QTR-Quadtone RIP

> but I haven't figured out how to
> "print without linearize values, measure, and 
> put the values into a curve."
> And that's why I'm not using QTR..
> 

That assumes that you have followed the first couple of steps in 
setting up a new curve.  Basically you should have already done the 
following:

1) Print out the the step chart for all of the inks, with no ink 
limit set, using the QTR "Calibration Mode." Then,

2) Determine the black ink limit from that chart.  Set the limit in 
QTR. Print out the step charts a second time with that limit set.

3) Go to "Curve Creation" in QTR. Use the 1st and 2nd chart to 
determine the "Density" and "Limit" for each of the other black/grey 
inks.  Save the curve set that you are working on.  (Paul Roark has 
some pretty good instructions for all of this on his web site.)


Once you are at that point, go into QTR and open up the 21 Step 
chart.  

4) Select the curve set that you are working on.  Set the dpi, etc. 
that you want to use later for your prints.  Print out the 21 Step 
chart with that curve.

5) Open the Gretag ProfileMaker software. Use the "Measure" function. 
Use a spectrophotometer to read the "L" values of each patch on the 
21 step chart that you just printed.

6) Export the "L" values to a text file.  Open the text file, cut and 
paste the values to Excel.  Copy just the "L" values from Exzcel.

7) Paste the L values on the "Linerization" tab of teh curve that you 
are making in QTR.  Save the file.  Generate the curves.


A few points. If you have gotten to the stage of making your own ICC 
profile using the QTR "Create ICC" tool, you should already be 
through step #6?  You should have created a text file from the 21 
step chart that you dragged to the "Create ICC" tool?  Then it is 
just a matter of entering those values in the curve that you are 
creating in QTR.

One question though: what papers are you using? Which inks? Aren't 
there existng profiles in QTR for the 3800 and a paper close to teh 
one tht you are using? The curves don't vary a lot from paper to 
paper.

Hope that helps.  No time to re-read - hope it all makes sense 
too. ;>) Post questions. Good luck!

Best,
Michael