Epson R3880 like munching Inkpress Transparency Film ... any good print settings?

[Zero_Equals_Infinity]

Hi:

I finally have the darkroom setup for Pd/Pt printing, and thought I would try printing a step wedge negative. Crunch, crunch, crunch goes the rear feed for the Inkpress Transparency film. (Any recommended settings, and methods, i.e. front feed over rear feed, Platen Gap setting, other settings, et cetera?) I would love to create my correction curves, but as it stands now my printer gets a decidedly bad case of indigestion as it munches the bejeezus out of my transparency film.

Also, just to confirm, for a rear feed should the rounded corner on the film be on the upper right hand side, Iand what about a front feed?)

And lastly, since I am loathe to part with 700.00 for a second copy of Photoshop for my laptop, (as my first one is an academic licence), and I have a copy of Elements that came with my V700 scanner, can Elements be used to create digital negatives with QTR?

Thanks,

Nick.

 

[gmikol]

I couldn't tell you what platen gap and thickness settings I use (I have to set them on the front panel, since QTR doesn't allow passing that information in Windows) but I've never had a problem with my 3880 feeding Pictorico...I just use the top auto sheet feeder.

You may want to check to ensure that the printable face is facing up/forward, and you probably want to make sure the 2 square corners of the sheet feed in first, otherwise, it may fool the paper size detection sensor. You should also check to make sure the feed rollers are clean. On my R1900, I had a problem where the sheet would not feed at all, or feed right through without printing, if the feed rollers were dusty. Canned air fixed the problem.

Lastly, does the academic EULA for Photoshop not provide for installation on 2 machines (so long as they are not simultaneously being used) the way the commercial license does? I always assumed the only difference was the qualifications for academic pricing, not different terms in the EULA. I can't find a separate academic EULA on their website.

It's been a loooong time since I used elements...you should check what version was supplied with your scanner. Older versions might not support the color management options or the adjustment layers you're using in a modern version of PS. You should plan on using flattened copies of your documents if you're going to use Elements for your printing.

Good luck...

--Greg

 

[jeffreyg]

I'm not sure this will be of any help but I have been using Pictorico transparency on an Epson 2200 with no problems for quite some time. You may need to run an Epson cleaning sheet if they are still available through to clean the sheet feed rollers. If there is ink on the rollers you can see and reach on the front they can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol on a thin sponge. Give Epson a call. Yes the rounded corner on the upper right with the paper facing you indicates that is the coated side.

I installed PS (academic) on both my desktop and laptop with no problems. I haven't tried to use both at the same time so I don't know about that. I called Adobe first and they said it was okay on the two.

HOME PAGE

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

That definitely sounds like a feed issue. Look on the packaging of the transparency media you're using and see if there is any labeling to indicate thickness, platen settings, etc. I have been using Pictorico for my digital negatives and have had no such problems using the default thickness and the auto-platen setting.

 

[pschwart]

That definitely sounds like a feed issue. Look on the packaging of the transparency media you're using and see if there is any labeling to indicate thickness, platen settings, etc. I have been using Pictorico for my digital negatives and have had no such problems using the default thickness and the auto-platen setting.

What I sometime see is that Epsons can catch the right side of OHP on each head passIt usually doesn't cause any problem, but sometime it results in ink spatter. On the 3800, using the manual front feeder avoids the problem, but it can be a pint to use.

 

[Zero_Equals_Infinity]

It definitely is a feed problem from the rear. I may have to try front feeding, though I understand from other postings that I have found that for some peculiar reason Dmax can be altered using the front feed. (It was suggested that this may have to do with media recognition.)

I have a solution to my PS/PSE problem. The QTRGui allows direct printing, so this will be what I will do:
1) Perform all post-processing / B&W conversion on my desktop.
2) Copy results of 1) as tiffs to my laptop, and print in the darkroom using the QTRGui.

The PS issue relates to the need for it to be on two desktops in the household, and hence I would have to buy another license at full price. And since the QTRGui has no need of PS, I can operate without it on the laptop.

Now if I can only finish doing my QTR curves for my R3880 ... (working on the whites problem resulting from less UV blocking with the newer inkset, as mentioned on another thread.)

 

[gmikol]

I have a solution to my PS/PSE problem. The QTRGui allows direct printing, so this will be what I will do:
1) Perform all post-processing / B&W conversion on my desktop.
2) Copy results of 1) as tiffs to my laptop, and print in the darkroom using the QTRGui.

Sounds like a plan. I thought you were using a Mac, and printing through QTR directly out of photoshop.

Now if I can only finish doing my QTR curves for my R3880 ... (working on the whites problem resulting from less UV blocking with the newer inkset, as mentioned on another thread.)

Keep in mind, the only difference between the 3800 and the 3880 are the magenta inks. Both printers use the same cartridges for the rest, though the manner in which they lay down inks might be slightly different.

Here's a reference on the spectral characteristics of the K3 (3800, 2400) inks.

http://www.albertonovo.it/scan/epson_inks.html

As you can see, magenta doesn't absorb much in the 370-400nm range (UV) compared to black and yellow. Cyan is good for carbon (and probably other dichromated processes) because dichromate has an absorption peak around 365nm. Not sure where the peak sensitivity is for Pt/Pd, if it's closer to 400, then cyan's not gonna do much for you, either.

--Greg

H

 

[Zero_Equals_Infinity]

for Greg.

 

[Philippe Berger]

ATTENTION: Pizza wheels !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with the Epson R3000 destroyed, oh yes very bad

 

[macgabhan]

Hi:

I finally have the darkroom setup for Pd/Pt printing, and thought I would try printing a step wedge negative. Crunch, crunch, crunch goes the rear feed for the Inkpress Transparency film. (Any recommended settings, and methods, i.e. front feed over rear feed, Platen Gap setting, other settings, et cetera?) I would love to create my correction curves, but as it stands now my printer gets a decidedly bad case of indigestion as it munches the bejeezus out of my transparency film.

Also, just to confirm, for a rear feed should the rounded corner on the film be on the upper right hand side, Iand what about a front feed?)

And lastly, since I am loathe to part with 700.00 for a second copy of Photoshop for my laptop, (as my first one is an academic licence), and I have a copy of Elements that came with my V700 scanner, can Elements be used to create digital negatives with QTR?

Thanks,

Nick.

Hi

I have been using Inkpress transparency with a 3800 for some time and never had a problem ... though mine was cut from a 100' roll (changed to the 3800 soon after buying the roll).

Dave

 

[Zero_Equals_Infinity]

I have happily gone back to using Pictorico OHP. I front-end load it on a backing board, and it does not get into trouble the way the Inkpress did. It also takes a higher ink load (about 155% vs 120% for the Inkpress.) The net result is less jamming and misalignment, and given my challenges in realising a pure white due to the relatively poor UV blocking characteristics of the K3 ultrachrome inkset the increased inkload capacity is appreciated.