Digital BW, The Print

David, see comments inline:

> There are many problems using this software, but one that is 
> really killing me is that there is no way to stop a print 
> once it is started - ie no cancel function.  Do you reboot to 
> stop it or just turn off the printer ?  

You don't say whether you are using a PC or a MAC.  I am using a PC so I can
give you the instructions for stopping a print job on a PC.

All QTR does is process the file and send it to your printer using the
Windows spooling mechanism.  If you want to stop a print job, you have to go
to your "Printers and Faxes" folder and OPEN the printer that you are using.
You will see a large print job that is "printing".  If things are not coming
out the way you like, you can always click on the print job and "cancel" it.

By the way, start with small prints and even cut down some paper if you want
to save money.  You can also use a lower resolution print output such as 720
or even less if you just want some fast, small prints to get a hang of
things.

> There are things that seem good, but also:  you have to pick 
> some paper profiles by chance to figure out tone ... how do 
> you get started with that ?  

Generally, you want to pick out a profile that is appropriate for the paper
that you are using.  But I would start with some inexpensive Epson Enhance
Matte paper and the EEM profiles.  Put the cool on one side of QTRGui and
the warm on the other side and start experimenting.  EEM is inexpensive and
if you start with small prints, you can try different slider positions and
see what you end up with.  That's the best way to get started.

> Print a file with all the 
> different profiles ?  

No, you don't need to do this.  Just select one set of profiles and use
those with one paper until you get the hang of things.

> I've tried starting with the ones for 
> the paper I'm using (Moab Entreda nat white) and between the 
> warm and sepia I can get some interesting tones.  It does 
> seem that there are some big limits on what tone is available 
> though ... with the above and using the "cool tone" Moab 
> curve you can get somewhere between greenish and a redish 
> tone.  Apparently no way to go yellowish etc. (at least with 
> those curves).  

You need to use cool on one side and warm on the other.  Or if there is a
sepia or cool-se, you can try those in different combinations.  Such as cool
and sepia or cool-se and warm, etc.  With each of these combinations, you
can get ranges of warm to cool prints and of course neutral ones as well.

> I am, unfortunately, used to working in 
> PhotoShop where making these kind of tone changes is simple.

You will find QTR powerful once you get used to it.  Also, if you ever want
to create your own custom profiles, you will be able to get pretty much any
type of print you want.  But to start with, just use the curves that come
with distribution and you will have a simpler time.

> It is obvious that a lot of testing is needed to use this 
> software and I am behind, please have some patience with that 
> :) Any suggestions would be welcome to help get some control 
> over the printing.

This is a great group of folks and I have seen this forum be extremely
helpful to new people.  Just take it one step at a time and when you get
stuck ask a question.

Paul