Digital BW, The Print

Linda-

Like Steve I am finding the profiles from QTR Create ICC wonderful on 
the 2400.  They are used as follows:  Let PS Determine Colors, the 
profile as the printing space, ABW neutral (which is 
automatically "darker") with the proper paper selected (the one you 
are actually using or a third party equivalent).  I also use the 
profile in Soft Proof, which simulates the paper white and helps 
visualize the print.  I am still a little unclear about how the black 
point is handled in the profile but I select BPC in PS.  Perhaps 
Steve can clear this up.  Regardless I have an extremely good screen 
to print match with the monitor calibrated to 65K, gamma 2.2 and 
luminosity at 40 cd/m2.  Both the monitor calibration and printer 
profiles are done with the i1 spectrometer.  I have done printer 
profiles with both the 21 and 51 step wedges and see no difference 
between them by eye.  Perhaps Steve has an opinion on this as well.

I am happy to share them, but have them only for EEM and VFA (both of 
course MK) and the standard Epson inks.  Each paper (Epson or third 
party) should have its own profile although the EEM and VFA are quite 
close.

On the QTR share fee, someone using these profiles would not actually 
be using QTR (but a product of QTR), but it seems like a good idea to 
support Roy for this wonderful contribution.  You'll save more than 
$50 on ink and paper your first day because of the accuracy.

Walt




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Steve Kale 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
> Hi Linda
> 
> 
> > From: "Linda J. Thorsen" <linda@l...>
> 
> > 
> > This makes sense to me, and of course the driver knows what 
printer
> > I'm using (and in my  case which inks, since i'm using the 
standard
> > set) and it knows which paper I'm using, (Epson Premium Semigloss)
> > because I select that in the print driver as well. So while in
> > color mode I'm choosing the appropriate profile for that
> > paper/printer in the PS Print Preview dialog (because PS doesn't
> > really know about my printer),
> 
> Here, if you have PS adjust the image file for the printer ICC 
profile, you
> are making the assumption that the printer's greyscale output in 
Advanced
> B&W mode is consistent with its output in Colour mode - the profile 
you are
> using is a colour ICC profile compiled by printing the response 
behaviour of
> the printer in colour mode.  This MAY be the case in the default 
settings
> but I doubt it.  It can NOT be correct for all the possible 
settings in ABW
> mode. So if this is a help then it is a bit pot luck.  If you are 
Let[ting]
> Printer Determine Colors there is a debate as to whether the 
printer driver
> uses the profile you send at all.  But again, I would say it is 
unlikely and
> that it is more likely the driver at best has its own lookup tables 
for ABW
> mode for each type of paper selected.
> 
> >in ABW I've assumed I don't
> > really have to worry about the print driver knowing enough
> > if I'm letting the printer manage the "color"-- it gets the basic
> > paper/ink info it needs from its own logic and settings, yes?
> > 
> > Incidentally, what are people seeing for a black point for ABW on
> > the 2400 (eg on Epson Premium Semigloss with PK)  and does
> > the Normal,Dark,Darker setting change this, or just
> > change the other parts of the curve? I didn't quite follow the
> > threadon this one.....
> 
> It just changes the gamma or contrast but not the two end points.  
The
> Highlight Point Shift option does shift the white point so that 
there is ink
> laid down in all parts of the image to avoid the gloss differential 
between
> ink and paper.
> 
> QTR Create ICC is a much more sensible approach:  measure and 
profile the
> stimulus-response behaviour of the printer IN ABW MODE and have PS 
use that
> profile to adjust image file data prior to it being sent to the 
printer.  I
> am sure there are people with both a 2400 and Eye-One Photo who can 
print
> the step wedges and create the profiles for various papers and ABW 
modes and
> make them available to people who don't have the equipment.  You 
only need
> to profile the default setting as it makes more sense to edit the 
look of an
> image in PS rather than in the crude Epson driver (by selecting 
Lighter,
> Darkest etc). Then anyone paying the $50 QTR shareware fee can use 
these
> profiles and improve their Epson AB&W output (without having to buy 
an
> Eye-One Photo or similar device).  I have profiles for the 4800 
which I am
> happy to share with those who have paid their QTR fee.  I do not, 
however,
> have a 2400.
> 
> Steve