No 0088 codes on the 4800 MKII and I'm a happy camper... touchwood. Great prints straight up too. Can't complain about that!

Had a great moment yesterday at the printers as the last of the first series of small books I've been working on were being run through the press.

In the viewing station beside the press we held three sheets of paper:

- a 'proof' I had printed at home on the 4800 that closely matched my monitor
- the proof generated at the printers on a HP, alongside the (direct to) plates
- the end product, a sheet out of the Heidelberg SpeedMaster

The three sheets were so incredibly close... it was insane - as good as it gets. The value of a color managed workflow from start to finish can't be understated.

Of course, that's not to downplay the level of skill involved in great four color printing - it's an art in itself. To Steve and all the guys at Bart'n'Print in Bendigo - THANKS!

What's better than one Epson Stylus Pro 4800? Two of course :)

It was the second coming this afternoon as the replacement 4800 arrived as promised. Looking at the two printers I can't help but think it would be great to keep both and run gloss black in one, matte black in the other.... and I can't seem to find the return shipping information, oh well! :P



Again I need to say many thanks to Epson Australia, particularly Phil in the service department. It may seem like the problem dragged on for a long time - but there was a lot to check on as the nature of the error was highly unusual, plus I've been in and out a lot myself. Thanks also to the guys at Electronflow.

A few things have changed since the first coming of the 4800. I'm no longer in the attic, so installation this time is a piece of cake vs looking like a Fear Factor episode. I've upgraded my surge board to a good UPS, and the quality of our power has been improved thanks to Powercor switching us to a different phase. All good stuff.

Still - who knows what caused the glitch with the 4800. The printer worked fine for a couple of months and then didn't, and refused to no matter what.

So, time to unpack - again. Deja Vu, a glitch in the Matrix. Not that I'm complaining!

Epson have made a new utility available called Colorbase. It looks like it suports the 4800 plus the other printers in the new series i.e. 2400, 7800, 9800. It sounds like a useful utility and the good news is that it is designed to still be useful to people who do not own their own spectrophotometer - like me!

According to the Epson FAQ's (there is more info online):

What is Colorbase?

ColorBase is a calibration utility for your Epson printer. The utility reduces differences in colour output between multiple Epson printers of the same model or different models. The Epson printers can be located either locally or at a remote location. Epson ColorBase can also reduce the differences in colour output from one Epson printer in a day to day use.

How can I use Epson ColorBase with my ICC profile workflow?

First calibrate your Epson printer with Epson ColorBase and activate the calibration data. Your Epson printer matches now a standard Epson printer. Then create and use your own ICC media profile or use the supplied default Epson ICC media profile. When you recognize changes in the colour output, you only create new calibration data. Afterwards you can still use your already created ICC media profile or the supplied default Epson ICC media profile.

I do not own a spectrophotometer, but I want to calibrate my Epson printer!

Print the test chart from Epson ColorBase Operation mode. Then send the printed colour test chart to someone who owns an Epson ColorBase supported spectrophotometer and so that he can measure your printed test chart. The Settings mode with the option Create Calibration Data is suited for the remote measuring. After the measurement and calculation of the calibration data, the calibration data file can be saved as a *.clb file. This *.clb file needs to be send back to you. Then you import the calibration data file into your Epson ColorBase application. You can do this with the Read button in the Settings mode. Afterwards activate the calibration data with the Activate/ Do Not Activate button. Now you can print to your Epson printer with the calibration data applied.

How does Epson ColorBase calibrate my Epson printer?

For the reduction of colour differences, Epson ColorBase calibrates your Epson printer to a standard Epson printer. First you print an Epson ColorBase test chart. The test chart consists of 264 colour patches. After a specific drying time you measure the test chart with a spectrophotometer. Epson ColorBase compares the actual measurement result with the ideal result of a standard Epson printer and calculates the correction that has to be applied to your Epson printer in order to match the standard Epson printer. These corrections are saved in the calibration data file. The calibration data file is inserted into your Epson printer driver’s look up tables (LUTs) that drive the colour halftoning process.

How often should I calibrate my Epson printer?

We recommend you to calibrate your Epson printer with Epson ColorBase regularly every second week to every month. Additional calibration to this time interval is necessary when you changed the ink cartridges or the media lot number, when you transported your Epson printer or when the environmental conditions changed a lot (i.e. in summer high temperatures or humidity).


Where is the calibration data stored: In the computer or in the Epson printer?

The calibration data are linked to a certain Epson printer serial number and black ink configuration and stored in the data folder of Epson ColorBase. When you activate the calibration data, they communicate with the Epson printer driver or Epson Stylus Rip printer driver to influence the colour halftoning process. So the calibration data are stored in the computer.

Download Colorbase

Epson have decided to replace my 0088 inflicted 4800 with a new printer that should arrive here within the next week. Kudos to Epson Australia's customer service/tech support, notably Phil. THANKS.

The printer will ship with a full set of inks - which was a relief to hear vs using my own inks/$ to charge a replacement printer... phew.

I've taken the opportunity to relocate my office downstairs - goodbye attic. I'm sure the guys coming up to install the printer will appreciate it. I've also taken the opportunity to upgrade my surge protector to a more substantial UPS.

I'm waiting to hear from the store in Melbourne who are handling the replacement. Fingers crossed it will all happen smoothly and quickly - and the replacement printer won't become possessed by the 0088 spirits within the coming months.