Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Colour Management => Topic started by: smikkelmit22 on January 18, 2018, 10:29:30 am
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Hi,
I recently bought a good working Roland 545EX for printing. All the standard profiles available at roland were giving bad results.
For that reason, i decided to also buy a old DTP41. All went pretty well untill had to create my (first) icc profile.
I use colorport for it, on the web people are using ProfileMaker5.10, but it seems they do not sell that software anymore.Anyway, I have printed to patches, created with colorport. When i try to 'read' the patches with my DTP41, nothing is happening.
The DTP41 processes my patches, but it looks like it doesn't connect with colorport. Which is strange, because when colorport asked me to calibirate the DTP41, everything worked instant. So no connection issues. It just doesn't process my 'readed' patches the colorport.
This is the first profile ever, i hope someone here with some colorport/dtp41 experience can help me out.
Thanks and best regards
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Nice to mention that i'm trying to get a decent white/gray. The white is more cream. And the gray imperfect. I was hoping a ICC profile could fix this issue.
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ColorPort is not an application for creating profiles. It allows you to measure and save data generated from your spectrophtometer. You need a profile creating application such as i1Profiler or BasicColor Print 5 to actually read the data file from your measurements and create the profile. Make sure your data files are compatible with those applications.
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Mark, sounds like ColorPort simply isn't reading the colors if I'm understanding the OP correctly. A screen capture of what is seen during part of the process would be useful. There should be a 'before and after' color seen indicating what's been measured and what remains and the colors of the before and after should appear very roughly the same (so you know you've measured the right set of patches).
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Hi Andrew, it's actually hard to make out exactly what he's not experiencing, so yes more of this kind of information would definitely help. I got the impression he has basic connectivity because the device calibrated, which means it needs to communicate with the software (right?). If it does that, I reasoned that it should also be reading the patches. That data file, if it got created, should be stored somewhere in ColorPort Application Support (right?). (Would be good if he could find it and provide it here.) So I got the impression he was expecting a profile from ColorPort, which of course ColorPort does not provide. (Wouldn't it be nice if we had a free utility making profiles - hah!)
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My reading of the OP is that he's, wrongly, expecting Colorport to deliver the profile.
It should save the measurements to allow profiling in a proper profiling package though. Once the measurements are complete click the 'save data' button on the measure tab.
(Wouldn't it be nice if we had a free utility making profiles - hah!)
Argyll supports the DTP41
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Hi Andrew, it's actually hard to make out exactly what he's not experiencing, so yes more of this kind of information would definitely help.
I have to go by this statement:
When i try to 'read' the patches with my DTP41, nothing is happening.
We need a screen grab of what CP is showing the OP either in the middle of the measuring process or at the end.
And indeed, some can and still DO use ProfileMaker Pro just to measure a target; it doesn't have to be used solely to build that profile.
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Hi,
Thanks for all the reply's. I'm happy to upload some printscreens. I'm currently not on location anymore.
I will add some additional information:
What i'm trying to do is correct colours for my roland printer. I wanted to print canvas but the colours were way off with the recommended Roland profiles that are available for download on their profile page. For that reason i purchased the DTP41 to create a custom profile and i also wanted to add my own ICC profile to it.
I followed this tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhBC8jxDIAA&t
Which helped a lot. About 80/90% improvement. But still, imperfect. But, after i ran into issues at creating the ICC profiles.
I ran into issues at 5:48 since i do not have the software used in the video.
I thought Colorport could do the job also.
If i understand correctly from the reply from Mark D Sega, colorport is not the correct software for creating a correct ICC profile. I want to create a ICC profile to improve the colors, since they are incorrect.
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That's right. You need a profile making application.
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I thought Colorport could do the job also.
If i understand correctly from the reply from Mark D Sega, colorport is not the correct software for creating a correct ICC profile. I want to create a ICC profile to improve the colors, since they are incorrect.
ColorPort has one task; measure your targets and output a CGATs file. This is just a text file with the measured values within. So is it doing so?
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ColorPort has one task; measure your targets and output a CGATs file. This is just a text file with the measured values within. So is it doing so?
No, it doesn't. I think i need to upload some photo's to give you guys a idea what is happening.
But, i don't think i'm looking for a CGATs file. I wanted to create a icc profile to improve printing. As said, this is my first custom profile, it seems that i need to learn a lot ! Excuse me for any unskilled questions, just trying to find the right road to get some decent printing results.
Is there any software that could do the job without spending a 1000$ ?
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No, it doesn't. I think i need to upload some photo's to give you guys a idea what is happening.
Yes, let's solve that issue first. It should measure the target and allow you to save off the CGATs file.
Now once CP has saved this CGATs txt file, any software that can read it and build an ICC profile will do so for you and yes, you'll need that as well. IF you only want to build this one profile and IF you can save off the CGATs file, I'd be happy to build you the profile in either Copra or i1Profiler. I could offer dozens of other products I've owned to do this over the past 20+ years but either will do the job.
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My reading of the OP is that he's, wrongly, expecting Colorport to deliver the profile.
Keep digging.
We (some of us) are making progress in solving this issue. ;D
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Heading to location to take some photo's and printscreens, to give a idea what is going on.
To keep you bussy ^^, i have some more questions.
I had a lot of options while choosing the paths to print.
The roland 545EX has 6 cartridges: CMYK + LC LM
Should i create a CMYK, if yes, why it feels like the LC and LM inks are left out?
Photo's about the issue comming in.
Thanks for all the help, really want to learn how this works.
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Heading to location to take some photo's and printscreens, to give a idea what is going on.
You need to click on the tab Measure Target and start measuring then make a screen capture.
Should i create a CMYK, if yes, why it feels like the LC and LM inks are left out?
Absolutely not!
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I'm on location.
I printed to test, the CMYK 378 patched file.
I opened the "measure target" tab and connected the x-rite device.
As you can see in the photo, the x rite is processing patches. But it seems it doesn't process at the screen. I expected some sort of comparison at the screen.
I think now is clear what my issue is.
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Doesn't look good. So at the end of the process is there no way to save? I ask because this is very old software and it could, repeat could be an issue where you're not seeing the 'after' colors on-screen but that's a huge stretch. If you can't save the data after measurement, you've got a door stop at this point unless you can try another product that interfaces with that old Spectrophotometer.
You're on a Mac? Can you find a copy of MeasureTool from GretagMacbeth and see if it's working with the DTP-41? I can dig up and send you the Mac installer that includes MeasureTool. It will work in demo mode to make the measurements but you will not be able to use the ProfileMaker Pro module to build the profile without a dongle.
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Just found a part of the issue in the manual "Flashing Yellow Light—instrument calibration in progress (strip being read). "
It seems it is not processing, it bussy with calibration.
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Just found a part of the issue in the manual "Flashing Yellow Light—instrument calibration in progress (strip being read). "
It seems it is not processing, it bussy with calibration.
Yup, light should be (If memory serves) green. Maybe the unit needs to be cleaned so it 'passes' calibration? There's a tile that's used for calibration which may be dirty, just a guess. Or this unit is just no good. VERY difficult to diagnose remotely....
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Seems the calibiration worked. Now i have to find out how to read the other patches.
Anyway, could you recommend me which patches to use for a Roland printer :CMYK+LC&LM
In case i get things working?
Thans for your time btw.
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I'd use their TC918 target IF you can get the unit working.
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Well, the unit works. When i use it in Roland it works perfect. Tha'ts the strange part.So i think it is something with colorport.
I will continue trying, i'm sure i will find a way.
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What do you mean "When I use it in Roland it works"?
Could be CP, not supported in years and years.
I'm going to dust off my copy and see if it works with an i1Pro.
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Excuse me, i was talking about Versaworks**
The video on youtube showed me with the first steps. I created a new profile in versaworks -> media -> media explorer.
https://youtu.be/lhBC8jxDIAA?t=3m41s
That part, it worked like charm. So i know the unit is working. I'm currently printing your TC9.18.
To see if i have any luck with these patches.
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This one seem to work. I just managed to scan a few patches.
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Yes, that's what you're looking for. Now scan everything and hopefully save off the CGATs file.
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It's working well now, almost done !
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I'm finished. There are numberous of options. Cgats is included in muliple options:
400nm-700nm or 380nm-780nm.
with
Value scale 0.1-1 and 0-100
Not really sure what the difference is.
What would be the best for icc creating a icc file?
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I'm finished. There are numberous of options. Cgats is included in muliple options:
400nm-700nm or 380nm-780nm.
with
Value scale 0.1-1 and 0-100
Not really sure what the difference is.
What would be the best for icc creating a icc file?
Either will do just fine. The difference is in the distance in the spectrum.
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It was getting late yesterday, so i went to bed first.
Would you like to help me creating this profiel? I'm happy to pay a compensation.
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Either will do just fine. The difference is in the distance in the spectrum.
If you send me the CGATs file, as I said earlier, I'd be happy to generate an RGB profile. No compensation necessary as if the profile sucks, I want no part of that grief. You did the hard part in terms of 'work' by measuring the target.
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I uploaded the file.
Is this a file you can work with??
Thanks!
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I am also trying to get this working on: "profilemaker5.0.10"
It was still available on the web and is able to create ICC profiles for printers.
But when i scan the patches, it keeps saying :"Please remeasure the last strip..."
Anyone a idea what this could be?
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I am also trying to get this working on: "profilemaker5.0.10"
PMP 5 is dongle protected software. If you haven't the necessary dongle it won't build profiles.
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I also added a comparison of what issue i'm trying to solve.
I printed the chart with my epson also.
As you can see, the Roland issues to much magenta. Or at least, i think that is the issue.
The grays have a red tone. See the red dots i placed on the top chart.
I'm hoping a ICC profile fixes this issue, or i'm i looking in the wrong direction?
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The PMP error I can't advise on, it should be able to read all the patches and save the file. But you did that with CP and I have the CGATs file and was able to build a profile. PM me your email and I'll send it.
The targets SHOULD look different depending on the printer so what you report is nothing to worry about (Roland looking differing than Epson).
The soft proof from the profile looks OK so that's somewhat a good sign but you'll need to of course get it and run some tests. I'd start with this test reference image.
http://www.digitaldog.net/files/2014PrinterTestFileFlat.tif.zip
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Thanks for your response. I understand it is nothing to worry about, but i wanted to show the issue. I'm trying to get good (same) results on the Roland, just like the Epson. I understand there will always be a difference, but grays should look like gray. And it's now more of a gray/red color, hehe.
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I'm trying to get good (same) results on the Roland, just like the Epson. I understand there will always be a difference, but grays should look like gray. And it's now more of a gray/red color, hehe.
You'll need output profiles from each first (and good ones). What you see here is the 'raw' output without such a profile so the appearance isn't anything to worry about.
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Thanks for the icc profile, unfortunately the results were very bad. Colors are now completely messed up.
I'm kinda running out of ideas. Does anyone have any advise how i can turn my red-gray into gray .
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Thanks for the icc profile, unfortunately the results were very bad. Colors are now completely messed up.
GIGO:Garbage In Garbage Out. It's either how you printed the targets or how they were measured etc. IF this is the only profile you need, getting that DTP-41, unless free, probably is costing you more time and money than necessary.
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Well, i did wanted to use multiple media's. For that reason i bought the dtp41.
I have a few more printers and was able to use standard profiles without a issue. I thought with such a machine i could improve the results from my z3200 and epson and also create profiles for my roland.
Also, the costs of this machine was 1/3 of a one time proffesional.
But it seems it is harder than i expected and assumed.
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But it seems it is harder than i expected and assumed.
Indeed! Especially using very old hardware and software. Either drop the money for something like an i1Pro Spectrophotometer and software or leave the entire job to the pro's ;D
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Anyway, thanks for all your help.
I'm sure i will learn how to do it one day. ;) :D