Digital BW, The Print

Hello all.  I'm new to the forum.  I've been working out my methods
of 
B&W printing on an Epson 780 using the MIS UT2 inkset.  I have been 
using/experimenting with the Paul Roarke curves.  When printing a
step 
wedge, my max black happens around 94%.  

So in order to keep certain dark areas of an image from blocking up,
I 
can use either the levels dialogue or the curves dialogue and adjust
my 
output down appropriately.  Should this be done before or after 
applying the curves or do these curves correct this?  If using the 
curves dialogue would I apply it to the RGB curve - as I understand 
this may mess everything up.

Thanks,
Earl

Hello Earl,

There is a very good website www.zuberphotographics.com that has 
much information about Black Point and White Point settings. This 
will help you get the full dynamic range your print will produce 
without blocking the shadows below that 94% point. There is a great 
deal of information on that site, so you may wish to add it to your 
favorites.

Another option is Roy Harrington's QTR (QuadToneRip) at 
www.royharrington.com

Your friend in Photography,

Johnny




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "esharamaki" 
<esharamaki@y...> wrote:
> Hello all.  I'm new to the forum.  I've been working out my methods
> of 
> B&W printing on an Epson 780 using the MIS UT2 inkset.  I have 
been 
> using/experimenting with the Paul Roarke curves.  When printing a
> step 
> wedge, my max black happens around 94%.  
> 
> So in order to keep certain dark areas of an image from blocking 
up,
> I 
> can use either the levels dialogue or the curves dialogue and 
adjust
> my 
> output down appropriately.  Should this be done before or after 
> applying the curves or do these curves correct this?  If using the 
> curves dialogue would I apply it to the RGB curve - as I 
understand 

> this may mess everything up.
> 
> Thanks,
> Earl

Hello Earl;

Please clarify one point:

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "esharamaki" 
<esharamaki@y...> wrote:
  When printing a
> step 
> wedge, my max black happens around 94%.  
> 
Is this happening with the Epson driver, before applying the curves? 
If so, that's very typical of Epson's setup for that series of 
printers, they do it to increase the 'punch' of the prints. You may 
have to do very little adjustment, as Paul's curves for the 1280 
mostly compensate for this.

> So in order to keep certain dark areas of an image from blocking 
up,
> I 
> can use either the levels dialogue or the curves dialogue and 
adjust
> my 
> output down appropriately.  Should this be done before or after 
> applying the curves or do these curves correct this?  If using the 
> curves dialogue would I apply it to the RGB curve - as I 
understand 
> this may mess everything up.

If you do still need some adjustment, make a separate adjustment 
layer, and keep it and all other layers UNDER the RGB curve layer. 
Don't mess with they RGB curves, there be monsters in that forest!
(g)  
  

Steve Karafyllakis

Hello Johnny and Steve

Thanks for the information.  I tried OTR and I like it.  I was just
wondering about using photoshop for the printing part.  I wanted to
utilize Paul's curves eventually.  To clarify Steves question, yes
this is using photoshop to print with the Epson driver adjusted to
"premium glossy photo..." and using Kirkland glossy.  A straight test
print with photoshop and no curve "puddled" a little bit.  Distracting
to look at from  slight angle.  A "neutral" print from QTR looked very
smooth but not exactly what I was looking at on the monitor when I
made the print.   (I apologize for misspelling Paul's last name in my
original post!) 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Steven
Karafyllakis" <steve@s...> wrote:

> Hello Earl;
> 
> Please clarify one point:
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "esharamaki" 
> <esharamaki@y...> wrote:
>   When printing a
> > step 
> > wedge, my max black happens around 94%.  
> > 
> Is this happening with the Epson driver, before applying the curves? 
> If so, that's very typical of Epson's setup for that series of 
> printers, they do it to increase the 'punch' of the prints. You may 
> have to do very little adjustment, as Paul's curves for the 1280 
> mostly compensate for this.
> 
> > So in order to keep certain dark areas of an image from blocking 
> up,
> > I 
> > can use either the levels dialogue or the curves dialogue and 
> adjust
> > my 
> > output down appropriately.  Should this be done before or after 
> > applying the curves or do these curves correct this?  If using the 
> > curves dialogue would I apply it to the RGB curve - as I 
> understand 
> > this may mess everything up.
> 
> If you do still need some adjustment, make a separate adjustment 
> layer, and keep it and all other layers UNDER the RGB curve layer. 
> Don't mess with they RGB curves, there be monsters in that forest!
> (g)  
>   
> 
> Steve Karafyllakis