Re: Epson PictureMate Photo Printer
Re: Epson PictureMate Photo Printer
- Subject: Re: Epson PictureMate Photo Printer
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2005 14:06:57 EDT
In a message dated 10/7/05 1:33:42 PM, email@hidden writes:
In a message dated Fri, 7 Oct 2005 09:40:23, C. David Tobie wrote:
> In a message dated 10/6/05 6:50:10 PM, email@hidden writes:
>
>> I am curious to know whether anyone has attempted to profile Epson's
>> PictureMate Personal Lab printers.
>
> The PictureMate has a simplified driver without a "no color adjustment"
> setting. So while its possible to profile it, the results do not improve the
> color gamut, they simply adjust neutrality and accuracy within that gamut.
That is usually what I would expect from profiling: not so much an expanded
gamut, but increased neutrality, linearity and precision within the
*existing* gamut.
Thats only part of what I am looking for out of a printer profile, but if its the part you need, than you're all set...
As for the lack of a "no color adjustment" setting, one could probably
choose a static setting of some sort within the print dialog box, one that
does not change results depending on the image being sent. That would
probably define a "known state" of sorts, wouldn't it?
Yes, thats just the case, a known state, but not a raw one...
> More accurate values sometimes mean lighter or darker tones that end users may
> feel are less desirable than the brightly colored canned results; at least
> until they come upon a demanding image. Then there is the issue of just what
> type of image is appropriate for printing to a 4x6 glossy snapshot printer,
> which tends to make all images look like... snapshots.
I would think that, even after improving the results by applying some sort
of color management, the best one could hope for with this printer would
*still* be a good-looking *snapshot*. I'm sure nobody would choose it to
produce a fine-art print.
Well, most snapshooters like the "Kodak processing" look, and thus I warned that they may prefer the canned results to the profiled ones, at least until it comes to getting detail out of a black poodle or a white cat or neutrality from a B&W. But 4x6 glossy is not my preferred B&W format.
Still, a good-looking snapshot is a more pleasing artifact to hold in one's
hands than the kind of gaudy, excessively-saturated print that one may get
otherwise.
Given that the snapshot market has been raised otherwise, the question is rather like asking "but given the choice, people would surely prefer healthy whole grain cereals to sugar coated, artifically flavored junk, wouldn't they?" I'm not sure the answer will please you. But for your own images, go for it.
The final question would be: what size test chart would be used for
profiling this device? and which type? I don't think any test chart comes in
4"x6" size currently, not at least in ProfileMaker.
Well, here we come to denominational differences. I had no problem producing a target for ColorVision software on the PictureMate... though as I recall my original spectro-based target was a letter size one that I cut into quarters between rows and columns, printed the four files, and reassembled.
Perhaps one would have to print a chart in sections, then tape it together?
Precisely, though sessions is an interesting term...
I don't own the PictureMate, so this is still highly speculative at this
point. I am just trying to think the issue through, since I may want to buy
one for the convenience of printing snapshots to give away to friends and
relatives.
No gloss optimizer, so there is still "that inkjet look" to the images. You'll get 4x6s you are happier with from an R800, or other printer with GlossOp, or the new glossier K3 inks.
But I know for sure that I would want those prints to look as good as
possible! Just a matter of personal pride, dontcha know...
Yup, of the dozens of inkjet models I have at hand, there are never a set of images where I think "hey, I should print these on the PictureMate". But there are people who make me think "hey, thats a PictureMate person, I should recommend they get one".
C. David Tobie
Product Technology Manager
ColorVision Inc.
email@hidden
www.colorvision.com
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