Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: Daverich on August 29, 2017, 12:43:15 pm
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I recently purchased an Epson P5000 and the first couple of days with it have been successful. I have a question however about a utility for it that I read about in an article about setting up the printer by Keith Cooper @ Northlight Images. In his article he uses a utility called the Epson Printer Calibration Utility to calibrate the printer back to a known point. He has several screen captures on how to use it as well as directions for it. I've dl'd everything I can find on the Epson US web site but haven't been able to find that utility. It wasn't part of the DNG file that I dl'd to setup the printer originally although it did have several other utilities available. Does anyone have a link to the file or know where I might be able to obtain it? It may or may not matter for final output but before I start making profiles I'd like to be sure I have everything on the printer as tuned up as I can. Thanks.
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Try on any European Epson page, it is there in support section for given printer.
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Try on any European Epson page, it is there in support section for given printer.
Thanks for the suggestion but the European downloads appear to be the same as the American ones.
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Google can be your friend if you know what to look for. The exact software title is Epson ColorBase and the Euro download link is: http://esupport.epson-europe.com/FileDetails.aspx?lng=en-GB&data=90NVirE+OTrwUpZ9wY22UDl588Ch1UHx&id=376344 Note that the date of this release is 2013. I don't know if there is an updated release for the newer printer models which you absolutely need.
Alan
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Google can be your friend if you know what to look for. The exact software title is Epson ColorBase and the Euro download link is: http://esupport.epson-europe.com/FileDetails.aspx?lng=en-GB&data=90NVirE+OTrwUpZ9wY22UDl588Ch1UHx&id=376344 Note that the date of this release is 2013. I don't know if there is an updated release for the newer printer models which you absolutely need.
Alan
Thanks for the suggestion but I actually spent a fair amount of time with Google before posting here. The ColorBase software isn't the one I'm looking for. It's specifically called Epson Printer Calibration Utility. Northlight Images has a contact form so maybe I'll ask Keith directly if he can help me find it. Thanks again for your help.
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I was just going through the menus on the printer and discovered under Printer Status a place for "Calibration Date" which corresponds with one of the screen grabs on Northlight Images so it's clear the printer has the capability to be calibrated. I just need to find the software.
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I recently purchased an Epson P5000 and the first couple of days with it have been successful. I have a question however about a utility for it that I read about in an article about setting up the printer by Keith Cooper @ Northlight Images. In his article he uses a utility called the Epson Printer Calibration Utility to calibrate the printer back to a known point. He has several screen captures on how to use it as well as directions for it. I've dl'd everything I can find on the Epson US web site but haven't been able to find that utility. It wasn't part of the DNG file that I dl'd to setup the printer originally although it did have several other utilities available. Does anyone have a link to the file or know where I might be able to obtain it? It may or may not matter for final output but before I start making profiles I'd like to be sure I have everything on the printer as tuned up as I can. Thanks.
What is it that you're expecting / hoping to calibrate on / in the printer that isn't available in the printer's menus? This is the first I've heard of such a utility. Not challenging, just curious. The description in your image above seems very vague to me.
Rand
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What is it that you're expecting / hoping to calibrate on / in the printer that isn't available in the printer's menus? This is the first I've heard of such a utility. Not challenging, just curious. The description in your image above seems very vague to me.
Rand
This is the blurb from Northlight Images:
The calibration utility software allows you to get your printer to a known state – having done this, I know for example that the ICC profiles I make will be more accurate for other people’s P5000 printers. It’s also a confidence test that the printer is working OK for my subsequent testing.
The calibration is of perhaps more immediate use for people with multiple printers wanting to synchronise their print performance across multiple printers.
I don't know what difference it will make in ultimate quality but printers do drift over time and this seems to be a way to bring them back to a known state. In any event, Epson Australia had the software and I'm in the process of running it right now.
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This is the blurb from Northlight Images:
The calibration utility software allows you to get your printer to a known state – having done this, I know for example that the ICC profiles I make will be more accurate for other people’s P5000 printers. It’s also a confidence test that the printer is working OK for my subsequent testing.
The calibration is of perhaps more immediate use for people with multiple printers wanting to synchronise their print performance across multiple printers.
I don't know what difference it will make in ultimate quality but printers do drift over time and this seems to be a way to bring them back to a known state. In any event, Epson Australia had the software and I'm in the process of running it right now.
Interesting. Keep us posted on any differences you see "once calibrated," or anything else you might have to say about "results from having used the utility."
Also, I'd also be interested to hear from others (Mark Segal, Dan Berg?) about "printer drift over time," and whether that's been an issue of any sort.
Rand
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OK, I thought you were talking about the ColorBase software that has been around for a long time and that I referenced earlier. I looked at the product page and Keith's setup review of the P5000 and it looks as though the software utility in question is supposed to come with the printer (or downloadable along with the driver). It might be that this is only available to printers sold outside the US as Epson sometimes are very quirky in that regard. My suggestion is to contact Epson support directly about this issue. they would give you the quickest response. Mark Segal reviewed this printer here on LuLa but didn't mention anything about this utility.
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OK, I thought you were talking about the ColorBase software that has been around for a long time and that I referenced earlier. I looked at the product page and Keith's setup review of the P5000 and it looks as though the software utility in question is supposed to come with the printer (or downloadable along with the driver). It might be that this is only available to printers sold outside the US as Epson sometimes are very quirky in that regard. My suggestion is to contact Epson support directly about this issue. they would give you the quickest response. Mark Segal reviewed this printer here on LuLa but didn't mention anything about this utility.
Hi Alan,
Epson Australia had the software as a standalone download.
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If anyone else has a P5000 the Epson Color Calibration software is available from Epson Australia. I don't know why the software isn't available here as my printer has a line item under Printer Status where it keeps track of the last time it was calibrated. At any rate, this is what happened.....
On an A3 sheet of paper it prints out a nozzle check and then a set of each color with 18 different densities. It then sits and lets the ink dry for awhile, reads them and then prints a second set of the colors. I didn't stay with the printer for the whole process so don't know if it read the second set of colors or not. My impression from the software dialog is this first round creates a reference to which the printer will be returned to with future calibrations. In any event, the Printer Status in the printer display now shows that my printer has been calibrated.
Boy Howdy, now I'm gonna' have some good looking prints! YMMV
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If anyone else has a P5000 the Epson Color Calibration software is available from Epson Australia. I don't know why the software isn't available here as my printer has a line item under Printer Status where it keeps track of the last time it was calibrated. At any rate, this is what happened.....
On an A3 sheet of paper it prints out a nozzle check and then a set of each color with 18 different densities. It then sits and lets the ink dry for awhile, reads them and then prints a second set of the colors. I didn't stay with the printer for the whole process so don't know if it read the second set of colors or not. My impression from the software dialog is this first round creates a reference to which the printer will be returned to with future calibrations. In any event, the Printer Status in the printer display now shows that my printer has been calibrated.
Boy Howdy, now I'm gonna' have some good looking prints! YMMV
Did you make a before and after print of a standard reference image? If so, are there any visual differences? I wasn't aware that my P5000 could read color patches. ???
Rand
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I wasn't aware that my P5000 could read color patches. ???
http://support2.epson.net/manuals/english/lfp/sc_p5000/pdf/cmp0089_00.pdf
Page 25. It has built-in sensors for doing these reads.
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Did you make a before and after print of a standard reference image? If so, are there any visual differences? I wasn't aware that my P5000 could read color patches. ???
Rand
I didn't. My impression from what happened is that the first time the calibration software is run it records wherever the printer is "right now". Going forward I expect that if something has changed that the printer will adjust itself back to "right now". Next time I run the calibration I'll print a before and after to see if that's the case.
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http://support2.epson.net/manuals/english/lfp/sc_p5000/pdf/cmp0089_00.pdf
Page 25. It has built-in sensors for doing these reads.
Thanks! I guess RTFM (more carefully) is in order. I'm still interested in some feedback / comments from some of our printing gurus here ( e.g. Jeff Schewe, Mark Segal, Dan Berg ) on what might constitute "bests practices" for initial set up of a printer like the SC P5000, and perhaps even some insight from people they know at Epson on the use of the calibration utility.
I find it interesting that Epson doesn't have the calibration utility as part of the maintenance items in the appropriate driver tab, nor even available for download in the US.
Rand
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I find it interesting that Epson doesn't have the calibration utility as part of the maintenance items in the appropriate driver tab, nor even available for download in the US.
Rand
And yet, keeping track of when the printer was last calibrated is built into the printer display itself under Printer Status/Calibration Date. No idea why Epson apparently doesn't want people in the US to use a feature that's already built into the printer. I'm still on the 80ml starter inks but after I change one out I'll print a test before calibration and after to see if there's a measurable difference.
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Thanks! I guess RTFM (more carefully) is in order. I'm still interested in some feedback / comments from some of our printing gurus here ( e.g. Jeff Schewe, Mark Segal, Dan Berg ) on what might constitute "bests practices" for initial set up of a printer like the SC P5000, and perhaps even some insight from people they know at Epson on the use of the calibration utility.
I find it interesting that Epson doesn't have the calibration utility as part of the maintenance items in the appropriate driver tab, nor even available for download in the US.
Rand
If I could get access to manual, I might offer an opinion. HOwever, tried several different Google searches and cannot find the manual anywhere. There are some reviews of the 'old' Epson ColorBase utility which can be used to calibrate printers such as mine (3880). Those printers do not have onboard sensors and one has to print out a calibration chart and then read it manually with a spectro to do the calibration. The calibration file is read and the ColorBase software uses it to modify the printer driver to bring the printer back to the factory setting. There is a review of ColorBase here on LuLa from about 10 years ago and Eric Chan also has directions on his Epson 3800 website. I do not know if the new calibration utility software operates in the same manner.
The issue of calibration is only important if there is drift in the printing accuracy. In such cases, the ICC profile which was prepared at a previous point in time would no longer be accurate and in the absence of doing a printer calibration a new profile must be prepared. I do all my profiles using ArgyllCMS and there is a tool in the software package to do a printer calibration at the time point one does the initial profile(s) work. If one notices color drift, a new calibration is done and then the ICC profile can be modified using the differential calibration files to bring it back into specification.
Most of the Epson RGB printers are well behaved and there is little drift. I have not felt the need to do a calibration as examination of the color printing patches has shown very little drift if any since I have owned this printer.
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I recently purchased an Epson P5000 and the first couple of days with it have been successful. I have a question however about a utility for it that I read about in an article about setting up the printer by Keith Cooper @ Northlight Images. In his article he uses a utility called the Epson Printer Calibration Utility to calibrate the printer back to a known point. He has several screen captures on how to use it as well as directions for it. I've dl'd everything I can find on the Epson US web site but haven't been able to find that utility. It wasn't part of the DNG file that I dl'd to setup the printer originally although it did have several other utilities available. Does anyone have a link to the file or know where I might be able to obtain it? It may or may not matter for final output but before I start making profiles I'd like to be sure I have everything on the printer as tuned up as I can. Thanks.
I agree with Alan. I guess I'm curious as to why are you trying to calibrate a brand new printer back to a known point? New printer tolerances are so tight that it is impossible to distinguish output from two brand new printers.
wondering if that was an old article. As Alan mentioned, Previous generation printers (we're talking back in the 76/9600 days) varied and tended to drift over time, so most of us created profiles based on specific machines and calibrated the printers to compensate for the drift. Not true anymore. I think you risk messing things up if you jump down this rabbit hole ...
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If you install the software, you can read the manual (click on "Help" once it's running).
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If you install the software, you can read the manual (click on "Help" once it's running).
Phil, I don't have that model of printer and was only curious about the manual. ;) Interesting that there was a similar question over on the ArgyllCMS listserve but about the Canon x000 series of printers which have the same feature. Canon does have a nice description of this on their website unlike Epson: http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2016/ipf-pro1000/color-calibration-tool.shtml
Alan
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Phil, I don't have that model of printer and was only curious about the manual. ;)
Alan
I'm not sure which manual you're interested in but if it's for the P5000 it's on the Epson web site under support. The printer only comes with a small Getting Started flyer, the 198 page PDF manual has to be downloaded.
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I agree with Alan. I guess I'm curious as to why are you trying to calibrate a brand new printer back to a known point? New printer tolerances are so tight that it is impossible to distinguish output from two brand new printers.
wondering if that was an old article. As Alan mentioned, Previous generation printers (we're talking back in the 76/9600 days) varied and tended to drift over time, so most of us created profiles based on specific machines and calibrated the printers to compensate for the drift. Not true anymore. I think you risk messing things up if you jump down this rabbit hole ...
This first time I'm not trying to calibrate a brand new printer BACK to a known point. As shown in the screen grab I posted earlier, the first time the calibration software is run it just records where my specific printer is right now. I assume that if I run the software in the future and something has changed that the printer will be returned to where it was when I first ran the calibration on my printer. Also, as stated in an earlier post, the article I referenced was by Keith Cooper @ Northlight Images in the UK on his experiences with setting up a P5000 printer so, not an old article. Apparently the software to do the calibration was included in his driver installation but it was not included in mine which is why my first post was asking if anyone on LuLa knew where I could get it. My P5000 printer is a replacement for an 11 year old Epson 4800 that recently died. If there was printer drift in my 4800 over the years it wasn't enough for me to be aware of it. My interest in trying the calibration software is because it was mentioned in Keith's article and also because it's physically built into my printer. If you go through the menus on the printer display, there it is. I haven't had problems with printer drift in the past and have no expectations that I'll have them with my new printer in the future. However, I'm a curious person and just wanted to see what it was as long as the printer has the capability to do it. I'm still on the set of starter inks that came with the printer and it's my intent that after I've changed several of them out to print some tests, re-calibrate the printer and print the tests again to see if there's a difference. If people here are interested in what I find out I'll post the results. If not, that's OK too.
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sorry for the misunderstanding. Keith does a great job, as he points out the main purpose of calibrating for him is because he is trying to insure his profiles work for others. I’m not quiet sure how this works, unless he re-calibrates frequently before making profiles on new paper to insure there hasn’t been any drift.
I cannot see where in the article it states it came with his printer. He just states what the Calibration software does and shows the icon for it. Keith obviously has it and this is part of his workflow, but i think he’s the exception. I don’t think the software is provided, most likely because Epson doesn’t see a real purpose for it anymore except for perhaps field technicians. These printers just don’t drift and machine to machine tolerance are very tight.
but i certainly understand your curiosity.
You’ve managed to get me a little curious as well :). For example, one question for those in the know who have used the software and happen to be reading this thread. In using the software to record it’s current state, then again to use the software to measure and correct any drift, what is the mechanism where the printer reads the results? Keith says he didn’t purchase the optional spectro, so I’m not sure how the printer is “measuring” it’s output to set it’s know state, then again measuring and modifying the output to achieve calibration. What exactly is it measuring? Maybe not the output but something physical to do with the head and how it is ejecting droplets? When installing a new head, one step requires an incredibly long string to be put into the software which varies with each head. Perhaps this string is setting up the initial calibration based on the new head being put in place, which means they “calibrated” the head without ink in some manner?
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I cannot see where in the article it states it came with his printer. He just states what the Calibration software does and shows the icon for it. Keith obviously has it and this is part of his workflow, but i think he’s the exception. I don’t think the software is provided, most likely because Epson doesn’t see a real purpose for it anymore except for perhaps field technicians.
Hi Wayne,
I got the software from Epson Australia because it was available as a separate download but for Keith the Calibration software was part of his driver download. This is a screen grab from his post of the section on how to get and install the software for the printer. The Calibration software is the 6th line down in the list. I have no idea why Epson makes it available in other countries and not here. I want to make it clear that I've had no problems with printer/ink drifting in the past and do not expect to have a problem with my new 5000 now. But as long as Epson took the time to physically build calibration into the printer I thought I'd at least look into the process and see what it was.
Dave
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You’ve managed to get me a little curious as well :). For example, one question for those in the know who have used the software and happen to be reading this thread. In using the software to record it’s current state, then again to use the software to measure and correct any drift, what is the mechanism where the printer reads the results? Keith says he didn’t purchase the optional spectro, so I’m not sure how the printer is “measuring” it’s output to set it’s know state, then again measuring and modifying the output to achieve calibration. What exactly is it measuring?
I don't have the Spectro either but this screen grab from the User Manual says that the calibration uses the "printers built-in sensors". Watching the printer go through the process it printed a set of patches, then stopped and let the patches dry. At first I thought something had gone wrong but noticed that software said that's what the printer was doing so I let it sit. After a while the print head came out and went back and forth across the patches as if it was reading them. It then printed a second set of patches but I didn't stick around to see if it read them as well. I make no claim to actually understand what the process is, that's just what it looked like. On my printer's display under Printer Status/Calibration Date it now says 08/29/17 18:00 whereas previously that item was blank. After I change out several of the starter inks I'll print some tests, run the calibration again and reprint the tests to see if there are any changes. I don't actually expect there to be but who knows. Maybe. We'll see.
Dave
P.S. In re-reading the installation part of the manual it says that Windows users get a disk with the drivers and indicates that the Calibration Software IS part of the installation. Mac users are instructed to go online to get the drivers. As my printer arrived without any kind of disk I'm not able to verify whether Windows users get the calibration software or not. The manual reads as if they're supposed to however.
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I don't have the Spectro either but this screen grab from the User Manual says that the calibration uses the "printers built-in sensors". Watching the printer go through the process it printed a set of patches, then stopped and let the patches dry. At first I thought something had gone wrong but noticed that software said that's what the printer was doing so I let it sit. After a while the print head came out and went back and forth across the patches as if it was reading them. It then printed a second set of patches but I didn't stick around to see if it read them as well.
interesting. I had no idea the on board sensor was that “sensitive”. I assume it must be reading ink loads of individual channels and somehow altering output to standardize the amount if ink being pushed out. I thought all the sensor was used for was edge detection of the paper.
As far as being included, I never use the install disks. Keith’s screen grab showing that option that you mentioned is from a Mac. Wonder if it’s on the disks, but not in download installs. And maybe your right maybe just isn’t included by Epson USA but other countries do.
Guess I’ll have to grab a copy and test it a little myself.
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I'm not sure which manual you're interested in but if it's for the P5000 it's on the Epson web site under support. The printer only comes with a small Getting Started flyer, the 198 page PDF manual has to be downloaded.
The manual for the calibration utility; this is totally separate from the printer manual and is NOT on the USA Epson site. This whole thread begs the question about why this utility is not listed on the US Epson site but is on foreign sites.
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The manual for the calibration utility; this is totally separate from the printer manual and is NOT on the USA Epson site. This whole thread begs the question about why this utility is not listed on the US Epson site but is on foreign sites.
Alan,
I got the software from Epson Australia. It didn't come with a user manual. As I noted in an earlier post however, my impression from the user manual is that the setup software on disk for Windows users is intended to include the calibration software. As I didn't receive a disk with my printer I have no way to verify if that's true or not.
Dave
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Ok, I'm not sure whether I should feel stupid right now or not. In fairness to myself, so far I appear to be the only one on this forum who was aware of the Calibration software so I'm pretty sure everyone else here that has a P5000 did exactly the same thing as I did. Even Mark Segal, in his excellent review here on LuLa of the P5000, didn't mention the Calibration software so I'll bet he too did exactly as I did. What I did was this, I've been using Epson printers since a Photo Ex maybe 20 years ago so I know how this is done. I'll just go to Epson.com, look up my printer, dl the software and be done with it. However, when I posted the screen capture of the driver part of the manual in response to Alan, I finally noticed something. I went to Epson.com but the directions specifically say to go to Epson.sn, not .com. No idea where that is but if you DL the software from where Epson tells you to you get everything shown in this screen grab including the Calibration software. Jeez. Mea Culpa.
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What you found was the Epson Setup Download site. So is the calibration utility manual part of the package you just downloaded?
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What you found was the Epson Setup Download site. So is the calibration utility manual part of the package you just downloaded?
No, as far as I can tell there isn't a manual. Using it is pretty self explanatory however.
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There is a manual. If you run the software and click on the Help menu, it opens the PDF that I mentioned (which is the manual). It's packaged in with the installer for the entire application.
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What you found was the Epson Setup Download site. So is the calibration utility manual part of the package you just downloaded?
I downloaded the package, and yes, the calibration software is in it.
I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that the onboard detector is actually sensitive enough to trust with this task.
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I downloaded the package, and yes, the calibration software is in it.
I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that the onboard detector is actually sensitive enough to trust with this task.
+1 It sounds like a maintenance routine for service techs to use for a printer that has gone significantly wonky in how it lays down the ink. In which case, presumably, the onboard sensor could get it back in the ball park. This would seem to provide the rationale for why Epson doesn't provide it in the driver package, nor recommend in the user manual that an initial calibration run be conducted on setup.
Let me say to the OP, however, that this has been a useful discussion in terms of learning some things that I didn't know before. Never hurts to have a broader understanding of the technology.
Rand
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Honestly, guys, just read the user guide that comes when you install the software and it will tell you exactly what it's used for if you're interested - it's too much for me to type out :-)
This has nothing to do with technicians re-calibrating a machine - they use a spectro to do that and a service utility.
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One note, a year later. The color calibration utility doesn't appear on the US site. I did find it on the .au site, but for Sierra, not for High Sierra or Mojave. It appears to function fine with the later Mac software.