Digital BW, The Print

Steve,

>...

> > So, does black point compensation mean the curve hits (0,0)?
> 
> Yes.  ...

OK, BPC is used to take care of the end point issues, as I understand it.


> ... in XYZ (for B&W we only care about Y)

I thought Y in CIE XYZ was green.  Or do you mean the Y in xyY?

>...
> BPC scales the data such that the curve begins at 0,0.  
> So when you send pixel value 0 to the printer
> it gets left at 0 and hence prints as dark as the printer possibly can.

This is what I'd want.

> ...

> > Is the QTR Curve Creator Linearization tab a look-up take interface?
> 
> Now it is. 


I think I'm only able to open the Curves Creator and not the
"QTR-Create-ICC.exe."  Is this just a Mac program, or does it require i1?
(It's in the i1 folder.)



> ... [Roy's] aim is to proof hue and luminance correctly.

Ultimately, that could be useful, but for the B&W I'm targeting now it's
complexity that gets in the way of the basics of B&W printing.

> ...  ICC profiles have the advantage
> that people can set up soft proof in the normal fashion.

That sounds like another complex story.  If we're in PS the custom dot gain
curves do it, but we do need to get a simpler method.


...
> > Is there a place that describes the specific ways in which a 
> > Windows XP user
> > can use QTR to make an ICC that can be used in the Print with Preview
> > workflow and then the Epson driver?
> >
> Not sure but it is really very easy.  Print a step wedge with the workflow
> of your choice eg Epson Adv B&W with a particular set of settings.  Scan
> the
> step wedge with an EyeOne or other device that will provide the sort of
> data
> QTR Create ICC can read. ...

I'm not sure I can even open Create ICC.  So far I just get a momentary
flash on the monitor.




> > Are those ICCs useable in the Print with Preview procedure 
> > with the Epson driver?
> 

>   Yes I use them all the time.  I have profiled my Epson Adv B&W
> settings, one for each hue - neutral, warm, sepia and cool.  I do not mess
> with the darker and other settings (other than hue).  I prefer to edit the
> image in PS rather than in the driver which has limited editing ability.

The possible advantage with using the driver controls as much as possible is
that they may well be doing hardware linearization in the driver -- with no
loss of grayscale steps.  The ICC or TF in the Print with Preview -- or
anywhere in PS -- loses some information with each transformation.

Interesting stuff, but I don't seem to have an easy way to make the ICCs at
this point.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 
 



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