Digital BW, The Print

Hi Martin and others interested in Roy's QuadToneRIP,

> > To keep this on topic, I use Roy's QuadToneRIP with my Epson 1160. Since
> > Epson currently doesn't have a 10.2 driver available for the 1160 it's
> > really the only way to print quads under OS X; unless, of course, you go
> > with a third-party solution like the R9 plugin. Roy's setup does a very
> nice
> > job, though print speed is very slow; a function of the Gimp driver and
> > nothing to do with QuadToneRIP. Plus, you can print directly from your
> > grayscale image. No converting to RGB, applying curves, etc.
> >
> Alan,
>
> Could you give us a step-by-step description of the workflow once you have
> finished editing your file? That might help us get a better idea of what's
> involved?
>
> Martin

Once you get everything set up and working--follow instructions for
installing the Gimp driver very carefully--printing from PS is simplicity
itself. Select Page Setup to set up paper size and printing orientation,
then, Command/P to Print. Roy has provided curves for Paul's VM Sepia
inkset, but they work fine with the standard VM inkset once you realize that
curve #3 prints with the most toner; that is, cooler more neutral print.

At first it's a little confusing because the neutral curve actually produces
the warmest print with the standard VM inkset. There are some specific
driver settings to be aware of which Roy documents very well in the
instructions that come with QuadToneRIP. I simply saved the printing
parameters for the paper used and, then, subsequent printing is a one-click
deal. Select your saved parameters from the dropdown box and away ya go!

One thing that any potential user of QuadToneRIP might want to consider is
that, at least for my setup, the spacing of overall print color is much
finer with Roy's curves than with Paul's curves for VM. To my eye, Paul's
curves go from a very cold blue print to a fairly warm (carbon ink browns)
print. Roy's curves go from what I'd call a dead neutral print to a warm
print. Again, to my eye and on my setup Roy's warmest curve appears to
nearly match Paul's warmest curve. Makes sense since very little, if any, of
the toner ink is being at this point. For the more technically oriented
folks, Roy provides a nice write-up for building your own curves. Though I
would like a somewhat cooler one for snowscenes, etc., I haven't delved into
making my own because I prefer spending what little free time I have out
photographing.

Hope this helps,
Alan Huntley