Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Digital Black & White => Topic started by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 07:39:41 am

Title: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 07:39:41 am

I have the P400
Unfortunately no ABW mode
To get neutral B&W prints are there any settings &/or tweaks.
I do use icc profil/s to match the paper
For example in Ps>Edit>Col Settings - Do I set my Gray to Dot Gain 20% or Gray Gamma 2.2 ?
I calibrated the display &set the gamma  to 2.2
I’m on an iMac

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: digitaldog on July 10, 2025, 10:52:17 am

Go here, try this: https://epson.com/epson-print-layout

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 02:53:30 pm

I d/l EPL and printed a few tests.
Not from a file files specifically designed as a target for checking neutrality, just landscapes of mine.

Unfortunately not much, if any, improvement. Viewing under 5oook .
I know that ideally, if one can afford it, a RIP program & custom icc for each paper is necessary.

Not sure how EPL can improve the results that I get without it?

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: digitaldog on July 10, 2025, 02:58:52 pm

And NOT viewing under those lights, viewing, say, outside?
Nothing will fix (possible) metameric failure.

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 03:20:31 pm

Yes viewing at a large north light window, it's a clear day.
There IS some improvement compared to printing through Ps - same image, same paper, same icc.


I subsequently found the attached test image, thinking I neeed a more reliable 'neutral' picture than my own
WAY better result.
Now I need to see why my image isn't as good as this, leading me down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 03:35:35 pm

As a process of elimination, are these settings correct?

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: digitaldog on July 10, 2025, 03:39:42 pm

ABW doesn't use profiles. You must use Printer Managed Color.

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 03:43:20 pm

Do you mean EPL?
P400 doesn't have ABW

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: digitaldog on July 10, 2025, 04:53:19 pm

This is what I mean (and PS has nothing to do with it):

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 05:10:23 pm

Ok.
In EPL select Printer Managed Color
Tight?

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: digitaldog on July 10, 2025, 05:29:56 pm

Quote from: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 05:10:23 pm

Ok.
In EPL select Printer Managed Color
Tight?

Select what I showed you in the screen capture. It should be there.

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 05:44:23 pm

No Your arrow points to ABW which I don’t have in the P400

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: FrankG on July 10, 2025, 09:42:51 pm

This is what I have

Title: Re: Absence of ABW
Post by: PeterAit on July 11, 2025, 04:55:59 pm

Some printers have a "use black ink only" option that is set in the printer driver.