Konica Minolta C6500 Printing Problem

[vaska]

I'm having a big problem with prints. I have a Nikon D200 and I used it to take this picture:



The problem I am having is when I send the file to print. I took a picture of the print with a Nikon D70 to show the problem.

The resulting picture is this one:



So, if anyone can tell me what is wrong I would really apreciate it. I just don't know where to start looking for solutions. Any suggestion?


My Specs:

Computer OS: PC Windows Vista 64 Bit
ICC profiles: the camera shoots in sRGB. After retouching the picture is converted in CMYK U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2

Printer Shop Specs:

Printer: Konica Minolta C6500
Paper: Futura 12pt C2S
ICC Profile: CMYK U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2
Computer OS: Mac OS 10.4

Thanks,

Vaska

[steveagfa]

Vaska

Without looking at the real printed piece -
it looks like the press can't hold the high-light
dots - giving you those posterized gradations
in the face.

What line screen is the printer using? Over
175 lpi, then a 2% dot is smaller than 21 microns,
and many presses have difficulty smaller than this.

If you need higher line frequencies, but the
press (paper, ink, etc.) can't hold the fine dots,
then I'd suggest that you find a printer that is
using advanced screening - either FM or XM.

I hope this helps. (Just a guess)

[steveagfa]

oops...

I missed the subject header...
but perhaps the issue is the same.

Since this is not offset, then my guess
does not relate to this application.

You have reduced tonal gamut - where
the necessary softer tones are dropping
out, leaving a harder posterized effect.

Not knowing the print engine, this might be
the nature of the beast.

[vaska]

Hi steveagfa,

"You have reduced tonal gamut - where
the necessary softer tones are dropping
out, leaving a harder posterized effect.

Not knowing the print engine, this might be
the nature of the beast."

Could you please be more specific. I do not own the printing machine so is dificult to understand technical issues. I need something clear to tell the guy of the printer.

Thanks in advance for your time

Vaska

[steveagfa]

Vaska...

Have the print engine print a vignette -
from 1 - 99%, and see where the tones
drop... I'd suspect you'll be losing the
softer tones around 8 - 5%. The higher
the percentage of tonal drop, the greater
the posterization effect.

Do this in single colors - C, M, Y, & K -
and see if the drop-off is at a similar point.

I'm not a digital print engine guy - so I'm
applying offset logic to toner, which might
not have a direct correlation. I'm sure others
on this forum can provide better guidance.

Good luck...

[maxpower]

your doing something wrong when you are printing the file from your pc, i printed the same picture on my c6500 and its fine.

[y2b]

looks like you're not calibrated...is that running off a Fiery RIP?

[hangdog]

works fine on my clc4000 w/fiery.
has the rip ever been calibrated with a densotometer?
1. calibrate the engine (copier)
2. next, calibrate the rip.
in that order. all the canon techs i have seen in this area are unaware of this procedure, and are surprised at the difference. (so much for tech school)

[IDDI graphics dept.]

Turn smoothing off - if using -Fiery