Digital BW, The Print

Hi Steve,

In the PS print/preview box I'm using "printer color management"  (note that "same as 
source" does the same thing).  Then in the print driver I select "color controls", that is the 
one that shows the sliders, and leave the sliders alone.  Epson recommends this for B&W.

Voila! neutrality.  Using the paper profile in print preview gave me olive midtones.

Oh, I did make a "brilliant discovery" about a dumb mistake I was making.  Since I had 
started with a B&W negative and scanned it, it seemed to be B&W.  Duh, checking with the 
eyedropper showed "black" to be not completely black since I had not profiled the scanner 
(totally unnecessary in my opinion if one thinks  :~)...  ).

Now I desaturate my B&W so it really is.

Which brings up another point:  Epson printers (all inkjets, except a few 'weird off the wall 
ones") need RGB input files which they then convert to their ink profiles (some verison of 
CMYK depending on the inkset).  If they don't get it, they first convert the input file to RGB 
and then convert it to print.  Conversions (rounding errors, clipping, etc.) are NOT an 
advantage.  While this may not be a disaster for color, B&W is the most demanding thing 
that you can ask a printer to do.  ANY tiny color shift shows.

I did not experiment with grey scale vs RGB, just 'followed directions', as the CM exps took 
enough time.

Oh, and I use Colormatch as a work space as also recommended by Epson---in my tests 
vs Adobe RGB it did not affect the color tone of the print, but did affect the density.  You 
can of course fix the density on the screen before printing.

The advantage of Colormatch" for color is that it matches the inks better---looks slightly 
duller so you get more what you expect.  It does not adversely affect the Printed Result, 
just that the screen is more real.

Good Luck
Scott




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "scrber" <stephen.bate@m...> 
wrote:
> Hi Scott.  What workflow are you using?
> 
> I had in the PS CS print/preview box - Adobe 98 as document space (or 
> GG2.2, then I select the actual 4000 enhanced matt profile as the 
> print space.  Then switch off all colour management in the printer 
> driver.
> 
> When I tried it in reverse.  ie, select 'printer colour management'in 
> the PS print dialog box, then select the ICM option in the printer 
> driver settings, I got freakish magenta or olive prints - way wrong.
> 
> Could you explain your methods?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Graham" 
> <gebilwil@n...> wrote:
> > Hi Stephen,
> > 
> > Nice report.  
> > 
> > I just got my 4000 going and also experimented with the color 
> management.  I now have 
> > all ink neutral prints, using a CM method that I didn't really 
> expect.  The ICC method gave 
> > me somewhat olive midtones, but the print driver method 
> (recommended by Epson for 
> > B&W) gives completely neutral prints (cool tone). 
> > 
> > And I don't see any metamarism, in light ranging from daylight, to 
> flourescent, to halogen 
> > varied from dim (very warm) to bright (sort of white), but maybe I 
> am not fully sensitive to 
> > it.  I have been doing fine silver prints for 30 years though so I 
> should know a little.  I 
> > don't at this early stage see any reason for a rip.
> > 
> > This is based on very few prints so far, and only on enhanced 
> matte, so maybe my mind 
> > will change?  or maybe the paper matters?  I picked it for cheap to 
> learn with, but it looks 
> > pretty good to me.  Will be trying velvet, photo rag and 
> ultrasmooth when I get time.
> > 
> > Scott
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "scrber" 
> <stephen.bate@m...> 
> > wrote:
> > > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "scrber" 
> > > <stephen.bate@m...> wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > > > Hi there, I have just taken delivery of my 4000 and I wanted to 
> > > give 
> > >