QTR-Quadtone RIP

davidkeasey wrote:


> The information I am looking for is this:
> 
> 1.  How can one obtain an auto-calibration strip without having to pop
> for the $50 that X-Rite wants for this little puppy?  Since I only
> want results that are internally consistent (that is, I don't need to
> match outputs between different devices, or to something done by
> somebody else), the "certified media" provided by x-rite seems to be
> overkill.  Is it possible to simply define your own calibration strip
> (in a program like Corel Draw, for example) then print off a batch of
> them?

With the printer you want to calibrate ?
Shouldn't the horse not be at the other side of the carriage ?
  If you know the data the patches should have (and keep for 
several years) you could make trial and error prints and 
measure them with a calibrated instrument that is twice as 
good as the one you have. Or make a collage of the best 
patches. But somewhere in universe you need an anchor point to 
measure from.

> 2.  What are the terminal interface commands that are accepted by the
> DTP32, what are the outputs, and how can one work these into (say) an
> excel macro that configures the machine and then reads a strip or set
> of strips?
> 
> 3.  Absent an auto-calibration strip, is it possible to calibrate the
> instrument through the command line interface and a standard density
> target set?
> 
> 
> Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> Thanks!
> Dave Keasey

Would it not be enough to have some black and white ceramic
tiles ? You could ask a local printshop to measure them with
their calibrated densitometer/spectrometer. If stepping wedges
are needed then Kodak has several but I do not think that
would be a cheaper way to get what you need. 50 dollar gets
another color if you start to think of all the roundabouts you
have to take.

If you need separation stepwedges after you have the 
densitometer calibrated then you can make them with for 
example ColorPort by X-rite. It's free on their site.

Ernst


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           Ernst Dinkla


www.pigment-print.com
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