Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "john dean"
<deanwork2003@y...> wrote:
> 
> You know Tyler, this is exactly what a lot of us out here are more
than curious about. The 
> talk in the past was that you couldn't do tone chanel linerizaton as
well with Studio Print, 
> right? That's why you bought a PC in ther first place to use
Imageprint with quads? 

Absolutely the reverse. I use StudioPrint. Linearization ability is
great, no matter how you assign ink tanks to channels, including quads.

> It seems that with ultrachromes the first thing you want to do is
shut off the yellow 
> channel, which is the pigment most likely to fade and cause
metamerism, right?

That seems to be a bit of a list myth. Yellow is used least if any,
for the neutral to cold options because it's not needed, since the UC
K and light K inks are warm to begin with and used all the way up the
scale. If you want warmer than UC Ks can do, yellow is introduced.
Carl posted some info that showed the C and M inks actually more
metameric than the yellow.
There are any number of ways to do this, but if you want warmer
tinting ability, you will not turn Y off even though you may limit it
a lot. It simply won't be used unless necessary.

> Then what 
> happens?, you desaturate the other color channels and balance them
out?, or cut them off 
> altogether and print out ot two black channels?

Assuming you have StudioPrint's control, you may limit the color inks,
or use the light components only. Additionally you may also limit
them. It depends on how much toning ability you want.

> I just suggested the QTR rip for a friend with a 2200 and he was
very happy with the 
> neutral monochromes that he is now getting to use in his ad book. I
want to see those  
> this week. 
> 
> It seems to me a decent rip along with a printer specific profile
curve might be the answer 
> for using ultrachrome for serious work. I guess that is what Nash
Editions is doing

The last Nash B&W prints I saw were clearly normal color UC prints
with good profiles for neutrality. That may have changed more recently.
Even with the above scenario, good (and specifically made) profiles
will be necessary. The advantage of QTR is that a light K to K split
can be done, and then specific amounts of "toner" inks can be added
for neutrality or tinting, then the whole thing linearized overall.
With a RIP like StudioPrint, final neutrality and gradation has to be
accomplished with a profile made with carefully selected K generation
and ink limit. So far here, it's trial and error.
By the way, my understanding is that the new version of StudioPrint
comes with pre configured environments for this very purpose. I know
they nailed it some time ago, it's not that hard if you have the
knowledge and toys they have.
Tyler