Digital BW, The Print

Here's a bit of a mini-FAQ in an attempt to answer some of the ImagePrint
questions arising on the DigitalBW list lately.  If anyone cares to tackle
some of the larger questions (such as installation or proofing issues), I'd
be happy to start compiling it into a comprehensive FAQ and host it in the
Files section of the ImagePrint group.

--Tom

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Is there a demo available?

Rumor has it that there once was a demo CD, but it did not work properly so
ColorByte decided to discontinue it.  There has been no word from ColorByte
as to whether the demo will be fixed and offered again at a later date.

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How does IP deal with metamerism on the 2200,7600,9600?

Using the "gray" profiles for B&W printing, apparently IP does not use the
yellow ink.  A close examination of a very light gray printed patch reveals
the only inks in use are Black, LtBlack, LtCyan, and LtMagenta.  This
results in a neutral gray print that exhibits no noticable metamerism under
various lighting conditions.  By adjusting the quantity of LtCyan and
LtMagenta, IP offers the ability to tone your B&W prints using a tool called
the TintPicker.

For color printing, ColorByte provides four profiles for each paper type:
Daylight (EDAY), Tungsten (ETUNG), and two Flourescent profiles (ECWF,
ECWF2).  You print with the profile appropriate for your target viewing
light.  This doesn't eliminate metamerism, but does allow you to create very
color-accurate prints for a specific display environment.

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How can I test my prints for metamerism?

Here is how I test my Epson 2200 prints.  The same or similar method may
work for you.  Metamerism is easiest to notice when looking at a grayscale
image.
1. Create a grayscale ramp or step-wedge in Photoshop and print it possibly
along with some grayscale images.
2. Allow the print to dry.
3. Find a room filled with flourescent lighting that has a window that
allows daylight in.
4. Turn the print back and forth between the window light and the
flourescent light.  If you see a shift in tones between the different light
sources, this is metamerism.  For example, my 2200 prints using the Epson
driver shift from green in the daylight to magenta under the flourescent
lights.

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Is ImagePrint hard to use?

Yes, initially.  There are some quirks in the user interface that make it a
bit difficult to learn, but once you get past these, it becomes quite
usable.

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Are the ImagePrint profiles any good?

They are excellent.

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Where can I get more information?

Try Colorbyte's web page http://www.colorbytesoftware.com/
or call them at (813) 963-0241.

Try the ImagePrint yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ImagePrint/

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