My system is 1290, Piezo iQuad (4 partitions), QTR, CS; paper is HPR308. Linearisation and QTR profils are created with an x-rite spectro. Ink partitionned as a simple %tage of K, without searching where each ink really maxes out. Measures are very fine, 21stepwedge is smooth. I have printed an image that shows in a part of it, trees in front of a stone wall at the second plan so averagely blurred and in light shadows. Of course this part is not sharpened (so no micro-constrast is added). While the foreground is sharp and well contrasty (it is also sharpened), these blurred trees and the stones of the wall in midtone shadows are simply greyish and flat, looking very unnatural. I could play with CS to manage this. But I feel that in this particular narrow midtone grey range, only 1 or 2 grey partitions are in use and adding the HPR non-white tone, both combined do not allow sufficient discrimination of grey variations to reproduce a natural look and contrast. I start seriously looking at K7 based on the assumption that numerous partitions are allowing for more precision in terms of reproducing small grey variations. Olivier PS : has dot gain anything to do here ?
Message
iQuads, QTR : lack of contrast in midtone gray
2006-03-20 by Olivier