Digital BW, The Print

I think you need to be a little bit careful when you say "profile" as I
think there is likely going to be a bit of confusion.  QTR is controlled by
creating "ink descriptor files".  These files tell QTR which inks to use,
and how, when one selects that "curve" in the driver.  Unfortunately the
term "profile" seems to have been introduced into the mix here also.  These
files are not profiles in the sense that one would use the word in a colour
management sense.  Over the last while Roy has developed grey ICC profiles
which are also used as part of the QTR workflow.  Also, there is a mechanism
for creating a colour ICC profile to soft-proof QTR output including hue.
These ARE profiles in the colour management sense.  I can see us all getting
quite tangled up.  Gretag-Macbeth software can be used in all of these bits
- different GM software for different bits.

GM's MeasureTool, part of GM's ProfileMaker 5 software, can be used to
measure a printed tiff against a corresponding reference file.  This
software (free) is used in the linearization part of creating ink descriptor
files.  It is also used to create a grey ICC profile using Roy's
QTR-Create-ICC module.

GM's Eye-One Match software can be used to make a colour ICC profile which
allows soft proofing of both luminance and hue.

The general workflow for QTR would be: (1) create an ink descriptor file
including the LINEARIZE function (which can be done by using an Eye-One and
MeasureTool) to produce the particular greyscale you want; (2) print a step
wedge using the curve designed by the ink descriptor file to be measured
again with an Eye-One and MeasureTool and feed the data into QTR-Create-ICC;
and (3) print the step wedge again with the curve but this time converting
the image to the grey ICC profile made in step 2 before printing (this is
how you would print images with this curve) and use Eye-One Match to create
a colour ICC profile of the output.  The last step is "optional" and only
required if you really want to preview hue in addition to luminance. If all
you require is a proof of luminance then you can simply soft proof with the
grey ICC profile generated by step 2.

If you own an Eye-One then you have the Match software.  The MeasureTool
software is part of PM 5.  This is not free but the MeasureTool component
works even when PM 5 is operating in "demo mode" so you do not need to
purchase it to do the above.




> From: Scott McLoughlin <scott@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 13:52:20 -0400
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Digital BW] First attempt at a profile - a few questions
> 
> A few very basic questions:
> 
> (1) I have QTR (2.2.3). I've heard mention of a new release in the
> last few weeks.  Will the new release make my first attempt easier?
> 
> (2) Am I correct in that I can use the GM i1 to make a profile?
> 
> (3) Based on a recent thread, I'm a bit confused on the GM i1 software
> I'll need to make a profile.  Something about using a demo version or
> something of their more expensive software.
> 
> There was also mention of a piece of 3rd party software for $65 or so
> that might do the trick.
> 
> (4) Should I follow the tutorial "User Guide" PDF to make a profile
> or is there a better source of "How To" information?
> 
> (5) I'm a PWP user. Can I do this without PS?
> 
> Thanks much.
> 
> Scott