Digital BW, The Print

Robert, thank you very much, you are very helpful.
Yes, it's Mac. QTR is so confusing, more than Maya which is not easy to learn. There are bits and pieces of information.
As I see now workflow is following:

1. To make custom curves - print ink separation file (why it looks so different from the one in calibration.pdf? and why there 4 of them: pdf, tiff, 6.tiff, 8.tiff?) in calibration mode, use it to make ink file like described in calibration.pdf
2. Linearize this file - I'm not sure how yet.
3. Print gray wedge using this curve, make ICC profile - this is easy part.
4. Print images using the curve and ICC profile

Am I close? 
What I'm really close to is to forget about QTR and print with ABW.

Thanks again, Jacob



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "robert49brake" <robert49brake@...> wrote:
>
> 
> > > Now I've got a problem.
> > > I'm trying to print targets with gray wedges through QTRprinter on my 7880 but prints look very strange - very pale, hardly visible and colored.
> > > All I did is to open file in PS CS3, select 'no color management", QTR printer, select "QTR calibration" and printed.
> > > ABW driver printed OK.
> > > 
> > > Any ideas?
> 
> > 
> > It sounds like you're on a Mac.  I'm PC, so a Mac QTR user will have to handle this one.
> > 
> > Paul
> > www.PaulRoark.com
> 
> Jacob, I think what you've done is print a b&w 21 stepwedge through the Calibration mode in QTR, does that sound correct?  If so, the Calibration mode is only used on special files that determine ink limits.
> 
> Go to Applications>QuadToneRIP>CurveDesign>Images and there you will find the special inkseperation files that are run in the calibration mode to drive each head individually so that you can determine ink limits.  That process is spelled out in a file called Calibration.pdf also found in the CurveDesign folder.  When building a custom profile you would print 21 stepwedges as you would print any normal file, that is through QTR with your choice of profile.  If you are new to QTR I would suggest reading Roy Harrington's Basic Tutorial Quadtone RIP on Mac OS X found on the QTR website.  I would also suggest printing at first on a paper/inkset that has already been profiled.  You can find those listed under Applications>QuadToneRIP>Profiles under your printer and inkset (ex: 4880-7880-9880-UC for Epson Ultrachrome Inkset.  There is generally enough info in the profile name to identify the paper, resolution, tone etc.  If you are jumping directly into custom profile making it will be a bit daunting (but doable) although  you'll probably be a lot more copmfortable using the ready made materials first.  The pre-made profiles may be all that you need unless you have a custom inkset and/or very specific papers.  QTR also has many, many advanced and older features that aren't relative unless you are doing things like unusual papers/inksets and can be extremely distracting for someone new to the RIP.  The QTR forum, although not nearly as busy as this one, does get traffic from experienced users and specific questions usually get answered eventually.  As Paul mentioned, QTR on OS X and QTR using the Windows GUI program are two completely different beasts so always mention your OS.
> 
> 
> Good luck!
>