Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

Can I work in Gray Lab even if the image might end up in ImagePrint ?

After I scan and process my negs I would like an option of using
either QTR or IP. (I used to work in Gray Gamma 2.2). 

Are there any advantages/pitfalls when making Gray Lab a space for all
B&W work or is it meant to be used only in conjuction with Gray
Matte/Photo profiles ?

TIA,

Roman

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "rm9789" <rm9789@y...> 
wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Can I work in Gray Lab even if the image might end up in ImagePrint ?
> 
> After I scan and process my negs I would like an option of using
> either QTR or IP. (I used to work in Gray Gamma 2.2). 
> 
> Are there any advantages/pitfalls when making Gray Lab a space for all
> B&W work or is it meant to be used only in conjuction with Gray
> Matte/Photo profiles ?
> 
> TIA,
> 
> Roman

Roman,

I don't know for sure about ImagePrint but the Gray Lab is just another 
grayspace like gray gamma 2.2 or dotgain 25% etc.  As long as you are
print in a color managed environment you ought to be able to use any
of the grayspaces.   With QuadToneRIP is you print using Gray Matte/Photo
the color management will be converting from whatever grayspace you
are editing in to the print space,  I imaging IP will be doing the same thing.

Roy

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roy Harrington"
<roy@h...> wrote:
> I don't know for sure about ImagePrint but the Gray Lab is just
> another grayspace like gray gamma 2.2 or dotgain 25% etc.  As long
> as you are print in a color managed environment you ought to be
> able to use any of the grayspaces.   With QuadToneRIP is you print
> using Gray Matte/Photo the color management will be converting from
> whatever grayspace you are editing in to the print space,  I imaging
> IP will be doing the same thing.
> 
> Roy

Roy

What advantage do you see in editing B&W photos in the gray-lab space
compared to other working spaces - like gamma 2.2 or aRGB - when the
image is going to be converted again anyway - to gray-matte - for
printing.

F_P

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "ferdinand_paris" 
<ferdinand_paris@y...> wrote:
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Roy Harrington"
> <roy@h...> wrote:
> > I don't know for sure about ImagePrint but the Gray Lab is just
> > another grayspace like gray gamma 2.2 or dotgain 25% etc.  As long
> > as you are print in a color managed environment you ought to be
> > able to use any of the grayspaces.   With QuadToneRIP is you print
> > using Gray Matte/Photo the color management will be converting from
> > whatever grayspace you are editing in to the print space,  I imaging
> > IP will be doing the same thing.
> > 
> > Roy
> 
> Roy
> 
> What advantage do you see in editing B&W photos in the gray-lab space
> compared to other working spaces - like gamma 2.2 or aRGB - when the
> image is going to be converted again anyway - to gray-matte - for
> printing.
> 
> F_P

There's not a huge difference, but the different grayspaces are visibly
different.  A simple way to see some of these differences is to make a
big stepwedge across our screen.  I.e. in 16 bit mode if you have CS, do
a gradient and then posterize to 51 steps (giving 2% steps).  Then in 
Assign Profile you can Preview the steps in all different grayspaces.
I think GG 2.2 tends to block up the shadows a fair amount.  GG 1.8 will
lighten the whole range a lot, the dotgain ones are different still.  The
Gray Lab at least theoretically is the most visually linear.  I primarily
scan B&W film so I have no "builtin" grayspace so starting with gray lab
works well.   If you are starting with an Adobe RGB file then GG 2.2 may be 
the more obvious grayspace since aRGB is based on gamma 2.2.

If you are diligent about editing to get all the shadow detail exactly how
you want it, you can get exactly the same results using any grayspace.
I think I spent more time before fiddling with the shadows with gg 2.2
than I do now with gray lab but its pretty subjective.

Roy