Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Nij" <nigel@m...> wrote:
> I'm still not sure I got that right! I mean, actually your description of
> four curves (like with all our favourite worlflows :) does make more sense.
> I just wanted to try and get across the point that, whatever the transform
> or curve or technique used... this is a 'profiled' transformation and is not
> a 'random' transform.
> 
> As you say, there are differing points at which the transform could be
> applied. If you could conceptualise a 'perfect medium' one set of defined
> 'dither patterns' will give you up to, say, 10,000 different 'theoretical'
> tones. What I would then do with the 'profile' is cut off all the values
> that gave too much ink, all the values that left too little ink, or 'dotty'
> ink. ie you set your end-points. So with a STANDARD mathematical dither
> pattern set, you can set a profile that maybe makes 4000+ available output
> tones for each media type. WHen printing, you'd go the other way, you have
> the desired output value, use the profile to find out which 'pattern' to
> print.
> 
> I have no idea!

Yeah, what you said!
I could be dead wrong, but I think there is some individual linear separations done in the driver ramping/dithering. Then 
the profiles have corrections for dot gain etc. that each paper needs. There is no profile in the prefs folder called 
"unspecified", so I assume selecting that in the driver applies "none", and you're seeing the driver's actions alone.
Now I'm really talking out of my butt.
Tyler