Digital BW, The Print

* -----Original Message-----
* From: Dimitri Katsaros [mailto:dcka@...m] 
* Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 6:08 AM
* To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
* Subject: [Digital BW] Getting everything calibrated and profiled
* 
* 
* Hey all,
* 
* As for reading the prints, a lot of people seem to
* recommend the x-rite 810 (used, of course :-)) but I
* don't see lifting that thing up to my monitor's glass.
* (Just kidding!) Anywho, what should I use to make sure
* what I'm seeing on my screen matches the print as
* closely as possible?

Dimitri,

First you have to start with a calibrated monitor. These means creating a
monitor profile which is best done with something like ColorVision's OptiCal
or PhotoCal software with their Spider color sensor.

Then for grayscale you can use the X-Rite 810 to take readings off of step
wedges and create custom dot gain curves for each ink/paper combination to
apply in Photoshop under View>Proof Setup. You then have on screen a
reasonably accurate rendition of what will come out of the printer. It will
never be quite the same since you are comparing a glowing screen to a matte
piece of paper.

With more advanced (expensive) equipment and software you can create a
printing profile that accurately represents the hue of the grayscale inks as
well.

Martin Wesley
http://www.carolyn.cc/Guests/MartinWesley/pages/MW_01.html
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html