Digital BW, The Print

Mike,

You wrote, in part:

>In an ideal world, ... I want software that produces a linear
>distribution of tones. ...

This may sound like a silly or loaded question, but it really is not.

What is a "linear" distributing of tones?

I essentially copied the average Piezo output in terms of what the "50%"
density  should be because I wanted to be able to use either output
approach -- Piezo or variable-tone -- for the same file.  However, it's hard
to know how that 50% point or gamma was arrived at or what it "should" be.

If someone has a good theoretical explanation of how Cone came up with his
"50%" value/gamma setting, I'd sure like to hear it.

This is the chart I came up with that seemed to match the "gamma" setting
that Piezo uses and that I, therefore, use for the curves I do.

The RGB is close to AdobeRGB (now), using the 0-255 scale.  The black is
about what I get with the 3000 using VM black and Back Lit film media type,
printed on EAM.  This figure can be up to 1.70, depending on what mood the
printer is in that day.  The white (0%) point is for new EAM.  The density
readings are "visual" density as read by the X-Rite Digital Swatchbook.

 %   RGB  Density
___  ___   _____

100% = 0 = 1.68
95% = 12 = 1.53
90% = 25 = 1.38
85% = 38 = 1.25
80% = 51 = 1.13
75% = 64 = 1.03
70% = 77 = .93
65% = 90 = .84
60% = 102 = .76
55% = 115 = .68
50% = 128 = .61
45% = 141 = .54
40% = 154 = .47
35% = 165 = .41
30% = 178 = .35
25% = 191 = .29
20% = 204 = .24
15% = 217 = .19
10% = 229 = .14
5%  = 242 = .09
0%  = 255 = .04 (EAM)

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com