QTR-Quadtone RIP

See below:

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "Alan Ansell" <aansell@...> wrote:
>
> 
>  Tom,
> 
> Could you please just clarify part of your first paragraph below -
"converting your image colour space using the ICC profile for your
curve..."?
> 


In QTR once you've created a curve and linearized it you can print the
step wedge one more time and use the measure values to create an ICC
profile for the curve (or blend of curves) using the QTR-Create-ICC
utility. You can then use that ICC profile to softproof images you
plan to print with that curve (or blend) or use it for printing as we
have discussed. These ICC profiles are simply specifically tailored
versions of QTR-Gray-Matte (or other generic) profiles.

> I appreciate the help that you and others have given me, but to be
honest - and without wishing to sound at all ungrateful - all this is
starting to give me brain fade.
> 
> So, to try to clarify at least something and establish a starting
point for myself, put in simple terms:
> If I make a print using QTR and that my monitor accurately enough
shows how that print will look, yet I don't happen to think that the
blacks are 'right' - then should I simply forget using the curves that
ship with QTR and make some of my own?

I'm not sure what curve you're using. Curves are specific to a
particular printer/paper/ink combination. Sometimes you can use a
curve for a different paper but you may have to make adjustments to
the shadows or gamma, or re-linearize. 

 Since we can agree that neutral curves don't use any black ink, does 

I don't agree. For UT7 (and, I presume UT2) K is not usually used for
photo (non-matte) papers since it is usually Eboni which is a matte
ink. Even without using K, the dmax of photo papers is usually higher
than that of matte papers.

that mean that I need to accept that printing with a neutral curve set
limits the blacks?
> 
> Does it make sense to you for me to create a new curve set - call it
whatever - and add the black ink and then go about linearising etc? 

If you really want to use a K ink for a Photo paper use MIS PKN, not
Eboni.

Otherwise, I am starting to feel a bit bewildered by all these
seemingly continually conflicting methods and workarounds.
> 
> Is there anothere post, or some documentation on a website or within
the software that I may have not yet read that will explain in clear
steps how to go about the matte paper procedure you say you have
described?

If you're not already, you could join the DigitalBlackandWhitethePrint
yahoo mail list. Also, one of the members of that list has just
written a book on the subject. That might be interesting.

> 
> -- 
>   Alan Ansell
>   aansell@...
> 
> ----- Original message -----
> From: "Tom Moore" <rtmlists8888@...>
> To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:09:38 -0000
> Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] Re: Soft Proofing QTR in Photoshop
> 
> Alan
> I had described the procedure for matte papers, but the photo paper is

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