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Darkroom test print strip Affinity Photo equivalent?


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Is there a tutorial anywhere on using Affinity Photo to print the inkjet equivalent of darkroom test prints?  That is, using a small sheet of paper to get print variations on a selected area of an image.  

 

I want to make some A2 prints on my Epson P800 printer.  My tests so far have not been what I wanted, although my monitor is properly profiled and I’m using the correct ICC profile for the paper. So, rather than continue to waste ink and paper,  I was hoping to use a key area of my image and print a strip series of variations on e.g. an A4 sheet to decide on my best settings.

 

Thanks!

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I don't know if there's a way to create a test strip like that.

 

However, have you tried adding a Soft Proof Adjustment layer? That should let you preview what your print will look like. If you don't like the look, then you can apply other adjustments to get it right, then (important!) hide or delete the Soft Proof layer, then print.

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what about duplicating the test area and aligning them side by side with different filters/settings.

 

teststrips.afphoto

5aac2a04a7577_ScreenShot1.png.cf8ca2be0226fd47160ed2113ace51d1.png

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3 hours ago, firstdefence said:

what about duplicating the test area and aligning them side by side with different filters/settings.

I have no idea if this would work or is perhaps my dumbest idea yet (which is saying something!) but what about instead of nesting different curves adjustments in each strip, substituting different soft proof adjustments for them?

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Quote

... I want to make some A2 prints on my Epson P800 printer.  My tests so far have not been what I wanted, although my monitor is properly profiled and I’m using the correct ICC profile for the paper...

What does "have not been what I wanted" does more specificly mean here, in terms of what more concrete, as printed output color results, faded colors ... etc.?

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Something I noticed here is when adding soft proof adjustment layers, in order for you to understand the test strip you would either have to have labels on each strip with settings, or rename the adjustment layer. Wouldn't it be cool if the adjustment layer automatically got renamed to the setting you choose in the adjustment.

 

 teststrips inc softproof.afphoto

 

5aacc1dbeded7_ScreenShot2018-03-17at07_12_50.png.be972e81bc1755d058614907ae3dddbd.png5aacc1dcbcd4e_ScreenShot2018-03-17at07_14_34.png.b206364b3489169d4ccc3607b9313542.png

teststrips inc softproof.afphoto

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Apologies to all who replied.  I thought I was automatically notified if replies were made to this topic, but just now discovered I have to select 'Follow' the thread.  So I just checked in to see why I'd heard nothing.

 

1. Walt.  I've used the 'Soft Proofing'before and it does help,  but I'd prefer to look at a print and want to try and cut down on ink and paper usage.

2. firstdefence.  Thanks for the suggestion.  I've seen that in tutorials for Photoshop users.  I'll probably try that approach.  However, I'm not really that familiar with Affinity Photo so hoped someone had already done the spade work and created a step-by-step tutorial.

3. R C-R.  Thanks, but as I said above I'd prefer to be able to look at variations on actual paper.

4.  v_kyr.  What I meant was that the results I've had from mostly B&W prints (from scanned film original negs) have fallen short of what I could have achieved with the originals in a darkroom.  If I had to put it simply I would probably have printed on a slightly harder grade of paper to get more punch. My inkjet prints seem to fall a little short of that 'punch'.  But I've seen commercial inkjet prints that look great, so I know it's possible.  And, I'm assured that the P800 can deliver the goods.

5.  firstdefence.  Thanks a lot for checking this out and offering the suggestion.  If I go the soft proof route in the end I'll make sure to rename the layers.

 

Apologies to everyone again for this tardy reply.

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You will have to make your own individual test print strip template here, in a way as firstdefence showed and then maybe also try to automate parts of the template generation with reusable macros.

Related to your Epson printer and B&W, see also:

☛ Affinity Designer 1.10.8 ◆ Affinity Photo 1.10.8 ◆ Affinity Publisher 1.10.8 ◆ OSX El Capitan
☛ Affinity V2.3 apps ◆ MacOS Sonoma 14.2 ◆ iPad OS 17.2

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