Digital BW, The Print

Reading this entire thread I just can't help but wonder how Weston 
got by with just three trays and a light blub.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
> $50 is all you need spend.  QTR is really very good at what it 
does.  You
> just need to understand how to use it best.  Here's the longer 
answer.
> 
> First understand that you can't, generally speaking, print as dark 
as you
> can see on screen and that paper isn't generally as white.  That 
is, the
> dynamic range of today's paper with today's inks is relatively 
narrow.  Not
> bad but narrow.  OK that first bit was easy.
> 
> Now QTR is set up to print an even gradation L* (Lab's L) from its 
darkest
> black to paper white.  If it could generate perfect black and 
perfect white
> then you could print the Lab space in totality with an even 
gradation of L*
> and have a nice "gamma" or curvature in density from pure black to 
pure
> white.  But as noted above we can't get perfect black or perfect 
white.   If
> the best black is really "light black" and the best white 
is "almost white"
> and there is still a straight line of L* between the two then the 
gamma or
> contrast must be less.  Hence, out-of-the-box the prints look a 
little
> "flat" because the black isn't as good as on screen and the gamma or
> contrast is less.  
> 
> OK so what do we do about it?  Two solutions.  First, we could 
introduce an
> arbitrary S curve to increase image contrast so that when it is 
printed we
> have a better look. Secondly, we could use some of the tools 
available to us
> to do that for us.  In either case, it is useful to see before we 
print the
> result of either action.
> 
> The second of the two is more effective, easier and more readily 
previewed
> or soft proofed.  Roy has designed two ICC profiles, QTR Gray Matte 
Paper
> and QTR Gray Photo Paper, which are in essence general profiles for 
the two
> types of media we print to.  With these you can use two Photoshop's 
ability
> to convert between ICC profiles and to preview a file in another 
colour
> space.  So at the time of printing you can use Photoshop to convert 
your
> image to the print space using the perceptual intent and black point
> compensation.  This in effect automates the s curve piece.  
Furthermore,
> prior to printing you can preview how the file will look once 
converted to
> the print space (matte or photo), ie see how it will look when 
printed.  Use
> View -> Proof Setup -> Custom  to set up the soft proof.  Convert 
the
> document to the print space prior to printing (save a preprint 
master
> first!).  The workflow for last bit is slightly different depending 
on
> whether you are on a Mac or PC.
> 
> The ICC profiles can be found here:
> 
> http://homepage.mac.com/royharrington/FileSharing2.html
> 
> under grayspaceXYZv2.zip
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > From: Diane Fields <picnic@c...>
> > Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 12:38:47 -0400
> > To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Best Rip for 2200
> > 
> > 
> > Have you tried softproofing in PS and adjusting tonality/contrast?
> > 
> > Diane
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: glovinger
> >   To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> >   Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 8:12 AM
> >   Subject: [Digital BW] Best Rip for 2200
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >   I installed the QTR rip yesterday for my Epson 2200 and made 
several
> >   test prints. So far I like the color tones, but I am very 
unhappy
> >   with the flatness of my prints. I actually prefer the green 
colorcast I
> >   get without the rip because of the wonderful detail and subtle 
tones
> >   the printer can produce.
> >   What do you all consider the best rip on the market for the 
2200? I
> >   guess I need to spend more than $50.- to get the best of both 
worlds.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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messages to keep
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> > - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or 
flames.
> > Hostile, aggressive or argumentative users may be removed from 
the membership
> > without notice.
> > - Keep your posts and threads related to the group topic of 
digital B&W
> > printing. Users who persistently make off-topic posts may be 
removed from the
> > membership.
> > - By posting on this forum you agree to abide by the group rules 
and
> > guidelines, and to abide by the actions and decisions of the 
group Owner and
> > Moderators. See „Group Topic, Rules and Guidelines‰ in the 
Files section:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/files/
> > 
> > BY PARTICIPATING IN AND/OR POSTING MESSAGES TO THE DIGITAL BW, 
THE PRINT
> > YAHOO! GROUP YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE 
„OWNER‰ AND
> > „MODERATORS‰ OF DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP SHALL NOT 
BE LIABLE TO YOU
> > FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR 
EXEMPLARY
> > DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF 
PROFITS, GOODWILL,
> > USE, DATA OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES (EVEN IF THE  „OWNER‰ 
AND „MODERATORS‰ OF
> > DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE 
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
> > DAMAGES), RESULTING FROM: (i) THE USE OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE 
DIGITAL BW,
> > THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; (ii) UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OR ALTERATION 
OF YOUR
> > TRANSMISSIONS OR DATA; (iii) STATEMENTS OR CONDUCT OF ANY THIRD 
PARTY ON THE
> > DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP; OR (iv) ANY OTHER MATTER 
RELATING TO THE
> > DIGITAL BW, THE PRINT YAHOO GROUP.
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