Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 9/3/02 5:59:46 PM, mwesley250@... writes:

>I'm meeting with
>a few
> companies next week at Seybold that make profile software and on the
>top
>of
> my list is the ability to make a true grayscale profile.

The problem is that, like a CMYK profile, a Gray profile is a device 
description. If that device is using Small Gamut CMYK inks, then a standard 
RGB or CMYK profile can do a good job defining the device, depending on what 
profiling package is used. For devices running various neutral gray inks, or 
a few of those and one or two toned inks for tonal adjustments, the current 
methods of conversion to these colors is currently done by transfer curves 
and other non-ICC processes. The idea that simply creating an ICC  Gray 
profile will somehow automatically address such systems is impractical, 
unless the ICC process were to be moved forward to an n-channnel system with 
very sophistocated channel interactions.

What would actually be needed would be driver or RIP controls for several 
grays, similar to the current light and dark C&M controls in some RIPS, as 
well as seperate tonal controls for any toning colors, and linearization ramp 
targets and input to define these controls. Unless a standard system was 
chosen, and ICC standards for defining the process developed, this could not 
be turned into something universal like a gray profile.

C. David Tobie
Design Cooperative
CDTobie@...