Following the manual step by step, launch the Gray Balancer utility directly from the Start > Programs menu . The first test print is made using the "No Adjustment" setting in the dialogue box. Place a single sheet of paper in the printer and then click the Print icon. Select the correct media type from the normal Printer dialogue panel and press Print. An A4 (or letter size) print is created using the images you see in the screen shot below. You can add your own images if you want, you just need to put the file in the correct folder. Whilst you are waiting for the print, you can study the small print on the reference chart which tells you that you have to cut the chart up into four sections and make four holes in one of the sections - why couldn't Epson supply these pre-cut?

The Epson Gray Balancer dialogue

Once the print has been made, use the reference chart to check the corresponding greys. You should let the print stand for at least 30 minutes before making any judgement, the colours of pigment inks will change slightly when dry - dye based inks require about 1 hour. If you need to make adjustments or want to create a custom tone, then you need to go to either the 4 Point Gray Adjustment or the curve editor.

Click on the Create Adjustment Start button and you are taken to the Gray Balance Adjustment screen. When making an initial adjustment select the paper type you are using. The drop down list displays four types; Archival/Enhanced Matte, Premium Semigloss and Water colour paper - Radiant white. There is also a "General" for paper types that are not listed.

The 4 Point Adjustment screen

The next screen is the 4 Point Gray Adjustment target, print this and let it dry for 30min. The tortoise shell chart has 4 shells 90%, 70%, 45%, and 20%. Each shell has a wheel of colour - this can be best seen in the bottom left shell below, it is hard to see in the 90% shell. Once the print has dried then place the reference chart next to the numbered segments in the 90% and look for the nearest grey to the reference chart, then enter the 3 digit number of the segment in the 90% box. Repeat the process for the other three shells.

The 4 point tortoise shell chart	Match the print to the reference chart
Enter the values for each percentage in the corresponding boxes

Once you have entered the figures then save the Adjusted Gray Balance file, you can give this any name you like and add comments for easy identification at a later date. Next, click the Print icon and print out the test print and compare again. There are options to create your own toned colours using curves or there is a set of predefined settings. The manual needs to be studied in great detail, I printed all 122 pages just to make life easier. This software is excellent, but it will need experimentation to discover its full potential. When you quit the Gray Balancer utility, the settings you have chosen will stay active and any prints you make with the 2100 printer driver will have the corrections applied. To turn the settings off, you need to re-launch the utility and select No Adjustment in the Gray Balance file settings. The Gray Balancer Utility is only available for the 2100, 2200, 7600 and 9600. I'm sure a lot of people will want to see an A4 printer with UltraChrome inks and has this utility.

The curves editor alows you to create your own coloured sets and save them for future use. The Graduated scale at the top shows the adjustments as they are being made

www.photo.i.co.uk