Dithering & Epilog

[Gregg Vaughn]

Has anyone found that one of the Epilog dithering patterns is best for black marble?

[Bill Cunningham]

If it's 'real' black marble.. i.e. not the lasersketch marble.. The normal dither used in the epilog driver in the normal clipart mode works fine, you can even run it a second time and it will get whiter.. If your using laser sketch 'marble' which is really a granite of some sort, it will have to be pre-processed in Photograv, or the gold method described elsewhere in this forum, and probably whitened with oil based paint, unless you would rather have the natural gray of the stone..

[Gregg Vaughn]

Thanks Bill ...

The "marble" I have is from Lasersketch. I used the default, normal dither with so-so results. The second time through washed out the image. I ran the job at 100 speed and 35 power on my 45w Helix.

I have not done much with marble and see many posts showing work that is much "whiter" than my jobs are turning out.

[Frank Corker]

100 speed and 35 power would be ok on black granite, you would certainly get a nice image with that, but marble is softer and so less power. If you get an image that is washed out that is usually a sign. When using the normal driver from the Epilog I favour the regular setting, not stuki etc.

[Bill Cunningham]

Actually Frank the black and brown 'real' marble we get here requires much more power than granite. I usually use 100 power, and 35 speed @600 dpi, (have even done it a second pass to brighten it up) using the normal driver halftone on my TT, it's virtually fool proof and very forgiving of power settings.... 'LaserSketch' marble is actually a very black, nice quality granite, and will never turn white like marble... I don't know why they have to confuse the issue, and why they don't call it what it really is, a a higher grade granite than their normal granite. The first time I used it, I thought my supplier shipped me granite in error, so they shipped me another piece.. Apparently even the supply was unaware of what marble really is..

Greg, the lasersketch stone will never turn white, unless you colour it, and much like glass, you won't get a good image unless it's pre-processed to a 1 bit dither..

[Gregg Vaughn]

Where is a good source for true black marble? I'd like to get a few pieces and see the difference.

[Bill Cunningham]

I have used Nero Marquina (at least that's what the tile folks called it) You can ask for it with no, or virtually no veining.. Try one of the larger tile shops. Brown marble with various veining can be got at HomeDepot. It also lasers very well, and if a photo is planned around the veining (no one wants a Hitler moustache) the results can be very pleasing.

[Dan Hintz]

Negro Marquina, should someone try to look for it...

[Tom Bull]

Data on Negro Marquina:

Stone Name:Negro MarquinaPseudonym:Black Marquinia, Negro Bilbao, Negro Markina, Negro Bilbao, Nero Marquina, Prete Marquinia, Preto MarquinaMain color:black (http://www.graniteland.com/stone/color/black)Country of origin:http://www.graniteland.com/img/flags/es.png (http://www.graniteland.com/stone/country/spain) Spain (http://www.graniteland.com/stone/country/spain) City of origin:- No data -Classification:Limestone (http://www.graniteland.com/stone/type/limestone)Availability:Texture:veinedMaximum size:280 x 160 cmApplication:Some marbles and limestones can be used for exterior application. Please ask your supplier for more details.

[Bill Cunningham]

Negro Marquina, should someone try to look for it...


Yup..Darn there's never a 'g' around when I need one!:D