Digital BW, The Print

Hi,
I think you'll find BO printing a bit dotty if you like darkroom prints.

QTR made simple in ten easy steps:

1. Convert image to QTR Grey Matte profile in Photoshop if you're printing on matte paper. 
2. Save image in a folder called 'QTR Temp'.
3. Open QTR, select the curve nearest to the paper type you're using. Two good matte papers I recommend that have curves in QTR for the 2200 are Entrada Natural and PremierArt Mat BW (though QTR calls it PremierArt Fine Art Matte - don't you wish these companies would just settle on one name? You just about need a degree in taxonomy these days just to know what paper you're using:)   ).
4. In QTR, blend the cool and warm curves for the paper you've chosen to achieve whatever tone you want - ranging from cool to warm. For neutral, start with 50/50%.
5. Dithering - choose 'Ordered' - I don't know what advantage other algorithms offer and ordered works fine.
6. Choose  Speed 'Uni-directional' for best quality (though Bi-directional is pretty good too and fine for proofs).
7. Load the image from the File menu and print out a small proof. You might want to tweak the gamma or ink limit to get a better match to your calibrated monitor.
8. Try again. You  should be able to get a good result quite quickly.
9. Put on Bach's Goldberg Variations, go and make a cup of tea and think 'That was easy'! (1,2)
10. Send Roy Harrington a payment of $50.

Footnotes
(1.) The Bach CD is optional and may not have a discernable effect on print quality, but it works well for me at any rate.
(2.) The cup of tea likewise has little effect on print quality unless you spill it on the print. Of course, silver gelatin prints can be toned with Oolong tea - but these are inkjet prints and toning can be achieved in QTR without needing to spill any tea.

Good luck,
Richard

At 02:56 p.m. Wednesday 9/07/2008, you wrote:
>I'm trying the black ink only method first and then will progress to
>QTR. I've downloaded QTR, but it seems that there is yet another
>learning curve to climb. In principle it reminds me of the Vuescan
>independent scanner control software I use. I continue to be amazed
>at the quality of shareware specialty software created by highly
>talented enthusiasts. Thank you!
>
>--- In <mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com>DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tyler Boley"
><tyler@...> wrote:
>>
>> I'm with Richard on this, download QTR and use it as a demo for a
>> while. Probably comes with some great canned 2200 curves already, it
>> being a tried and true printer for years.
>> You'll learn a lot about B&W ink printing, and may wind up not needing
>> to spend any more... except you should give Roy the $50 for shareware
>> at that point... 
>> Tyler
>> 
>
> 

--
richard smallfield photography
http://smallfield.vze.com
http://www.photoforum-nz.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?pageID=19&showID=50 

   "I am not young enough to know everything." 
   --Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) 


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