Flat vs "snappy" B&W prints from Dye ink

[Fabphoto]

I just converted my Pixma 4820 to a B&W printer using Precision Color Inks.

I get really good looking prints on HP Glossy paper.

Those printed on Inkpress Rag are "flat"

I'm wondering if this model printer just cant lay down the dyes properly on rag paper.

I had an old Epson which I used Pigment inks for B& W and had great Rag prints, but banding on glossy paper.
(This was called the Zone 8 Method)


Any comments will be appreciated.


.

 

[mikling]

http://www.normankoren.com/Stepchart_large_color2.jpg

Use the above link and download the image.
What you will do next is to play with the media/paper settings as well as the print settings to to see what results you can obtain with various options.. it is possible that the printer needs to put down more ink than what it is currently doing with the paper settings you are currently using. Try any control that shifts you to the direction you want to go with which is more density to compensate for the rag which is allowing the ink to seep in and needs more ink to be laid down.

There is another thread on testing papers.

 

[The Hat]

I would have taught he would have to use less ink and a much lower dpi to get a good B&W on the rag..

 

[mikling]

Well only the results will indicate what direction is to be tried. I'm not too sure myself that is why experimentation is in order. It could be that the light shades are too dark and minimizing dynamic range or the darker shades are not dense enough. Not sure what the source of the flatness is from.

Now what should be tried as well is to use the ICC profiles for the Canon 4820 provided by Inkpress Rag with the B&W inkset and go from there. The rag paper linearity would have been corrected by their profile. After that it is just trying to get the correct darkness. The gray inkset matches the balance of CMY pretty good from the start.

 

[The Hat]

I agree, its not easy to get it just right from the very start.

so keep testing and testing till you run out of paper or end up pulling out your hair,
hopefully the paper goes first..

 

[mikling]

I've already done my share of pulling. The printers won first.

 

[Fabphoto]

Canon tech non-support told me the printer was not designed for "fine art " paper.
I knew that ! But things can be done if one is persistent.

anyway the glossy prints
are better than I expected.

I'm sold on re-filling now for my other canon
color printer.