+2

I have to run a Epson nozzle check first, then maybe a QU Unclog if a nozzle is clogged on the diagonal, and then another Epson nozzle check after that QU Unclog pattern run as I am not sure what colors, bands, or stripes in QU show the nozzle clog.

Fwiw, on the other B&W printer I have to remember not to ever use the Auto Nozzle Check (only Manual) from the printer's menu with K7 Piezo inksets as they confuse the printer as there is no color.  Big waste of ink if it cannot figure out what is going on, but that's not a QU problem.

Mack

Thanks Terry.

Looks like I got some Set-upping to do.

Mack

I got a bad nozzle check with the Matte Black in one of the 3880 after only one week  (The 3880 doesn't clog my foot!).  Only one small bar was visible in that darkest black diagonal area out of maybe 100.

Ran the Unclog routine of Black ink only.  Sadly, it did an ink change to Photo Black since that was the last one I used in the Unclog I guess.  Didn't want to do that.  Big waste of ink.

Had to switch it back to Matte again - another waste of ink.  Still plugged according to the manual Nozzle Check.

Ran a Power Clean (Another big waste of ink), or whatever it is called, and it is starting to flow again.  Ran Unclog again and it is clearing up the clog.

Question:  "Can there be a way for either the Matte or Photo Black ink to be selected from within the Unclog window, rather than flipping back and forth doing ink changes pending how it was set prior?"  QU seems smart enough to know that last ink selected in paper profiles and adjust there, but I'd rather it be done at the Unclog window since once it starts, it can get wasteful.  Couldn't stop the ink switch-out once it started either.

Now I need to go flip it back to Photo Black and see if it is clogged too.  Ugh!

Mack

I'd like to keep from running both a Nozzle Check (Epson driver, and run from the printer's panel.  No computer on.) and an Unclog Pattern (Qimage) both.  Time and wasted sheets.

Is it possible to see if one nozzle is plugged (Not a entire ink color) from a Nozzle Check and if that one nozzle plug shows up in Qimage's Unclog Pattern somewhere?  So far I've been running Unclog Pattern every week and no Nozzle Checks failures have shown running that second N.C. sheet for that purpose.

I'm thinking the Unclog Pattern might be enough, but just wondering if the Nozzle Check is necessary too if I can see a problem in the Unclog Pattern somewhere.  I don't know if just the Nozzle Check flows enough ink to keep the head wet compared to the Unclog Pattern routine which uses more ink.

Tia.

Mack

Mike, I played around a lot with B&W and seems my Epson printers (3) need a kick from the blacks which I can do with the Curves.

However, I tried your suggested method of working the math to fit 21 steps as used with "Quad Tone Rip" or QTR (They supply the 21-step wedge images within their download) and it isn't easy as it messes up the nearest one to the altered one.  The range is just too limited in QU.

Ideally, 21 steps as used by QTR, x-rite, Stouffer, Jon Cone, Keith Cooper, etc. would be easier to work off of to get the black inks in the Epson to form a nice linear gray tonality which it appears they cannot without a curve modification.  Even my local lab who prints with the 9900 cannot get a smooth tonality in B&W.  It's sharp, but just not linear.

I've attached what looks to be my "average Curve" working in QU.  Seems Epson needs a quick boost coming off the black (lower left) else the shadow detail get buried.

Would be nice to expand that "Curves" windows in QU from 16 steps to 21 to accommodate them since they all seem to think 21 steps is some sort of digital norm.  I don't even want to try the 51 steps as it will be a disaster.

Mack

hmmm....

That makes sense.  I'll try it.

Thanks!

Mack

Got it.

However, the ink in question is "Clear ink"  and not a black.  Looks like water in the Epson LLK ink cart position.

How can I tell if the "clear ink" is firing if it is mixing with the other black inks?  Can't tell if a "clear ink" and black ink is mixing or not, or if the clear ink nozzle is firing right.

Same also applies to the HP printers that also use a "clear ink" in their OEM carts (i.e. Their "Gloss Optimizer" coatings that minimize bronzing.).

One sure way I can see if it is firing is when the LLK Clear ink prints a full page (This is a second-pass print with that LLK cart with "clear ink" being the only one printing.  It's sort of like spraying a lacquer coat afterwards).  The Gloss Optimizer overcoat lands near where the borders do and leaves an edge like when one paints clear lacquer over masking tape and pulls off the tape.  Definite mark as to where the lacquer (or clear ink) and uncoated is.  Actually, if the QU "Unlogged print" image were to print an only LLK square, or whatever HP also uses for their clear, right next to a unprinted area or edge it might be telling if the clear ink is blocked or not.

Mack

Quick question:  Which selection is for the LLK only?  That's the one that has clear ink in it and I cannot tell if it is clear and flowing if it is mixing with another color or shade of black?

K7 piezo inks in a Epson 3880 if it matters.

Tia.

Mack

I have 4 printers running off a USB hub.

What I noticed was if I run the unclog print, I need to delete it and reload it rather than just changing the printer in the "Printer/Page Setup" button above the Edit window to print.  If I don't remove the image, the name within the printed test/unclog image keeps the previous printer's (or first printer called up) name.  That is, if I start using the Canon 9000 II as first unclog test, second printer will also show Canon 9000 II in the test image even though I called up the Epson and the Epson printed the image.  All tests from the Epson's show Canon 9000 II unless I delete and reload each time I test.  I would think calling up the "Printer/Page Setup" would also change the name in the image?

I don't know about printers that use a "clear" ink or gloss optimizer.  HP uses one on some printers, and K7 piezo inks use their clear in the Epson LLK ink cart position.  I ran one through the K7 printer and don't know where the LLK Gloss Optimizer ink is at in the pattern or if it is mixing with some other black which it shouldn't do?

I did use some old Costco cheap glossy over normal typing paper and the color is more vivid and maybe easier to see if something isn't firing right.  Typing paper is sort of a wet rag to print on to show anything.

At least none show any banding so I guess everything is working so far - at least for this week. 

Mack

I use CS6 too with TIFF's printed from Qimage.

However, I work on my initial NEF (RAW) files in Nikon's software for the TIFF conversion first, then use CS6.  No issues so far working on them in Qimage.

I'm not personally fond of Adobe's RAW converter.  Nikon's software seems to do a much better job at reading the buried RAW data than Adobe.  I think their software can only apply their Active-D Lighting (ADL) range features too that are set in the camera's menu that only their proprietary software can read.

However, some plug-ins used within CS6 can make for odd output files that other software will not read.  Mostly in files that change colorspace from say a color RGB to a "Gray Gamma 2.2" or "Dot Gain 20%" or something for B&W.  Then I get some issues with the thumbnails unless I convert them back to RGB.  Qimage seems a little more forgiving than some others - at least so far for me.

Mack

I noticed the noise alterations on a face with a lot of freckles.  Have to be careful as it can blur hair strands though if pushed too far (Highest, or #5 per Fred.).

Mack

Wow!  That did it!  Thanks!!!

Aside, seems it would be simpler to bury that need to "Print" in that pop-up I had up above.  A "Save file to..." is what I was looking for in there.

Back to work...

Mack

Fred, I'm not getting that info in the pop-up or following it?  It's not asking where I want to store it, nor do I see a sub-folder called Q(Print) either. 

I recall the Q(Prints) folder from prior versions, but not seeing it in the current 225 version.

All I get is the screen-snap below.  I click "OK" and it closes and no image to be found anywhere, nor a Q(Print) folder either.   


Mack

Did a Print to File on an image, but I can't find it.  Some new extension or name somewhere? 

Where does it hide at as I didn't see the ability to save it someplace in the pop-up window for it?

Tia.

Mack

Have a 2835x269 pixel sized TIFF image.  (Long  & skinny). Version 225 fwiw.

In the preview window on 8x11.5 portrait, it comes in vertically so it lines up lengthwise.

If I try and rotate it 90 degrees (Set print rotation), it mirrors the image (flips on vertical axis like 180 degrees) and doesn't rotate 90 degrees.  I have to make it really small in size 3x5 to allow me to rotate it 90 degrees and not mirror flip it or whatever else is happening in rotation.

Used to be able to rotate 90 degrees and then pull to fit to page with blue line around image but not now.

Noticed too sometimes if I drag a blue corner to make it larger, it makes another copy of the same image on the same page?



Mack