Digital BW, The Print

I'm sure that, if one owns or has access to a spectrophotometer, then QTR 
could make truly neutral prints.  I was speaking of using QTR with the 
supplied profiles and blending them.  I don't own a spectrophotometer, so I 
have experience building my own QTR profiles.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Louis Dina" <
lbdina@c...> wrote:
> 
> 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."