Digital BW, The Print

"mjnewhook" <mjnewhook@...> wrote:
>
> ... the overall print [is] too dark. 

Usually after a QTR profile is linearized people think it is too light or has a poor dmax, but this is due to it using a truly linear response curve and not the compressed curve that may be displayed on the monitor if you're using gray gamma 2.2 as the working space.  So, if the QTR print is too light and it's been linearized, I'm wondering what gray space you're using with your monitor and whether the monitor is calibrated correctly.

What I've noticed as I've move to an LCD monitor from my old CRT is that the new monitor is way too bright to match any print.  It makes for an impressive monitor display, but it's like a slide with a 500 watt lamp -- no print could possible match it.

>... What I've found when linearizing the wedge was that I had a pronounced dip in the shadows (something like 90 77 70) and poor separation the lights (wedge 10/15/20 all measure the same L value). Any thoughts on possible solutions?

I'm not sure what would cause that, but a couple of things I recommend is, first, when you set the black ink limit, take advantage of the Black Boost.  Set the K limit at where the black ink slope gets so low  you don't really see much visual difference.  Then use the Boost for the ultimate peak of the K density.  I often just set the K limit to 10 below the actual dmax, with the boost being the dmax.  Then the "densities" are based on a 21-step printed with the K limit, NOT the boost.

Second, just try setting the default ink limit at where the K limit is and using that for all the inks.  So, say the K limit is 35, the boost (true dmax) is at 45.  You'll print a K 21-step at ink limit 35 and then compare the other ink densities from the initial Calibration Mode print, at their 35% amount, to the densities of the K 21-step printed at the 35 limit.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com