Digital BW, The Print

Tom: Thanks for this info.  I too am considering purchasing the IP rip for
my 2200.  I want to use the Epson inks since I often like to tone the prints
slightly.  I was thinking that with IP I would have only one printer and be
able to print neutral b&w and toned prints, as well as color.  By "toned", I
mean a print somewhat cooler or warmer than neutral, or maybe even a
platinum or sepia tone.  Though I don't have it handy, I recall that IP
allows an adjustment for warmer or cooler prints.  Do you know if this
requires an RGB file, and hence some unpredictability in the outcome, as I
gather from your explanation.  I have worked in RGB since I'm fond of
PhotoKit Sharpener and PhotoKit, which require RGB files.  It seems I could
as a final step convert to grayscale, but does that mean I'm cut off from
selecting warmer or cooler prints in IP?  Or worse, not converting from RGB
and having unwanted color casts from a sepia or platinum "toned" print.  I
have never used a rip before, so will be grateful for any comments, even
though I probably haven't phrased the questions properly.  The IP rip seems
like a fair price considering all the profiles.  Thanks for any help.

Regards,

  --Ken Carney
    www.kencarney.com 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Baker [mailto:tbaker1328@...] 
> Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2004 11:44 PM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Re: Photoshop CS/B&W
> 
> Paul  -
>  
> IP uses 'standard' ICC profiles.  The profiles are done by 
> Colorbyte, and are provided free to IP users.  One could 
> spend the money to have custom profiles made, but I've only 
> heard of one or two people that thought the custom profiles 
> were better.
>  
> The point I was trying to make is that while IP produces b&w 
> prints that are dead on neutral with the gray files and gray 
> ICC paper profiles, it can not, as is the case with Epson as 
> well, produce a neutral b&w print from an RGB profile that 
> has been converted to have all of the R, G, and B values 
> equal.  In theory, this should be able to produce a neutral 
> b&w print, but it doesn't happen.  Once the same file is 
> converted to a gray file (Gamma 2.2 would be typical, I 
> believe) and printed with a gray paper profile, all is well.