Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Bergen"
<mike@c...> wrote:
> I have not had the need to calibrate my system with software such as
Monaco
> EZColor because my results have been quite good without it.  I am
however
> considering buying ImagePrint in order to get neutral B&W with my
2200.  The
> Luminous Landscape web site in their review of Imageprint suggests that
> using ImagePrint without first calibration ones system is a waste of
money.
> The way I understand the function of a RIP, it replaces the existing
color
> management process/drivers for the printer.
> So my question is, do I really need to also spend the money for the
Monaco
> or equivalent software?
> Mike

I used to use Adobe Gamma, then 2 years ago had an opportunity to get
PhotoCal at a giveaway price.

When I do color, AND with IP5.6, my Win2000  system 2200 printer
outputs a little greener than the Diamond pro 22 inch CRT with Adobe
PS in soft proofing mode. If I care about color, in addition to soft
proofing in Adobe with a color IP profile, I have to add a special
curve adjustment layer I saved that makes the monitor image go
greener. Part of this may be metarmerism...my viewing source may
mismatch the color viewing conditions called out for in IP. B&W IP
doesn't suffer metarmerism quite.

Strange thing is, there's really no way to soft proof in greyscale in
PS. Through the soft proof command that is. What you do is set your
greyscale space to "custom dot gain" and than fool with the curve
until your IP output matches your screen. They don't tell you this in
the IP manual- people on the IP Yahoo group figured it out. Same
technique Jon Cone told folks about way back in 2000 I recall...

I got off lucky for b&w. After Photocal gets done, I found that just
using plain old "Gamma 2.2" for my PS greyscale space matches the
monitor just fine. So I can save the embedded profile as such, and
send it to IP5.6. Otherwise I'd have to be durn sure I dropped the
custom dot gain in IP because it would mess it up. No idea if just
Adobe gamma would leave me with such a simple greyscale space to match
IP output.

Also: Don't expect the IP window to display the print properly. Ignore
it even if it looks too light, etc.

Mitch Allard has a document on the Imageprint Yahoo group that
explains matching the monitor for both color and B&W in IP and more.
It is from a MAC point of view but applies pretty much to windows too.
It is mandatory reading as it has what the manual left out wrt many
things.

Jim Hayes