Re: Quadtone Inks & Digital Negatives

Joe,

If I am reading this correctly, my guess is that the problem has nothing to
do with the curve you are using unless that curve does not have the endpoints
set at levels 0 and 255 or 0% and 100%, which might clip the highest ink
densities.

So, assuming that you are using an appropriate printing time and not
overexposing, then my first guess is that you are using a media setting that is not
laying down enough ink, such as one for a matte paper.  If so, try one of
the media settings such as would be used for a luster, semigloss or glossy
photo paper.  Print a Photoshop 21 step wedge  and test it.

If that does not help, the next thing to check is how you are setting up your
printer driver choices in areas other than media choice.

I never print an inkjet test strip in alt process without a standard 21 step
tablet like the Stouffer next to it.  It is confirmation of your ink
density and that your alt process is achieving the contrast range predicted.&
nbsp; It provides a tremendous amount of information.

Mark Nelson

In a message dated 2/6/04 10:30:45 AM, dalaibobra@houston.rr.com writes:

> Sorry Mark,
>
> It was very late last night when I posted that. Re-reading my comments I
> can easily see how you were confused.
>
> Loris's followup echoes my experience exactly. I initially was using
> third-party color inks with the Canon, trying to use the spectral
> method. Although the spectral method did the best job blocking the UV,
> it didn't seem to do a good enough job, especially for VDB; and
> Kallitype was pretty pathetic as well.
>
> Basically the dmax of the NEGATIVE was so low, I wasn't able to get even
> close to dmax of the PRINT before the highlights became so dense.The
> highlights weren't even close to paper white. This was after some pretty
> extensive curve adjustments. In photoshop I took a 8.5x11 sheet of film,
> divided it into 5 sections with the same image (chop of a full scale
> scan of some of my work & a 32-step tablet and full gradient from black
> to white) with different curves applied. I then exposed and processed
> this (and several iterations) under identical conditions and was able to
> get a decent scale with some curves, but the common denominator was no
> paper white, except for a small area I always put a piece of opaque
> polstyrene to make sure the paper wasn't fogged. It was totally clean
> paper white, ruling out fogging as far as I can see.
>
> I am mostly frustrated because I; like Loris, don't know definitively if
> my problems could be overcome with a proper curve. I designed my own and
> used other curves available (Burkholder, Fokos, etc.) even though none
> were designed for my setup. I feel like I have a good understanding of
> the concepts involved, I know photoshop like the back of my hand (I am a
> graphic designer); but I don't have much alt/photo experience; so it can
> be frustrating.
>
> So far at least, the Lyson quad black dye inks seem to have the same
> problems as the spectral color negs from the Canon color inks.
>
> To answer your questions....
>
> No Stouffer tablet.
>
> No pre-soak.
>
> -Joe
>
Received on Fri Feb 6 12:16:01 2004