Digital BW, The Print

* -----Original Message-----
* From: Paul Roark [mailto:paul.roark@verizon.net] 
* Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 12:35 PM
* To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
* Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Getting everything calibrated and profiled
* 
* Dimitri wrote, in part:
* 
* >* ... what should I use to make sure
* >* what I'm seeing on my screen matches the print as
* >* closely as possible?
* 
* Martin wrote, in part:
* 
* >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.
* >...
* 
* Or, if you're as cheap as I am, you just use the Adobe Gamma 
* procedure (in the Control Panel for Windows 98).  When I 
* match the gray bars, I find it useful to blur my eyes.

Paul,

I don't know. You can do it this way but I am way happier with the results I
get using hardware calibration. My eyes just aren't good enough. I would opt
for a monitor spyder and software if at all possible. Almost a must if you
do any color work.
* 
* Then to get the monitor image to match the print, I used the 
* Photoshop 6 preview feature/procedure.  A very good 
* description of it has been done by Tyler Boley at
* 
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/piezography3000/message/17849
* 
You can also find Tyler's post in a PDF format in the Files section in
folder:

Files > Image Processing

(snip)
* 
* The only thing I recommend in addition to this procedure is 
* to record a Photoshop "Action" so that the preview/monitor 
* profiling steps become a simple, single-keystroke function (a 
* function key on my PC was designated). That makes the 
* procedure easy to apply to images after they are opened.

Good idea. Do you have one for each ink/paper combo?
* 
* I use variable-tone inksets and find that having the monitor 
* hue match the print is unnecessary.  We're talking about 
* subtle B&W color biases.  I find small proof prints are where 
* I make all my final decisions.  I can't imagine I'd ever go 
* to a large display print on cotton paper before doing 8x10 
* proofs on EAM.  So, I find the manual procedure just outlined 
* to be more than adequate to get first rate B&W prints.

In actuality of course you don't need WYSIWYG for printing at all.  In the
traditional darkroom you are always making adjustments to the printing
process based upon the previous version of the print. I think people get
very lost in the fact that their prints don't match the monitor which isn't
the point. The goal is a nice print which as odd as it may seem has nothing
to do with what may be on your screen.

I think a good on screen color match with tone and hue can help you get
there faster but in the end I wind up making full size prints and then
tweaking the final adjustment in "blind".

When I was running MIS-VM on the 1280 Tyler created an RGB profile for the
ink set and it really was amazing to see on screen the effect of the
different curves on the color of the image. I think it is a very useful tool
that shortens the path to a final print but whether it is worth the ~$2,000
investment for a spectrophotometer and profiling software is another matter.
In retrospect I would put the money somewhere else but if you can afford it
I recommend it.
* 
* But, of course, for those who like the ultimate there is 
* always more that can be done.
* 
Yep. With the caution that you will spend more and more for smaller and
smaller improvements.

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