problem printing dig negs using QTR on an Epson r2400

[Gabrioladude]

I learned to make palladium prints using digital negatives printed with a QTR driver at a workshop held by Kerik Kouklis.

Now doing it at home (with a different printer) I seem to have mastered the calibration part. In other words printing step wedges, scanning
and then determining the correct QTR printer profile, but am now experiencing problems when making an actual digital negative.

My Epson r2400 doesn't seem to recognize the thin Pictorico sheet using the top feed, so I am using the front feed with the Pictorico taped to
a piece of cardboard. The feed part seems to work but the digital negative print has "issues".

Once the digital negative print approaches about .75 inches from the end of the print, I get a black band. The dark band of course prints light
on the palladium print.

I tried making another digital negative and the same thing happens. The actual dimensions of the band are slightly different on the second neg but it again happens
right near the end of the digital negative print.

I will try and attach a scan of the palladium print which shows the light band.

can anyone tell me what is going on and how I might be able to fix this problem

thanks for your help
Frank

 

[pschwart]

I learned to make palladium prints using digital negatives printed with a QTR driver at a workshop held by Kerik Kouklis.

Now doing it at home (with a different printer) I seem to have mastered the calibration part. In other words printing step wedges, scanning
and then determining the correct QTR printer profile, but am now experiencing problems when making an actual digital negative.

My Epson r2400 doesn't seem to recognize the thin Pictorico sheet using the top feed, so I am using the front feed with the Pictorico taped to
a piece of cardboard. The feed part seems to work but the digital negative print has "issues".

Once the digital negative print approaches about .75 inches from the end of the print, I get a black band. The dark band of course prints light
on the palladium print.

I tried making another digital negative and the same thing happens. The actual dimensions of the band are slightly different on the second neg but it again happens
right near the end of the digital negative print.

I will try and attach a scan of the palladium print which shows the light band.

can anyone tell me what is going on and how I might be able to fix this problem

thanks for your help
Frank

Frank:

I don't see that with any of my Epsons (1400, 1800, 2000, 3800). I avoid using front feed whenever possible, so maybe it's related to that.
Do you see the problem when front-loading paper prints? I print tests 1/2" from the edge of the OHP, but I always leave a bigger border when printing a final negative.

Other issues: I do see what looks like the printer's dither pattern in the print, or it could be artifacts from the film scan. I see banding, too (most visible in the sky). Make sure you are printing with high speed OFF and using the highest printer quality (super photo or whatever it's called in the 2400 driver). Doing a head alignment might also help. An auto nozzle check will tell you more than the quick nozzle check, but be warned: it can use a LOT of ink and often doesn't fix problems that it finds.

The print also appears to be very low contrast, which suggests your negative doesn't have sufficient density. The first step is always to determine your minimum exposure to achieve maximum black; that is your base exposure. If you back way off the base exposure in order to preserve midtones and highlights, you will
end up with weak, muddy shadows. You can tweak your palladium drop count, but if your neg is too thin, that isn't likely to make a fine print.