Digital BW, The Print

Right, like Jerry says, I can work in Grayscale for a while making
adjustment layers, then I switch to RGB to try a print and add on Paul's
curves. My adj. layers are preserved in the RGB mode change, but my layers
are almost always just curves with layer masks-- that's how I do all my
tonal manipulations. Other types of layers might not translate the same. My
guess though is most any layer that is available to you in grayscale mode
will translate to RGB, but I bet there are RGB layers, and layer apply
modes, that won't translate from RGB to grayscale.

So, at that point I've got a stack of layers, I stick my "print only" layers
on top of them and print. Since I know I'll want to make additional tweaks
after each print, I just go back to work on that file, but I turn off the
"print only" layers while I edit.

Yes, I do use Paul's default settings, and my monitor is hardware
calibrated, and my step wedges print pretty well, so I don't know where the
screen to print mismatch lies, but I've got my little work around in place
now, so it's not too much trouble.

I've never done a custom dot gain calibration though, so that's something I
still can try...Do any MIS users do them?

Thanks!
Todd

PS, for all my talk about obsessive printing, I'm not satisfied with my
prints for the latest exchange (Shaun's). Too deep in the sky; made the
image too 2 dimensional. Oh well, needs a few more tweaks....

> Helene, I don't think in most cases you have to flatten your image
> before switching from grayscale to RGB it gives you an option. I always
> save the layers, and none are ever changed so you can't edit them. There
> is one instance that can change a layer, but I can't recall what it is.
> You may lose an adjustment layer, depending on what kind it is, so it
> wouldn't hurt to check to see if anything was lost. 99% of the time
> nothing is lost.
 
> Jerry
> 
> 
> 
> grdglass@... wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Todd,
>> 
>> I was going from memory this morning when I wrote that.  We might be saying
>> the same thing.  What I do is finalize my image in grayscale and save it so
>> that I have a saved version of all my layers, etc.  Then, I flatten (because
>> PS makes you), change the mode to RGB, load curves, and apply one of Paul's
>> curves.  I do not save that.  If your method provides the same result, then
>> there are no differences.  Are you using PS 5 Default in Color Settings?
>> 
>> I mentioned that MIS VM and Paul's curves match my monitor precisely.  If I
>> don't like the print after it is produced, that's a different story.  I would
>> tweak it, just as I tweaked my PiezoBW prints and my darkroom prints.  I'm on
>> an 1160 by the way.
>> 
>> Helene
>> 
>>> 
>>> on 10/3/01 11:17 AM, grdglass@... wrote:
>>> 
>>>> P.S.  I am thrilled with the MIS inks and Paul's curves.  Unlike others on
>>>> this list, I find them usuable right out of the box.  They match my
>>> monitor
>>>> perfectly.  Perhaps those with problems are not following Paul's
>>> directions
>>>> to the letter.  I noticed someone using PS 6 and placing Paul's curve
>>> ahead
>>>> of other curves.  I use PS 5 default and apply the curves by themselves
>>> after
>>>> everything is finalized.  (Maybe the poster is using a different printer?)
>>> 
>>> Perhaps you are referring to me. I'm not clear on which direction you read
>>> the layer pallet from when you say "placing Paul's curve ahead
>>> of other curves". I put them at the top of the layer stack. If they are not
>>> at the top of the layer stack. Adjustment Layers are calculated upon the
>>> image one at a time, from the bottom of the stack to the top. So putting
>>> them at the top is the same as applying them on top of a flattened version
>>> of my file with layers. Keeping my layers active simply allows me to go back
>>> and edit the image more easily. Unfortunately, even in this digital age, I
>>> find it takes me many iterations of a print before I settle. Some of that is
>>> because I like to see "what if?".
>>> 
>> 
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>> 
>> 
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> 
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other
> resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
> 
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
> them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or "flames."
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various
> resources on the homepage.
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