Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "meeshieck" <michal@...> wrote:
>
> Greg,
> 
> I'll give the It8 targets a go and see if that helps anything. I also run Platinum so that's alright. However I would gladly take you up on that offer of Colorport pattern that you would run through Printopen. I would really like to see what comes out of that. Please contact me off list when you will a have a moment to do that.
> 
> thanks,
> m.

Michal,

I viewed Monaco and ProfileMaker profiles for a luster paper in ColorThink (built from the exact same measurement file).  Paper white measures a little cool (-0.3a, -0.6b).  The raw measurement data for the lighter gray patches generally measures a little cooler than paper white (in the -1.0a, -2.5b range, plus or minus).  profiling Target - RGB data printed from PS with all color management off in PS and driver.  

Like you, I found that in the 1/4 tones, BOTH Monaco and ProfileMaker overshot the mark a little on the blue/yellow axis, pushing it from a negative b* reading to a positive b*.  I printed a grayscale with both profiles, using perceptual, and measurements are slightly yellow-green, as you reported.  The greenishness of the paper showed through, but the blue went to yellow (in the range of -0.5a, +1.2b).  I was able to correct the gray axis with Profile Editor.  

Maybe CMYK profiles on a linear device will be better than RGB profiles, but I suspect Tyler is right on the mark.....a perfect gray axis is not the strong suit of either package.  I would think that a heavy GCR would definitely help gray balance.  

I haven't done any checking on matte papers.  Just thought I'd pass this along.  

Lou