Green cast B/W printing Epson R1800 - Help

[Johnmcd]

I have just started printing again with my R1800 after a couple of years. This time with Chroma inks and a CISS.

I used to get reasonable B/W output. But now can only get a green cast. I have downloaded Quadtone RIP and this does help but now the prints have a slight sepia tone instead and lack a little contrast.

I don't think its the CISS inks as the green cast seems to be a common problem, even with Epson inks.

I am using Epson HW matte paper.

I do remember getting some setup advice off the net for printing with the R1800 from PS but can't remember the settings.

Before I try every combination of Photoshop and Epson print settings, can anyone help?

Cheers,

John

[kanzlr]

have you calibrated/measured your screen and printer? I got rid of that when I did just that with a color munki

[Johnmcd]

No. Unfortunately, I don't have access to that type of gear. Looks like I'll just have to stick to colour.

Thanks - John

[Peter S]

John,

I no longer use QTR as I was lucky to get my hands on one of the newer Epson printers, but as far as I recall you can choose from different curves (cool, warm, neutral etc). Why not try a cooler one and see whether that gets rid of the sepia. The lack of contrast you can either solve by punching it up in Photoshop or maybe experiment with different dithering patterns in QTR. If you have access to a flatbed scanner you might want to try to use it as a substitute densitometer (they have a photoshop script on the website for that). You ideally profile your own ink/paper combination in QTR. A lot of work, but actually worth the hassle. With new inks you will just have to go through a phase of trial and error to get to the right output. You might want to take notes when you experiment and not change too many variables at one time, just like film testing, if not you get lost.

Sorry that I was unable to give you concrete advice, but the trick lies in mastering QTR. There is also a Yahoo group where I am sure that you could get a lot better and more specific advice than mine.

Good luck.

[astro8]

Hi John,

Since you changed inks you'll have to build a new profile to achieve neutral greys. Neutral greys are really hard to hit. You can muck around and tweak settings but you'll never be happy with the output.

Here's a link I just randomly found online to give you an idea but there are many, many more. Cost is about $35 a profile, but that's cheap, as you can spend hours building a good profile.

I use Profilemaker and a Gretag Macbeth Spectrolino to profile large format printers that run Ergosoft RIP's, but best bet for a small format Epson is just to get someone to make you a profile for $35...I would.

It'll be the best $35 you ever spent on printing.

-Greg

[rpsawin]

Originally Posted by Johnmcd

I have just started printing again with my R1800 after a couple of years. This time with Chroma inks and a CISS.

I used to get reasonable B/W output. But now can only get a green cast. I have downloaded Quadtone RIP and this does help but now the prints have a slight sepia tone instead and lack a little contrast.

I don't think its the CISS inks as the green cast seems to be a common problem, even with Epson inks.

I am using Epson HW matte paper.

I do remember getting some setup advice off the net for printing with the R1800 from PS but can't remember the settings.

Before I try every combination of Photoshop and Epson print settings, can anyone help?

Cheers,

John

Are you letting the printer manage the color or photoshop manage the color. If your Epson printer software has the Advanced B&W Printing mode use it. Let the printer manage "color" for B&W prints.

Good luck,

Bob