I have
tried it without, and the results are not quite as good without.  Maybe its
something like 'digital pyro'.???

I get the the Quadtone inks from WWW.missupply.com - I ordered Quad800-4
which was the initial kit for conversion of the existing cartridges.  Not a
bargain at $68.75, but it seems to work and it comes with 2oz. of each
black - 4 in all.

Nick

----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Gerling <kgerling@ameritech.net>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 10:01 AM
Subject: RE: Digital Pt/Pd tones continued


> Thanks, Nick.  I have received inconsistent results when printing higher
> resolutions with my Epson Photo EX, as well.  I'm anxious to run some
tests.
> A couple of questions I have:
>
> 1)  Are you using the Duotone mode to apply the Sepia?  If not, how?  You
> mention you use Quadtones, so I'm confused as to what the Sepia step is
> meant to accomplish.
>
> 2)  Are you mixing your own Quadtone inks?  Who is your ink supplier?
>
> Keith
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Makris [mailto:nick@mcn.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2000 11:12 AM
> To: Alt Photo
> Subject: Digital Pt/Pd tones continued
>
>
> Just finished running some tests with a particular image from photoshop
> v5.02 to Epson 1520 (1440dpi).  The tests included two versions of the
same
> file, one scanned at 410dpi (the most recent) and one at 360dpi - the more
> recent one and this test were done on the heels of the recent discussion
on
> tones.  Please understand that my printer is equipped with a Quadtone
inkset
> with a standard black ink and with the color inks replaced with 25%, 50% &
> 75% black inks.
>
> You may recall that I discovered, now from two sources, and previously
> reported, that the Epson 1440 dpi printers don't print images with
> resolutions greater than 360dpi as well as those at 360.  The problem
> extends from the idea that above 360dpi a certain amount of resampling is
> done by the printer, which causes results that are unpredictable.  In this
> case, all the images I printed from the 410dpi source showed some sign of
> posterization while the 360dpi source produced no signs of posteriztion,
> except as noted below.  In addition, the 410dpi file caused the print time
> to double +/-.  The resampling surely has something to do with the
printer's
> processing algorithm and the coincidental association of 1440(printer
> resolution)/4(cmyk?)=360???.
>
> Some additional observations that came from the 20 8X10 images I printed
> (most printed on satin inkjet (94 brightness) paper, but some on bond for
> comparison):
>   a.. The smoother the paper surface, less posterization and the better
the
> definition.
>   b.. The brighter the paper brightness index the cleaner the highlights.
>   c.. A simple conversion to grayscale produced posterization where the
use
> of Lab color mode did not in most cases.
>   d.. The use of color images never printed as cleanly as with Lab mode -
> remember that I'm using quadtone inks.
>   e.. The use of strictly black and white color did not produce an image
as
> clean as those produced with a slight sepia toning.
>   f.. I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY ON SCREEN POSTERIATION WITH ANY OF THE TEST
> IMAGES.  I feel this suggests the culprit, in most posterization problems,
> is related to how the printer reacts to the input.  Can't be sure of that.
> I don't pretend to fully understand why I experienced the above, but for
> what it's worth.....
>
> I have developed/refined a Photoshop "Action" that will convert any color
> image (from a point that you think it looks best) to Lab Color, delete the
> appropriate channels, apply grayscale, a sepia tone, and convert it back
to
> RGB so that it looks like a sepia toned grayscale image.  BTW, I never
save
> my files after this conversion - it only takes a few seconds to complete.
I
> also have a Pt/Pd curve that I think works for both the Lightjet 5000 and
> the Epson 1520 with quadtone inks. I am happy to provide them to anyone
who
> asks off list.
>
> Also, as I have previously reported, no curve that I encountered during
the
> last year and half (since I started this digital project) works with the
> above.  The curve that I developed is a very straight forward (gentle 'S')
> one that only gives the appearance of added contrast to the on screen
image
> and also to the printed output.  You may be required to change it so that
> the resulting prints (negs) conform to a density and contrast compatible
> with 'YOUR' normal sensitizer.  The unsuccessful curves that I tested all
> seemed destined for output to an Imagesetter which apparently responds
> differently???
>
> BTW, all the above tests/observations were done with a positive output.
> However, I have tested the conversion to a negative and the results are
> identical.  The negative conversion is the last step before printing and
can
> be accomplished in the printer dialog box or on the Image menu.
>
> Caveat Emptor.
>
> Nick
>
>
>