Pure colour print patterns required

[websnail]

As anyone who's been watching my trials with the Canon CIS's will know I've been having all sorts of problems with Magenta but a recent discovery now seems to indicate that part of my problem seems to relate to the lack of of a set of pure colour files that I can use to test the output on my Canon pixmas.

At the moment it seems the profiles for the printer insist on printing using multiple colours even on a pure CMYK set at 100% for one colour only.

I'm sure someone out there knows the answer to this one but how do I get something like this sorted especially for my iP4200 and MP500 printers.

Ideas, anyone, save me? ... pretty please... with like bribes, blackmail... ANYTHING... I'm just desperate!..

 

[Grandad35]

websnail,

Unfortunately, your simple request doesn't have a simple answer.

In short, there is no way to tell your printer to print with just a single ink, as all data is output to the printer as R/G/B, and the inks are C/M/Y/K. A conversion from R/G/B to C/M/Y/K must take place in the printer's firmware, and this gets involved in color management.

Actually, the definition of "magenta" depends on the color spaces that are used for R/G/B and C/M/Y/K - changing color spaces actually changes the definition of "magenta".

Another simple point - the magenta ink used in Canon printers isn't close to pure magenta. There are only a limited number of dyes to choose from, and none of them is apparently a close match for magenta (in any of the common color spaces).

Here is an image with a range of colors (as well as color gradients):

 

[Trigger 37]

GrandDad35,... Thanks for the great color chart. I'm sure you are right about there not being a way to send an image to the printer that will force it to print just one "INK". I'm sure nothing like Photoshop or some other program can do it. However, I bet you $100.00 that Canon has a way of doing it from some diagnostic software runing on a standard PC. But forget it if you thing they would ever share that with anyone. If we had it,.... and printed it, we could tell if there was something wrong with each printhead or ink cart. Realistically, we already have that funtion,... we just don't like the format. It is called the "Nozzle Check Pattern. Several of them are clearly printed using only one ink, and if you look very close you can see the results of each and every nozzle in the printhead, at least for black. If you get into the Service Mode and print the standard test pattern, you will get tests of each nozzle.

Anyway, thanks again for the color test pattern.

 

[mikling]

That's exactly what I had in mind. The nozzle check is as pure as it gets. Isn't it?

 

[websnail]

Apologies for the looong delay in responding...

Thanks for the input regardless of the outcome.. I had a feeling it was a case of "how long is a piece of string" but it was worth a try...

The service mode was a good idea that I'd not considered but when it comes to the problem I've been experiencing, unfortunately it's not much help.. Not to worry..

Thanks again..