I cannot calibrate Canson Platine Fibre Rag 310 paper on the HP Z3100 but I am nevertheless still getting good prints.
Can anyone help with ideas to get the printer to calibrate the paper or can anyone explain how I am able to get good prints without calibrating? Is my success in getting good prints without a calibration of the paper a fluke that could soon disappear?
The Error:
I downloaded the ICC profile for the Canson Platine Fibre Rag 310 paper for the Z3100 from the Canson website. I installed the ICC profile with the HP Print Utility and then initiated a calibration of this paper with the Print Utility. It printed the color chart, let it dry, pulled it back in to let the spectrophotometer read it and failed. The message was something like “Failed scan.”
Subsequently to this I scoured the internet and this forum especially for suggestions on how to fix my problem.
I do have the APS for my printer but it stopped working several operating systems ago. I run an early-2009 Mac Pro with El Capitan.
Variations:
• I tried a variety of paper presets: Fine Art Pearl (less ink), Photo Semi-gloss/satin, Photo Semi-gloss/satin (more ink), Photo gloss
• Installed ICC with a paper preset both with GE checked and with GE not checked. (I thought the GE might be causing the calibration scan to fail.)
What I have tried:
• Multiple Hard Reboots of the printer
• Checked and replaced all questionable ink cartridges and print heads. Run head alignments, did image quality maintenance, ran a diagnostic print. Everything looked great.
• Tried to make a paper calibration through the printer panel. This failed.
• Changed back to a known paper—HP Pro Satin, instant dry. This paper calibrated without problem. I took this to mean that the spectrophotometer was OK. I assumed there was no possibility of a partially broken spectrophotometer. (Was I wrong to do so?)
• Re-calibrated the paper advance. (It is a thick paper; this seemed like a reasonable thing to do.)
Paper still not calibrated, Prints seem fine
• Does anyone know why this is so?
• Does the calibration of a paper compensate for such small changes in the temperature, the age of the inks, etc. that not having the calibration usually does not make a noticeable difference?
• Is there something like a default calibration for a paper type that is being used and is good enough?
• Or is my success in getting good prints without a calibration of the paper a fluke that will soon disappear?
Thanks for any help.
DC