QTR-Quadtone RIP

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, Michael Tiktinsky 
<mt_photographer@s...> wrote:
> I do not understand why one would need to use QTR with
> the piezography inks since the piezography inks come
> with ICC profiles which do an excellent job.  Can
> someone clarify this for me?  Plus, using the ICC
> profiles means also using the epson printer drivers,
> not having to convert the file to TIFF but rather keep
> it in native PSD photoshop, and, if already converted
> to Lab color, do not  have to reconvert to color or
> monochrome color space.

Michael,

Because, and this is the purpose of QTR, the profiles shipped with 
PiezoBW ICC are generic. You have the possibility to ask (pay) for 
custom made one that will then bring out the same results. I have not 
tested this service, but having PiezoBW ICC, the output with the 
generic profile is really, but really poor. Well, like canned color 
profiles are out of the box. The grayscale is not smooth at all.

The use of ICC IMHO in a great thing under windows, all in done in 
PS. But again you have to get custom made profiles that add $150 for 
3 of them. I don't like this idea : 1) because the kit is already 
well priced, 2) because if you want more than 3 papers you add again 
$150 3)because when you do quadtone printing you often do also color 
prints and usely have some profiler available you would like to be 
able to use to get the most out of your equipment.

Only 2 options left : QTR or tweaking the profile in the editing part 
of your profiler (often based on curves, they are RVB, so you go a 
bit in the Paul Roark direction too). It's a pure personal choice 
also also OS dependent.

Piezotone is meant to deliver pure BW prints wuth ni metamerism (but 
only on matte papers), not to deliver a linear output.

Olivier