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:

  1. 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;
  2. 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

  1. Download the most recent version of QTR for your operating system.
  2. Install QTR on your computer, and install the NK7 curves for your printer, following the instructions that come with the software.
  3. Register your copy of QTR.
  4. 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

  1. 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.)
  2. After downloading, unzip and install QTR and the curves, by clicking on the QTR icon and following the prompts.
  3. 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.

  1. 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.   
  2. 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.
  3. Open the "QTR GUIÓ program. Make the following selections, as shown in the screen capture below:

    1. Printer name must match the printer you have. Printing Model must be "QuadXXXXÓ must also match your printer model.
    2. Media Type must be "matte paper.Ó
    3. Resolution must be "2880 dpi.Ó
    4. Speed may be either "fasterÓ or "better.Ó
    5. Dither Algorithm may be any selection. We have found that "orderedÓ gives good results with a fast printing speed.
    6. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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)
  2. 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).

  1. 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.
  2. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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

  1. Press the Print Button.
  2. 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.
  3. On the "Copies and PagesÓ pull down menu, select "QuadTone RIP.Ó When that window opens, make the selections as indicated.

  1. Printer must be a "QuadÓ selection, corresponding to your particular printer model.
  2. This is the "copies and pagesÓ pull down menu that takes you to this particular window when you select "QuadTone RIPÓ.
  3. Mode: QuadTone RIP
  4. Feed: as desired
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Resolution: 2880 dpi
  8. High Speed: either "betterÓ or "fasterÓ can be selected.

      Do not change either the "Ink LimitÓ or "GammaÓ adjustments.

  1. Next, select "Printer FeaturesÓ in the third pull down menu, to reach the window shown above.
  2. Media Type: Choose "Matte Paper,Ó regardless of the actual paper you use.
  3. 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.