Getting Started with QTR and NK7
1. INTRODUCTION
QTR is a shareware product, available for download from http://www.quadtonerip.com/html/QTRpiezobw.html.
QTR features curves for selected papers, using the Piezography Neutral K7
ink set on Epson R800/R1800, 2100, 2200, 4000, 7000, 7500, 7600, 9000, 9500 and 9600 printers.
Other than providing this Getting Started Guide, InkjetMall does not provide
support for QTR, for the following reasons:
- It is not our software, and so Roy Harrington, the creator and vendor
of QTR, is much more qualified to provide support for this product;
- As a shareware product, support will only be provided for people who
have registered, and paid for their software. We want to encourage users
to pay for this fine piece of software.
2. GETTING STARTED
- Download the most recent version of QTR for your operating system.
- Install QTR on your computer, and install the NK7 curves for your printer,
following the instructions that come with the software.
- Register your copy of QTR.
- You are now ready to start printing images.
Using QTR is very different on Windows XP and Mac OS X systems. Below are
detailed instructions for both platforms.
3. INSTALLING AND USING QTR ON WINDOWS
XP
- Download the newest version of QTR, along with curves, from http://www.quadtonerip.com/html/QTRpiezobw.html.
Depending on the version of QTR, the newest version may be on a "betaÓ
website, accessed from the above link. The Inkjetmall-supplied paper curves
might be a separate download (as of this writing, they are included with the download package.)
- After downloading, unzip and install QTR and the curves, by clicking
on the QTR icon and following the prompts.
- If the curves are downloaded separately, unzip the folder and place the
entire set of curves into the following folder:
C:\Program Files\QuadToneRIP\QuadTone\QuadXXXX,
where "XXXXÓ represents your printer model number.
- Note- in addition to installing the QTR software, you must also install
the appropriate Epson driver to access other printer features, such as
the utility menu. You will find the necessary driver at http://www.epson.com.
- Prepare images using Photoshop or other imaging software. The Piezography
Neutral K7 paper curves are designed to work with Grayscale Gamma 2.2 images,
so convert the image to grayscale, and assign the image a Gamma 2.2 profile,
if needed. Save the images to print as Tiff files. QTR only recognizes
TIFF files on a PC.
- Open the "QTR GUIÓ program. Make the following selections, as shown in
the screen capture below:
- Printer name must match the printer you have. Printing Model must be
"QuadXXXXÓ must also match your printer model.
- Media Type must be "matte paper.Ó
- Resolution must be "2880 dpi.Ó
- Speed may be either "fasterÓ or "better.Ó
- Dither Algorithm may be any selection. We have found that "orderedÓ
gives good results with a fast printing speed.
- Curves- Select the curve for the paper you wish to use. Use only one
type of curve and do not blend two different curves, as the results will
be unacceptable. As a precaution, we suggest that you select the same
curve twice, as shown in the above screen capture. That way it does not
matter where the "blendÓ slider is positioned. If you leave one curve
selection blank and move the slider toward the blank side, the print
will not be optimal.
Do not adjust the "Ink LimitÓ or "GammaÓ Adjustment sliders.
- When all settings are properly made, press the "printÓ button.
Please note that the "curve creationÓ tool may be used as an option; however,
support for this feature is provided by Roy Harrington.
Since the Windows version of QTR is a standalone product, separate from
the Epson printer driver, in order to use the standard printer utility functions
(ink level monitor, nozzle check and print head cleaning), open the Epson
driver.
4. INSTALLING QTR ON MAC OS X SYSTEM
The Mac QTR appears as a printer driver that can be accessed within other
applications, such as Photoshop.
- Download the newest version of QTR and curves from http://www.quadtonerip.com/html/QTRpiezobw.html.
Depending on the version of QTR, the newest version may be on a "betaÓ
website, accessed from the above link. The Inkjetmall-supplied paper curves
might be a separate download (as of this writing, they are separate downloads)
- After downloading, click on the file to begin the installation process.
The first window that pops up is the main QTR window. Click on "Install-QTRÓ
package, and follow the prompts to install the software (window shown below).
- Install the curves. If the curves arrived as a separate zipped file, unzip them. Place the "NK7Ó curves into the following folder:
CurveDesign/CurveDropBox/QuadXXXX, where "XXXXÓ corresponds to your printer
model. Next, click on "run-install-curvesÓ found in CurveDesign to complete
the process.
- In addition to the QTR driver, also install the appropriate Epson printer
driver, available from http://www.epson.com.
USING QTR ON MAC OS X
- Open image in Photoshop or other program. Our QTR curves are designed
to work with grayscale gamma 2.2 images; if your imaging software allows
for those conditions, adjust your image accordingly.
- In Photoshop versions CS and older,
make the following selections in the "color managementÓ section:
-Source Space: grayscale gamma 2.2
-Print Space: same as source
In Photoshop version CS2, select:
-Document: profile: gray gamma 2.2
-Color Handling: Let printer determine colors
- Press the Print Button.
- When the print window opens, go to the first pull down menu, labeled
"printerÓ and select "Quad XXXX,Ó where
"XXXXÓ refers to your printer model. If you do not see a "QuadXXXXÓ selection
for your printer model, the installation was not successful. Reinstall
the software. If you select an "Epson StylusÓ printer rather than the "QuadÓ
selection, you will be using the standard Epson driver, and not the QTR
driver.
- On the "Copies and PagesÓ pull down menu, select "QuadTone RIP.Ó When
that window opens, make the selections as indicated.
- Printer must be a "QuadÓ selection, corresponding to your particular
printer model.
- This is the "copies and pagesÓ pull down menu that takes you to this
particular window when you select "QuadTone RIPÓ.
- Mode: QuadTone RIP
- Feed: as desired
- Curves- QTR gives the user the ability to select one or two curves, and
even "blendÓ them together for desired results. However, with Piezography
Neutral K7 inks and InkjetMall-supplied curves, only one curve is used
per print, and that curve relates to the paper type used. As a precaution
we suggest that you select the same curve twice, as shown in the above
screen capture.
- If you select the same curve twice, it will not matter where you set
the tone blend. If you only select one curve, keep the second curve set
to "none,Ó then it is important to set the Tone Blend to 100% for the curve
that you have selected.
- Resolution: 2880 dpi
- High Speed: either "betterÓ or "fasterÓ can be selected.
Do not change either the "Ink LimitÓ or "GammaÓ
adjustments.
- Next, select "Printer FeaturesÓ in the third pull down menu, to reach
the window shown above.
- Media Type: Choose "Matte Paper,Ó regardless of the actual paper you
use.
- Dither Algorithm: you may use any Dither algorithm you wish. We suggest
"orderedÓ as a good compromise between print speed and image quality.
When you have made all of the above selections, press the "printÓ button.
Printer utilities that give access to ink level monitor, print head cleaning
and nozzle check functions are found in the same location as when using standard
Epson drivers.
5. Note about the InkjetMall supplied
curves:
We supply these curves as a convenience to our customers, at no additional
charge. We have made curves for a variety of commonly used papers, most of
which are available through InkjetMall. If you wish to use papers for which
we havenÕt made curves, you can do one of two things: either try curves for
different papers and use the one that provides the closest match, or else
make your own curves. Both the Mac and Windows versions
of QTR provide a curve generation feature. If you wish to make your own curves,
please follow the instructions that come with the software. Please note that
making your own curves requires you to have your own measuring device, such
as a densitometer of spectrophotometer (for example, an Eye-One). If
you need software assistance, contact Roy Harrington for support.