Printer manufacturers write drivers tailored to the papers they sell. In many
cases the papers are re-branded from major suppliers. Unless you purchase a
RIP, you are hostage to what the printer manufacturer provides. Sometimes they
will update firmware and drivers as Canon recently did for Barayta papers,
providing a new setting that can be used. With my old Epson 3880 there were
driver tools to adjust ink density within some limits. I’ve not looked at my
Canon Pro-1000 to see if the same feature is available. Even with the Epson
settings, I never found that I had to do any adjusting and of course one will
have to reprofile everytime ink densities are changed to deal with potential
color shifts.
Some years ago, Scott Martin provided a nice test chart that allows one to look
at various paper settings and pick the best setting. As he says, “Compare the
final prints for maximum black density (DMax), color gamut, shadow detail and
dot smoothness. You’ll want to choose the media selection that delivers the
best DMax without losing a significant amount of shadow detail (loosing 5% or
less is OK), or without a course dot pattern caused by what I call “micro
pooling” (where dots touch due to excessive ink).” You can find the print
chart and further information here:
https://www.on-sight.com/how-to-determine-the-optimal-media-selection-for-any-paper/
this does what Greg describes in his email response to Yves. I’ve used this
chart over the years every time I try out a new paper. In all but one case, I
found the paper manufacturer’s suggested settings to be the best one.
Ultimately, bringing out shadow detail is really a function of the digital
image processing. As I noted earlier and provided some good references, soft
proofing is a key part of this process. What you see on your computer screen
in the absence of soft proofing is misleading as the screen gamut can be quite
different from the paper’s.
Alan
From: argyllcms-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:argyllcms-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of graxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2019 8:43 AM
To: argyllcms@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [argyllcms] Re: Can we control the shadows (was black point
compensation)
Thank you Greg. That’s the point I was trying to drive.
I know that “more ink volume” does not “necessarily” translate into “higher
dmax”, I know. There is a point of “diminishing returns”, just as in
micro-economics. Your suggestion to use a small chart is right on the money.
/ Roger
From: argyllcms-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:argyllcms-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<argyllcms-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:argyllcms-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On
Behalf Of Greg E
Sent: December 16, 2019 8:38 AM
To: argyllcms@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:argyllcms@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [argyllcms] Re: Can we control the shadows (was black point
compensation)
In the past I ran a printer on a real RIP, had control way past normal ink
volumes. More ink does not equate to darker dmax. In reality once you go too
far, the dmax starts to get lighter again. Doesn't really answer the question
of what the Canon driver will let you send.
Also in the past, helping other people with their profiling, we would have them
print a small chart using several different printer settings, selecting
different types of paper in the driver. Then you measure all the samples to
find the one that gave the best results and print the larger profile target.
Since we don't have control over ink limits, this is about the only way to vary
the amount if maximum ink on paper.
