If you think you need Piezography custom profiling please read this before having us make customs un-needlessly for you.
The majority of linearization drift is a result of either old ink, or ink that has not been shaken gently on a regular basis. One of the fastest checks on this is to remove the cartridges from the printer and shake them gently for about 5 to 10 seconds. Then reinstall the cartridges and perform 2-3 Power Cleanings on large format printers (17" and larger) or 2 head cleanings on 13" and smaller printers. The larger printers have long ink tubes and large dampers which can also contain settled inks. So you must perform Power Cleans (consult your printer manual.)
You can read about Curves on our Piezography blog here. This will inform you more about what curves are and how they should be used. Before you invest in custom profiling, we want to make sure that your printer is in the condition you expect it is.
Piezography K7 curves are designed and made with a 256 step gray target and result in the smoothest possible linearization. The use of 256 steps of gray are what produce the extraordinary shadow and highlight detail we produce. While it takes us a little longer to measure 256 individual gray patches, it is one of the most important parts of the process of high standard curve making. You can check your linerization with our 21 step measurement target. You can also produce QTR ICC soft proof previews with 21 or 51 step targets. But, for printing we require 256 steps, and this only requires you to print a single sheet of 8.5 x 11 paper.
Piezography Custom Profiling is now available in two forms. Normal Piezography curves as we have always made, and the new Type 2 Curve. The custom profiling procedure is exactly the same with the exception of the target, which is printed.
Type 2 profiles are for photographers who prefer darker shadow, so that it more closely approximates a display that is calibrated too bright. You can follow this description to the download link to see the 23 page manual to gain a full understanding of the process. But if you think Piezography prints too light, you're either a candidate for a higher quality display calibration or a Type 2 curve.
You may wish to have a custom Piezography curve made if:
- A printer is too far out of spec and does not produce a good result with Piezography K6 and K7 curves.
- As a printer's print heads begin aging the size of the drops produced is not always as accurate as intended.
- A printer’s print head has become too old to produce microdots.
- The user wishes to print on a paper that has not been profiled.
- The media manufacturers sometimes change their media coatings slightly, which changes the expected results of a “profile”.
- A user is in an unusually high or low elevation in comparison to East Topsham, Vermont (860 feet above sea level.)
- A user may wish to have a perfected system for their particular printer (we now have discounted profiling for 3 or 5 papers).
Custom Selenium MPS glossy profile
You need to install MPS Black and Selenium shades into your printer. If your printer supports an eighth position you must install Piezography Gloss Optimizer. Print the target according to our instructions. If your printer does not have an eighth slot for Gloss Optimizer you can finish the target by spraying with Lumijet to eliminate bronzing and equalize the gloss. We however, recommend the use of Piezography Gloss Optimizer over spraying.
Please download the custom profiling package before or after you make your purchase. It includes a very informative 23 page manual about custom profiling and calibration. Remember to write your order number on top of the printed target!
Download the package by clicking here.
Custom Profiling Kit Contents:
Master Curves
1400_K6_MasterCurve.quad
2200_K7_MasterCurve.quad
4000-7600_K7_MasterCurve.quad
3800-3880_K7_MasterCurve.quad
4800-7800_K7_MasterCurve.quad
4880-7880_K7_MasterCurve.quad
7890-9890_K7_MasterCurve.quad
R800-1800_K7_MasterCurve.quad
R1900_K7_MasterCurve.quad
R2000_K7_MasterCurve.quad
R2400_K7_MasterCurve.quad
R2880_K7_MasterCurve.quad
R3000_K7_MasterCurve.quad
Target Files
256grays-regular.tif
256grays-type2.tif
Optional Linearization Checker
Linearization Checker
Linearization_Checker.xls
(requires Microsoft Excel, spectrophotometer or densitometer)
Linearization files
21steps-Eye1.tif
21steps.txt
Instructions