Linearizing The Epson Printer
Linearizing The Epson Printer
- Subject: Linearizing The Epson Printer
- From: Nick Wheeler <email@hidden>
- Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2002 10:21:16 -0400
on 6/9/02 1:05 AM, email@hidden at
email@hidden wrote:
>
All right, then, my Q? is : what can I buy for a reasonable price ? Should I
>
get a Postcript RIP for my Epson 1270 or are there non-Postscript RIPs and by
>
the way does Postscript have anything to do with this problem ? Obviously (I
>
seen that with me own Oyes!) it has to do with the amount of black... Thanx
>
We have been up to our eyeballs in this problem for some time now around my
neighborhood (Massachusetts: Mark Doyle, John Wawrzonek, Steve Rosenthal and
John Wolfe with many helpful tips from Joseph Holmes in far off California).
Briefly here is a summary:
1) The only RIP that seems to offer the possibility of calibration and good
screening is ImagePrint from Colorbyte software. Problem is it is not a RIP
by the strict definition that I like to use - that is raster image
processor. Rather it is a stand alone print driver application. It does
offer the possibility of four channels of control and it does offer superior
screening. True end user calibration is a ways off.
2) Postscript really doesn't have anything to do with this problem. But RIP
developers have built the possibility to calibrate the printer into their
RIP software. An internal LUT is generated in software so the printer is
held in a consistent state. Every time you recalibrate the LUT changes to
reflect the new readings.
3) Some of us have successfully linearized the printers with modified
Linearization curves via Color Savvy. See writings by John Wawrzonek in the
List Archives. Apply the curve to the file before profiling and then every
time before Mode Conversions.
4) Others of us have fiddled endlessly with a combinations of Media settings
and Color Controls in the Epson Driver itself. The object of the game is to
try to obtain as smooth a gray ramp and wide a color gamut as possible with
the driver settings before profiling. Save these settings and use when
printing with the resultant profile. Steve Rosenthal has experienced some
initial success with the following settings on the 1270 with the standard
Epson Inks on Heavyweight Matte Paper. These may represent a good departure
point:
Media:
Set to Heavy Matte - Photo 1440
Custom Color Controls:
Gamma 2.2 Photorealistic Brightness -2 Contrast +3 Saturation +5 Cyan -3
Magenta +1 Yellow +6
Try various media settings to get as smooth a gray ramp as possible before
fiddling with the sliders. Think of the media settings as a combination of
"Ink Limit" and "Black Generation". Resolution also plays into this. A
higher resolution will usually lay down more ink.
I am way less fussy than Steve - find a good media setting Auto 2.2 and Go
for it.
Sounds like complete gibberish doesn't it? Well good luck. Maybe Epson will
one day decide it is a benefit to provide some kind of "Expert User" control
in their drivers so we can actually really calibrate their printers.
Nick Wheeler
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