Digital BW, The Print

Both QTR and IJC/OPM are "capable" of perfectly neutral gray prints.  
It is all a function of the profile(s) used.  Many people prefer 
blending cool and warm profiles for neutral prints, which is fine.  I 
prefer to build a very neutral profile as a 'baseline'.  If I want a 
dead-on neutral print, I use that.  If I want a little cooler or 
warmer than neutral, I blend my neutral profile with other profiles.  
Just my particular preference.  Of course, I can still blend cool and 
warm if desired.

It just means making one extra profile, but I spend extra time on my 
neutral profile so it is exactly what I want.  I could make it 
perfectly neutral gray throughout the range (as measured by a 
spectrophotometer), but I generally prefer to allow the color of the 
paper carry through the entire tonal range.  So, if I am profiling a 
warm paper like Moab Entrada Natural, (the b* value measures about 
2.9, or slightly yellow), I will allow the b* to stay slightly yellow 
from paper white to black.  Once again, just my personal preference.

So, yes, if you wish, you can get perfectly neutral prints with 
either IJC/OPM or QTR.  

Lou

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "chipcarterdc" 
<chipcarterdc@h...> wrote:
> 
> I haven't read this whole thread, but I will add what is likely a 
dissenting voice 
> here.  Using QTR with my  9600 and Matte Black ink, and printing on 
a variety 
> of papers (Enhanced Matte, Photo Rag), I have never been able to 
get a B&W 
> print that I consider neutral.  Since there is no "canned" neutral 
QTR profile, 
> you have to blend the warm/cool/selenium profiles to get neutral.  
I have 
> experimented with various blends recommended by people on this 
forum, 
> and also making further guesses and refinements as to what to blend 
to get to 
> "neutral".  When I hold up any QTR print I've made (using various 
> combinations/blends) next to a silver gelatin print and next to an 
ImagePrint 
> print, the QTR print is not neutral in comparsion.  The difference 
may be slight, 
> and you may find the slight coolness or warmth of a QTR print 
pleasing, but I 
> have never been able to get "neutral" from QTR.   Of coure, it 
could just be me, 
> but I've done a bit of experimentation with QTR.
> 
> Now: before I get attacked for bashing QTR, I've paid my shareware 
fee and 
> think it's a fabulous product.  And, in fact, since I only have 
ImagePrint for the 
> 9600, I may start using QTR for my B&W work on the 4000.  Just 
answering 
> whether I think QTR prints are "truly neutral" and my answer is 
basically "No, 
> but for the hundreds of $ difference between QTR and ImagePrint, it 
may be 
> close enough."