Digital BW, The Print

Since we lost the ability to profile ABW mode, I've decided to start working with adjustment curves to compensate for any problems with the linearity of the print driver.  I've never really used .acvs before, so while I understand the idea behind them, there are a few things I wanted to clarify. 
I downloaded a handy Excel utility (it came from one of these groups, so I'm sure many of you have it) that has you paste the density measurements from a 21 step file, and it tells you were to place the points on a curve.  I assume I'd print it the way I normally would for any file (printer manages, relative, dark), but I'm not sure what to do about assigning a profile to the target before printing.  Obviously for profiling, I'd want to leave it untagged, but since this is a little different, I'm thinking I should assign something.  Gray LAB is the most linear, so maybe it makes sense to use that, or knowing the print driver sends everything as generic gray gamma 2.2, perhaps I should use that.  Or do I just use my normal working space, gray gamma 2.2.  OR am I overthinking it (shocker), and I should just leave it untagged?

Then this might be a dumb question, but the Excel file generates more points than Photoshop will allow me to place on a curve.  Is there a way to convince PS to let me add more points, or should I just skip some in the more linear parts of the curve?

So in theory, I should be able to confirm that I've done everything correctly by applying my .acv to the 21 step file, and having it read perfectly linear, right? 
Given that they've removed the option to use profiles with ABW, is this the best alternative, or am I going about it the wrong way?

I'm running an 11880 on snow leopard with CS5.

Sorry for the long post...
Thanks for any input!

"CelluloidPhotography" <eric_edmondson@...> wrote:
>
> ... I've decided to start working with adjustment curves to compensate for any problems with the linearity of the print driver.  ...

> I downloaded a handy Excel utility (it came from one of these groups, so I'm sure many of you have it) that has you paste the density measurements from a 21 step file, and it tells you were to place the points on a curve...


I don't have that one.  Could you post the URL where it came from or make it available?

Thanks,

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

I would suggest quadtoneRIP. It runs the 11880 now and takes profiles.

I've built out a couple starters *not all of them linearized fyi. Take a look at the txt files before installing* at blackpointeditions.com/files/qtr

Best,
Walker

On Feb 5, 2012, at 8:37 PM, CelluloidPhotography wrote:

> Since we lost the ability to profile ABW mode, I've decided to start working with adjustment curves to compensate for any problems with the linearity of the print driver. I've never really used .acvs before, so while I understand the idea behind them, there are a few things I wanted to clarify. 
> I downloaded a handy Excel utility (it came from one of these groups, so I'm sure many of you have it) that has you paste the density measurements from a 21 step file, and it tells you were to place the points on a curve. I assume I'd print it the way I normally would for any file (printer manages, relative, dark), but I'm not sure what to do about assigning a profile to the target before printing. Obviously for profiling, I'd want to leave it untagged, but since this is a little different, I'm thinking I should assign something. Gray LAB is the most linear, so maybe it makes sense to use that, or knowing the print driver sends everything as generic gray gamma 2.2, perhaps I should use that. Or do I just use my normal working space, gray gamma 2.2. OR am I overthinking it (shocker), and I should just leave it untagged?
> 
> Then this might be a dumb question, but the Excel file generates more points than Photoshop will allow me to place on a curve. Is there a way to convince PS to let me add more points, or should I just skip some in the more linear parts of the curve?
> 
> So in theory, I should be able to confirm that I've done everything correctly by applying my .acv to the 21 step file, and having it read perfectly linear, right? 
> Given that they've removed the option to use profiles with ABW, is this the best alternative, or am I going about it the wrong way?
> 
> I'm running an 11880 on snow leopard with CS5.
> 
> Sorry for the long post...
> Thanks for any input!
> 
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Walker!  I've messed around with them a bit, I'm really diggin the Epson fiber warmer environment.
I guess the one thing I really like about ABW was the ability to adjust a tone without having to build a new curve (though that tone wheel always drove me crazy), but if that's not an option anymore, what can ya do.  QTR is no doubt a better option, it's just gonna take some time to get my tones dialed in.

Thanks for making your profiles available to the group! =)


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Walker Blackwell <forums@...> wrote:

>
> I would suggest quadtoneRIP. It runs the 11880 now and takes profiles.
> 
> I've built out a couple starters *not all of them linearized fyi. Take a look at the txt files before installing* at blackpointeditions.com/files/qtr
> 
> Best,
> Walker
> 
> On Feb 5, 2012, at 8:37 PM, CelluloidPhotography wrote:
> 
> > Since we lost the ability to profile ABW mode, I've decided to start working with adjustment curves to compensate for any problems with the linearity of the print driver. I've never really used .acvs before, so while I understand the idea behind them, there are a few things I wanted to clarify. 
> > I downloaded a handy Excel utility (it came from one of these groups, so I'm sure many of you have it) that has you paste the density measurements from a 21 step file, and it tells you were to place the points on a curve. I assume I'd print it the way I normally would for any file (printer manages, relative, dark), but I'm not sure what to do about assigning a profile to the target before printing. Obviously for profiling, I'd want to leave it untagged, but since this is a little different, I'm thinking I should assign something. Gray LAB is the most linear, so maybe it makes sense to use that, or knowing the print driver sends everything as generic gray gamma 2.2, perhaps I should use that. Or do I just use my normal working space, gray gamma 2.2. OR am I overthinking it (shocker), and I should just leave it untagged?
> > 
> > Then this might be a dumb question, but the Excel file generates more points than Photoshop will allow me to place on a curve. Is there a way to convince PS to let me add more points, or should I just skip some in the more linear parts of the curve?
> > 
> > So in theory, I should be able to confirm that I've done everything correctly by applying my .acv to the 21 step file, and having it read perfectly linear, right? 
> > Given that they've removed the option to use profiles with ABW, is this the best alternative, or am I going about it the wrong way?
> > 
> > I'm running an 11880 on snow leopard with CS5.
> > 
> > Sorry for the long post...
> > Thanks for any input!
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>