Digital BW, The Print

I've been lurking for a while looking for answers, but have not 
found exactly what I've been looking for. Maybe some of you, or 
Paul, can clear things up for me.

1)  According to Paul's workflow, I should be using the 
Photoshop 5 default color settings in PS 6. This brings up the 
question as to whether I should be assigning a profile to my 
image file before I edit it. For example, if it's an RGB file, do I 
bring it in untagged (no color management) or do I assign the 
working space, i.e., sRGB? When I convert the file to grayscale, 
PS assigns the PS5 default grayscale profile, gamma 2.2. Since 
I'm on a Mac, shouldn't I be assigning it a gamma of 1.8? Should 
I be saving my grayscale file with an imbedded profile or not?

2)  In the Epson Printer dialog, do any of you use the Brightness 
or Contrast sliders, or should this be left at 0?

3) The reason for question number 2 is that my prints seem a bit 
less contrasty (particularly in the shadows) and maybe slightly 
lighter then when I view them on the monitor (I'm assuming that 
my monitor is calibrated correctly). In one of Paul's text files, he 
mentions using the Black (RGB) curve of his curve set to adjust 
for monitor to print matching. Won't this affect or alter the 
separate R-G-B curves in a non-linear fashion? Placing a point 
in the center of the Black curve should just affect the mid-tones, 
no? I just want to adjust the gamma so that my prints come out a 
bit darker, like what I see on the monitor. How do I do this?

Well, I guess I've used up my 15 minutes... btw, this group really 
rocks. You folks have provided me with a wealth of information. 
Thanks.

Ed

<http://www.his.com/ed>