Epson printers information

[Bob]

Hello,
I'm creating a color profile on Epson Photo Quality paper (matte) and I am
very disappointed by the Epson SP R800, which has a very tight gamut. On the
same paper, my old Epson SP 950 had a gamut much larger !!!!!

Maybe is it because of the new pigment-based ink used on the R800..

I have seen the Epson R300/R320/R200/R220 models use dye-based ink, does
anyone have created profiles on such printers, using matte paper?
Because I would like to know how are their gamut comparated with the R800
and the 950 (on matte paper, not photo paper)..

Thank you very much in advance.
Bob.

 

[frederick]

Hello,
I'm creating a color profile on Epson Photo Quality paper (matte) and I am
very disappointed by the Epson SP R800, which has a very tight gamut. On the
same paper, my old Epson SP 950 had a gamut much larger !!!!!

Maybe is it because of the new pigment-based ink used on the R800..

I have seen the Epson R300/R320/R200/R220 models use dye-based ink, does
anyone have created profiles on such printers, using matte paper?
Because I would like to know how are their gamut comparated with the R800
and the 950 (on matte paper, not photo paper)..

Thank you very much in advance.
Bob.

What Epson Photo Quality Paper (Matte)?
Archival Matte? (recommended and good), Matte Heavyweight (recommended
but not so good with R800 - but perhaps okay with new model R800R),
Double-sided matte (not recommended at all), or plain and cheap photo
quality paper?
If you want see gamut models, then check here:
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/tools/printer_gamuts/gamutmodel.html
They list the R800 and R1800 as the same - so that's a mistake as there
is more to it than just the ink itself (R800 has smaller gamut, but new
R800R is probably the same). Note that the drycreekphoto site doesn't
list results on plain paper - I guess for the reason that anyone serious
about quality photo printing wouldn't bother wasting ink.

Go get some Archival Matte paper, and you might be happy with Epson R800
profiles.

 

[Bob]

Thank you for your reply Frederick,

Epson Photo Quality paper is a matte paper 102 g/m² which allows reasonable
resolution printing. I have already tried Archival Matte paper (and all
possible matte papers), but gamut near dark colors was still very bad, for
example a very dark blue is impossible to obtain with the R800 on matte
papers. My old Stylus Photo 950 had much better colorimetric results even on
the cheap Epson photo quality paper.

Note that the drycreekphoto site doesn't
list results on plain paper - I guess for the reason that anyone serious
about quality photo printing wouldn't bother wasting ink.

I know that the R800 gives good results on photo paper, but I am in a
specific simulation domain where we need to print on matte paper (not for
the pleasure to waste ink, or to have fun...)

http://www.drycreekphoto.com/tools/printer_gamuts/gamutmodel.html

thank you for this intersting link. Unfortunaly since this only concerns
"serious people", I cannot found gamuts of R300/R320/R200/R220 on matte
paper.

If someone have informations about gamut or colorimetric results of
dye-based ink printers like R300/R320/R200/R220 on Epson Photo Quality paper
(non glossy paper), then that interests me.

Thanx in advance.
Bob.

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Archival Matte? (recommended and good)

There are reports of this paper yellowing quite quickly. I don't think
it's still available under this name, anyway, as Epson realised that it
wasn't really of archival quality.

Jon.

 

[frederick]

There are reports of this paper yellowing quite quickly. I don't think
it's still available under this name, anyway, as Epson realised that it
wasn't really of archival quality.

Jon.

Oops... - "Enhanced Matte".
There are 3rd party papers called Archival Matte.

 

[frederick]

Bob wrote:
<snip>
You could try asking on the R800 forum at:
http://www.photo-i.co.uk/BB/index.php

I assume that you are waiting for the prints to dry properly? (sorry if
that's a silly question)

 

[Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!)]

Hello,
I'm creating a color profile on Epson Photo Quality paper (matte) and I am
very disappointed by the Epson SP R800, which has a very tight gamut. On the
same paper, my old Epson SP 950 had a gamut much larger !!!!!

Maybe is it because of the new pigment-based ink used on the R800..

There is not paper setting for this in the R800 driver. Which did you use
and what paper profile did you use as well?

 

[Bob]

Epson Photo Quality ink jet paper (matte paper 102 g/m² Ref S041061)
paper profile of the same name in the R800 driver (second in the list).

Regards.
Bob.

 

[Bob]

You're right Frederick, in colorimetry the devil in the details ;-)

but to answer to your question, yes, I wait for my prints to dry.

Regards.
Bob.

 

[Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!)]

Epson Photo Quality ink jet paper (matte paper 102 g/m² Ref S041061)
paper profile of the same name in the R800 driver (second in the list).

Ok, now when this is chosen notice how limited the choice is in the print
quality pull down. Just one option, Photo. This is the lowest quality photo
setting there is. If you were to choose enhance or heavywgt matte then you
are also given the option of Best Photo. The high end glossies give you the
choice of Photo RPM. Unfortunately unlike the driver for my old 1270, the
R800 driver does not give you individual control over resolution and
microweaving, etc. This is low end paper. You can try using the setting for
enhanced and still using the proper profile, but other than going to a
better paper I don't know what else you might do.

 

[Bob]

Thanks for your help Ed Ruf.

Unfortunately, I've already tried every settings possible on the driver and
every type of matte papers on the R800 and it is impossible to have good
colorimetric results especially in dark saturated colors on matte papers.

My question was more about other Epson printers using dye-based ink that
could be as good as (not necessarly better, just as good as) my old Epson
Stylus Photo 950 or even older: Epson Stylus Photo 830 on matte paper...

Regards.
Bob.

 

[frederick]

Oops... - "Enhanced Matte".
There are 3rd party papers called Archival Matte.

Further oops. The paper called enhanced matte in USA is called Archival
Matte in other markets, and in this name in latest epson drivers in
these markets. Paper is 192gsm, Made in Japan, ISO brightness 104%,
260um thickness.

 

[Jon O'Brien]

The paper called enhanced matte in USA is called Archival Matte in
other markets...

Not anymore in the UK, at least. That name was dropped quite some time
ago because it isn't archival. Shame, as it's the whitest matte paper
I've tried.

Jon.

 

[frederick]

Not anymore in the UK, at least. That name was dropped quite some time
ago because it isn't archival. Shame, as it's the whitest matte paper
I've tried.

Just as a matter of interest, where is your enhanced matte made?
Archival Matte here is ex Japan. Enhanced Matte is not sold. The
specifications for the papers are identical. Whiteness and opacity are
the same - as well as thickness and weight.

I have also used Tetenal Archival Matte - which appears very similar to
Epson.

 

[Jon O'Brien]

Just as a matter of interest, where is your enhanced matte made?

I've haven't bought any since some time before the name change (I now
use Hahnemuhle Photo Rag), so I don't know where the current product
comes from. The last lot I bought was made in Japan.

Jon.