EPisch
Newbie
Posts: 12
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« on: February 17, 2024, 05:33:13 PM » |
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I had already been printing with my EPSON SC-P900 on Canson RAG Photographique 210g for some time. With the EPSON Media Installer I registered this paper as "Fine Art paper" and QImage always automatically used the maximum resolution of 720ppi.
Now I have the same paper, but slightly heavier - Canson RAG Photographique 310g. Using the EPSON Media Installer, I copied the media type entry, adjusted the paper thickness and gave it a new name "CNS Rag Photographique 310g".
After I started EPSON Print Layout and changed the printer there once, the new media type was also recognized by QImage Ultimate (by the way, is there a method to update the list of media types in QImage?).
But instead of the maximum 720ppi, QImage only uses 360ppi. Attempts to change this setting directly in the driver (click on "Properties") are unsuccessful.
I already printed on Canson Arches 88 310g and Canson Arches BFK Rives Pure White 310g with 720ppi without any troubles. These are also heavier Fine Art Papers. I have done the same steps with EPSON Media Installer as now with this paper. I have no idea what happens.
Many thanks in advance,
Ernst
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« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2024, 08:21:18 PM » |
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First it is probably important to understand that none of what you typed has anything at all to do with Qimage. Qimage reads the media types from the driver: so if the driver is updated properly once you use the media creation/installer tool, Qimage will see the media type. The same is true for the resolution (PPI). Qimage doesn't "use 360 PPI". The driver uses it and reports it to the operating system and to Qimage: Qimage just obeys it. So the driver controls the media types that are available, the resolution(s) that are available, and a lot of other things. Qimage is just reading that information from the driver and reporting it to you. And in the case of some parameters, letting you make selections (like which media type from the driver is currently chosen).
With that in mind, you are going to have to alter the settings either in the media installer tool or in the driver. In most Epson drivers there is a setting somewhere in the quality settings labelled "Finest detail". Check that box and you get 720 instead of 360. In the P900, I think the setting is on the "Main" tab, drop down "Print Quality" and select "Quality Options", then you can check the box for "Finest Detail".
If that doesn't help, perhaps something that was set/done in the media installer restricted the driver to 360 PPI. If that's the case, just double check all the settings in the media installer and maybe try recreating the media type.
Regards,
Mike
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EPisch
Newbie
Posts: 12
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« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2024, 07:14:50 AM » |
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Many thanks Mike for your quick and helpful answer - the "Finest Detail" was not checked.
BUT ... now I have another (serious) problem.
I remembered, that all my Baryta papers are printing only with 360ppi. Therefore I looked for the same setting and found, that the "Finest Detail" is missing too.
After activating this feature and quitting with OK, the Media Type entry in QImage changed to "Epson Premium Glossy". I always used the Media Type "CNS Baryta P II 310g" which I have created and worked with until now. It is not possible anymore to choose this Media Type. It does exist, but choosing this, it immediately changes to "Epson Premium Glossy" and the setting "Finest Print" is not checked again. The printer profile remains the correct one.
What is even stranger, however, is that the same thing happens with the matt baryta paper now which I have not even touched.
I hadn't even opened its settings and it is also a completely different media type. Nevertheless, the display immediately changes to Epson Premium glossy when I select the matt baryta paper. However, the printer profile remains the correct one too. This is the first time I have tried to change the driver settings since creating the printer profile.
At the moment it seems that I can no longer use these paper types with QImage.
What I also don't understand: When are the settings that were transferred to the printer using the EPSON Media Installer read by the driver/QImage? QImage only notices changes to the printer after I start EPSON Print Layout and select different printers there.
I'm sorry, but I just went from a small, harmless problem to a serious one.
What can I do? I am not sure, if I remember all driver settings that I had for creating the profiles. Maybe I have to configure all from scratch on? (For God's sake - please don't!) And when will it happen again?
I have a full backup from a view weeks ago - do I need only the printer setup files in the directory C:\Users\MYUSER\AppData\Roaming\ddisoftware\Qimage\Save ?
Many thanks!
Ernst
....
I have just noticed that other paper types are affected too. "Canson Arches 88 - 310g" is OK but "Canson Arches BFK Rives PureWhite" not. Both are fine art papers with exactly the same settings except for the paper thickness. I have deleted now a lot of papers with EPSON Media Installer that I do not use anymore. Of the remaining 8 paper types, 3 no longer work since the driver settings were changed
....
Since others are now showing the same behavior, I have now deleted all printer setups in QImage and am trying to recreate them. I will report back later whether or not I was successful.
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« Last Edit: February 18, 2024, 12:40:56 PM by EPisch »
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« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2024, 01:10:59 PM » |
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When you add a new media type with the Epson media tool, it is supposed to transfer that media type to the driver and printer so they know it exists. If that is not done (or gets lost somehow), the media type won't be "registered" with the driver/Windows which is what sounds like happened here.
I don't use Epson's media installer but I remember a setting like "Export media types to printer" or something like that. You have to do that after getting your media types squared away or the driver and printer won't know what they are and might refuse to use them.
From the Qimage side, you might want to try resetting the driver settings. That's as simple as holding the Shift key while you click the "Properties" button on the Printers and Settings tab to open the driver with defaults. Once in the driver, select your media type and all settings (including the Finest Detail setting) while in the driver, click OK out of the driver and see if the settings "stick". If so, that's all that might have been needed was a reset of the driver settings to force the driver to reload all its defaults including media types.
Finally, some media installers (HP comes to mind) don't properly register newly created custom media types with Windows. They let you add them to the driver but then they don't update the media type table in Windows to show the new type. This is a big no-no as all media types that show in the driver need to be registered with Windows so not doing that means the installation of the media type is incomplete and only partially registered. I don't think the Epson tool suffers from that problem BUT if that happens, all it means is that you have to go into the driver (the Properties button) and select the media type inside the driver: you can't select it directly in Qimage because the media installer didn't make the new type visible. So there's always a way to select your media type even if you have to go into the driver to do it (like all other programs make you do anyway).
Regards,
Mike
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EPisch
Newbie
Posts: 12
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« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2024, 05:22:19 PM » |
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Thank you again Mike!
You are right - in Epson Media Installer there is a button "Aktualisieren" (german). After pressing this button, QImage can find the new media types.
I have deleted every entry in QImage and Media Intaller and began from scratch.
There are two Foto papers (both based on "Premium Luster Photo Paper") - now both fine with 720ppi
Five Fine Art Papers (all based on "Velvet Fine Art Paper" - only difference is thickness) - four of them were fine immedeately, with the same paper as before (the heavier of the RAG papers) I had to fight but somehow I could resolve it; seems to be all fine now
The last paper is a matte paper (based on "Archival matte paper") and shows a strange behaviour even after several tries to delete and reconfigure again:
I choose the Media Type (I've tried different names - it's now "CNS Baryta P2 matt"), let the Source (front - fine art (thick)) and Orientation (Portrait) as is, choose the Printer Profile and press Shift + Properties. There I choose Quality Options and set best quality (5) and check the Finest Detail box. After confirmin with OK, QImage shows for a short moment the Print Resolution of Max.720 PPI, but it changes back to 360. After opening again the properties, Finest Details is disabled again.
I can live with this issue but it seems very strange to me!
Thank you very much for your competent and quick help. You not only helped me to understand the dependencies and connections better, but also motivated me to keep trying. I hope everything still works after I have removed all the superfluous media types and printer setups. But if not, at least I no longer have to worry about reconfiguring everything.
Best regards,
Ernst
...
I did another try with the matt paper. When I call up the printer properties via Windows and select the paper type for the matt paper, "Finest details" is activated. I open it at the same time side by side - one by Windows and one by QImage and it shows the same settings except "Finest Details"!???
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« Last Edit: February 18, 2024, 06:03:13 PM by EPisch »
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« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2024, 07:44:37 PM » |
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I did another try with the matt paper. When I call up the printer properties via Windows and select the paper type for the matt paper, "Finest details" is activated. I open it at the same time side by side - one by Windows and one by QImage and it shows the same settings except "Finest Details"!??? Qimage remembers that Finest Detail setting. It's not part of the media installer or media type setting: it's a separate setting. Once you check the box for Finest Detail in Qimage, it'll stay checked unless you load an old job or printer setup (I'm guessing something like that is what is happening). I'm not sure how you are selecting things but choose your matte paper that you are referring to, choose the profile you want, go into the driver, check the Finest Details setting, and when you are done, go back into the driver and confirm Finest Detail is still checked (it will be). Then click the save current settings button and save a printer setup and name it. Then whenever you load that printer setup, all settings will be recalled including that Finest Detail check.\ You should be saving and naming setups anyway because that is the best way to handle multiple papers and/or media sizes: get things the way you want and then save a printer setup for each one. Then whenever you want to use a paper you just load that setup, for example "CNS Baryta P2 matt 8x10". Then you might want another one for the same paper for 13x19: ""CNS Baryta P2 matt 13x19". Once you get them all saved, you never have to worry about settings again. Just load the already saved and previously verified setup. That's the beauty of Qimage: no other software lets you do that. Mike |
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EPisch
Newbie
Posts: 12
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« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2024, 08:30:28 PM » |
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"choose the profile you want, go into the driver, check the Finest Details setting, and when you are done, go back into the driver and confirm Finest Detail is still checked (it will be)."
That's the problem - it is not! I checked Finest Details, confirmed with OK, went back again into the driver and Finest Detail is not set anymore :-(
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« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2024, 10:10:52 PM » |
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That's the problem - it is not! I checked Finest Details, confirmed with OK, went back again into the driver and Finest Detail is not set anymore :-( Then either the driver is broken or something fouled up with you trying to install your custom media types and there is something wrong with that custom media type that makes it incompatible with the Finest Detail option. I've never seen that option not stick in 26 years of doing this, on ANY printer. If I go into the P900 driver, I can get Finest Detail on every media type, even plain paper. So I would have to presume the media type you added is somehow broken with respect to the quality options available. Qimage can remember every setting you make in that driver so if the driver is forcing Finest Detail back to UNchecked, that's a problem with the driver or your installed custom media type. Again... nothing to do with Qimage. This is a driver problem. But I'm just trying to help you with the driver. Mike |
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EPisch
Newbie
Posts: 12
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« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2024, 06:04:40 AM » |
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I can set it and it still is set next time when I do it by opening the driver settings from Windows. But if I open the settings from QImage kicking on Properties, it does not.
That's what I tried to explain you: I opened the driver settings side by side (same time, same view, same media type) - in the window opened with QImage Finest Details is NOT set, in the other window (opened by Window) it is set.
I could make a video from my desktop so you can see, what I mean.
And I have another strange behaviour that seems to me hat is not correct: I have chosen a Media Type, then I wanted to check Orientation or Profile (I don't remember exactly and that's why I didn't tell you before). In the moment when I pressed this other button, Media Type changed to a completely different paper. I think, Media Type never should change by itself.
I saw this behaviour two times but I never knew exactly which other button I have pressed (I am IT engineer and know how hard it is to find errors if you get wrong informations).
I printed flawless with QImage more than a year. All this began, when I tried to check the Finest Details feature.
I can reinstall QImage - no problem, but I think it only makes sense if I can clean absolutely everything of the existing installation of QImage. What do you think?
Thanks!
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« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2024, 01:05:46 PM » |
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I've found a number of issues with the P900 driver that suggest Epson just didn't "hook up" everything to Windows. There are two printers that are a nightmare to deal with when it comes to bugs and incomplete drivers: the HP Z3200 (all Z series really) and the Epson P900. The P900 is a bespoke driver that doesn't really follow the same internal coding as all their other drivers so I'm not sure they thoroughly tested all the Windows API functions that are required with every printer. I can't prove it like I can (and have here) with the Z3200 but I've just noticed that the P900 has issues that no other Epson driver has. They may not focus on all the required Windows connections because nothing but Qimage really uses those functions of the driver: the ability to select media type, media size, output bin, color management, etc. outside of the driver. It's also possible that the combination of the Epson Media Installer and you installing your own custom media types has made some things "out of sync" with the driver.
Now, if you can check Finest Detail in Windows (printer preferences), just do that. Set it in Windows and then in Qimage when you open the driver, click the Properties button with the Shift key held: it'll load the Windows defaults so it'll have no choice but to have Finest Detail checked. With all the adding (and deleting) custom media types, it's possible something in the Qimage sticky driver settings got out of sync too so setting Finest Details in Windows and then using Shift-Properties to open the driver in Qimage should clear that. There's no way that box will be unchecked at that point (using Shift-Properties) after setting it in Windows. If it does, the Epson driver is REALLY messed up!
Mike
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EPisch
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Posts: 12
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« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2024, 01:23:13 PM » |
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I checked now how the driver setting is (view from windows) - Finest Details was set.
Next I started QImage. Media Type was still the same as shown in the driver setting a few moments ago. I opened Properties with Shift and it shows Finest Details enabled. I closed the Properties with OK. Print Resolution has shown for a very short moment Max-720 PPI but changed immedeately back to 360. Now I opened Properties again without holding Shift and "Finest Details" is NOT set.
I will try the following:
Delete the Printer Setup of QImage for this paper. Do all necessary settings in the driver starting from Windows. Then I start QImage and do the settings there. Properties I will oben with holded Shift, check and save.
Maybe that I already have done this without knowing, but I think, it is worth to try.
I'll tell you ...
I tried it two times now - as normal user and as administrator. But always the same. "Finest Details" setting will be lost from the view of QImage whereas it is set from the view of Windows. :-(
Another idea: First I will delete all references to this printer in QImage that I can find. Next I will delete the printer driver and reinstall it. Then I'll try to configure the Printer Setups for all papers that I need. Or do you have a better idea?
...
A few hours later - I've done the following without success:
1) I deleted all *.prt and *.pr1 files in the directory (and sub directories) C:\Users\ernst\AppData\Roaming\ddisoftware\Qimage
2) Closed QImage
3) Deleted the printer in Windows
4) Installed the most recent driver (V6.82.0.0) from Epson homepage
5) Checked in Device Manager and EPSON Print Layout, if the printer will be listed - OK; closed Print Layout
6) Started EPSON Media Installer to check, if all Media Types still are listed - OK; To be sure, I pressed again the "actualize" button; closed Media Installer
7) Opened Printer Properties, chose a media type of my matte paper, configured all quality settings, set "no color correction" and saved this setting - so I can recall these settings, if necessary
8 ) Started QImage - The Media Type is already shown, Max-Resolution is 360ppi
9) Holding Shift I started Properties and checked the settings - they were exactly as I configured before
10) Closed all with OK ... still Max-Resolution is shown as 360ppi
11) Now I opened Properties WITHOUT holding Shift -> Finest Details is NOT set
I am at the end of my wisdom
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« Last Edit: February 19, 2024, 04:24:26 PM by EPisch »
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« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2024, 04:24:42 PM » |
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Since the P900 driver isn't responding like any other Epson driver, I would recommend turning off all AI options and then repeating the Shift-properties again. That is, click on the AI Copilot button at the top of the main window and then uncheck all 5 boxes under Driver AI at the bottom. That will make Qimage behave like a typical "dumb" program like Lightroom, Photoshop, etc. where it doesn't try to do anything "fancy" with the driver and just assumed you know how to operate the driver. Then you are responsible for all the driver settings and you'd have to set them manually like other programs.
Mike
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EPisch
Newbie
Posts: 12
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« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2024, 05:01:22 PM » |
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Yes, this seems to be the best.
Now it behaves, as expected. At least I do not need to check everything like the right profile and can use the excellent sharpening of QImage.
Meanwhile I have configured again all my media types again.
My only concern is that I'm not entirely sure if I'm using the same driver settings now as I was when I created the profile. Do you have any experience of how much influence the choice of quality has in this respect?
Many, many thanks for your support!
Ernst
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« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2024, 05:16:12 PM » |
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I usually try to do the same: use exactly the same settings as when the profile was created. But I've found over the years that the quality selection usually has little influence for the printers I've tested. One profile should be good for most quality settings but there is a small difference.
Did you print the original targets from Qimage? You could always open the job log and recall the job where you printed the profiling target (if you did that). Or just pick an old job that you know had the correct settings. Then after opening the job, just open properties and look at what the driver settings were for that job.
Mike
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EPisch
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Posts: 12
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« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2024, 05:56:18 PM » |
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Thank you for this tip! But I am not sure if it works, because I have deleted all but the jobs. The name of the printer maybe still the same but some of the media type names changed.
I will see - thanks!
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