Digital BW, The Print

Paul, 
Thanks for all the perfect answers to my questions (again). 

Your level of confidence in the ease of use is contagious.  Now I am really itching to buy those inks and try those Roark Curves!

(I hope no one thinks I am a shill for you or MIS.)  (grin)

On another note...your responses make it seem so easy.  I wonder why some of the other discussions on this list leave me in a fog when people talk about transfer curves and related techo speak stuff?

While you are "curving" the Legion Photo Matte (LPM), I would like to put in a request for you to check out the Hahnemuhle Watercolor Rag Smooth (HWRS) which is very similar (but a touch warmer in tone) in surface finish (ultra smooth) but also is 100% rag. 

Regards again...and I will try your ink/method/curve. 

Steadman
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Roark 
  To: DigitalB&WPrint 
  Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2001 10:35 AM
  Subject: Re: [Digital BW] 4 Paul Roark: MIS VM and Piezo Questions


  Steadman,

  You wrote:

  >I suppose for me the only questions left are whether
  >I have the skills needed and time needed to do the
  >"workflows" dance.

  I hope there is no "dance" needed.  The basic workflow with the
  variable-tone inkset is: edit in grayscale, convert file to RGB, apply
  adjustment curve, print.

  A Photoshop "action" is easy an easy-to-make macro that sets up a key that
  can handle the conversion to RGB and application of the appropriate curve.
  It also then calls up the printer driver.

  So, once one sets up an action, the printing function is virtually a
  one-button procedure.  I suppose I ought to summarize how to do that one
  this forum, and perhaps MIS should have that procedure on the its
  workflow/settings page.

  Frankly, I don't bother with a macro/action because I find the manual
  workflow rather simple.  On the other hand, I admit I've forgotten to
  convert to RGB at least once.

  >As it is, I have a lack of time for tweaking/experimenting ...

  None should be required.  While the curves are written for Archival Matte
  paper, that profile works for many papers.  It is my hope that others will
  contribute and share Transfer Function profiles for different papers, as
  needed.  In fact, there are all sorts of interesting things that can be
  easily done and shared that way, including "canned" split-toning approaches.

  One of the many advantages of the Epson driver is the availability of that
  easy Transfer Function capability.

  >I am tempted by the VM because I too would like to have
  >control over the warmth/coolness.  Your VM solution and
  >curves sounds like a great advance.

  I came up with this approach because the existing inks, as good as they are,
  were just not producing the results I wanted.  Once a mix and curves are
  done for oneself, I just don't see any reason not to share.  All the work is
  done once the curves or Transfer Function file is saved.  I hope others
  using this inkset adopt the same attitude.

  >IF the VM solution is one that requires a lot of print/
  >modify curve/print again/ modify again/... I probably can't
  >use it for my production work.  ...

  I sure hope that isn't necessary.  I don't really know the
  printer-to-printer variances within Epson printer types.  It is true that
  each printer family needs it's own set of curves, but those curves will all
  be available from me or MIS soon.  Once that is done, they should work
  without further modification.

  Then, if and when profiles are needed, I hope others share their solutions.
  I just ordered some Legion Matte, for example.  It's gotten such good
  reviews that I wanted to try some.  I'll test -- both for it's looks and
  light fastness with the variable-tone inkset -- and see if it needs a
  profile.  If it does, I'll write one and make it available.

  Obviously, not all papers are going to be of interest to me, so this won't
  happen with all the papers out there.  But if we all share, there will be
  many more profiles available and more quickly than any other system.

  >So, for someone like me...is it VM/Curves  easy enough? ...

  I think you'll find it easy to use.  I'm getting comments from first-time
  users who seem to be getting great results immediately.

  Good luck.

  Paul
  http://www.PaulRoark.com


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