DSF

Hi All

i've been getting into ali panels recently, but I've not been happy with the results.

Specifically, I've recently purchased Chromalux panels (used Wunderboard before) from Xpres.

Their spec sheet says to press at 195C for 3min 8secs.

What I'm getting is a brown overall tinge, and the blacks on a black background are really poor.

The original image is spot-on, and prints perfectly on all the office photo printers.

I use a Sawgrass 800 for the printing which *should* have a managed colour profile and prints everything else (mugs etc) perfectly)

At Chromalux prices it's an expensive mistake to keep making, so I'd appreciate some feedback on where I might be going wrong, or how to fix the issues to get a decent - if not perfect - black.

Attached photo with a regular print laying on the metal, which may help.

Thanks in advance for any help.

J


[ATTACH=CONFIG]5908[/ATTACH]

I use Sublimetals, not Chromalux, and press for no more than 60secs. I would imagine that pressing aluminium for over 3 minutes is a bit excessive.

Blacks normally turn brown from over cooking.


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webtrekker;139941 wrote:I use Sublimetals, not Chromalux, and press for no more than 60secs. I would imagine that pressing aluminium for over 3 minutes is a bit excessive.

It's Chromalux's recommended timings.

I also use Sublimentals, but the sheets are less than half the thickness, so I don't think that comparing the two (in terms of timings) is a good comparison.

Quinsfan;139942 wrote:Blacks normally turn brown from over cooking.

That was my thought as well.. but without spending a fortune testing different times (all of which would be different to Chromalux's recommendations) I was hoping someone would have some first hand experience.

Jeremy Nako;139944 wrote:That was my thought as well.. but without spending a fortune testing different times (all of which would be different to Chromalux's recommendations) I was hoping someone would have some first hand experience.

Why spend a fortune? Cut a sheet into smaller test pieces.

Or just do lots of smaller prints on one sheet at different times, temps and pressure


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I haven't printed chromalux for a few years, but I did spend a lot of time getting things right for me. I cut sheets down to get timings and temp sorted. The chromalux timings used to be based on having a nomex pad and a wicking cloth with prints from an epson 4 colour large format printer not sawgrass. Hence your timings will be completely different.
Timings were also dependent on the size of the blanks. A2 took far longer than A4.
So unless you are using exactly the same set up, you will not get their results with their time and temp.

The results can be stunning, but you will need your set up to be spot on.

I packed it in because I found very few photographers (yes professionals) understood colour profiling...those that did and followed a thorough work sequence were blown away with the results. Alas these were few and far between!

Janners

webtrekker;139945 wrote:Why spend a fortune? Cut a sheet into smaller test pieces.

As has been mentioned, Chromalux sheets have different timings based on size, so cutting into smaller pieces for testing doesn't work.

Jeremy, I cut sheets down to get a base time and temp. Once the image quality was sorted I left the temp unchanged and extended press times for larger sheets, this second bit was quite easy. Hence cutting sheets down can be beneficial.

Janners