QTR-Quadtone RIP

(Ping: Paul Roark)

I decided to create a profile for HanPhotoRag for my R2400 using K7 inks; Mac OS 10.5.5 
Leopard, QTR 2.6.  Although results with the canned QTR profile look pretty good, perhaps 
they can be better.

I scanned a Kodak gray card, along with the 21-step scale, as described by Paul.  With 
Levels, I made the gray card 50% which, of course shifted the values of the 21-step scale.

Step 21 reads 100% (black).  Step 1 reads 0 (paper white).

Unfortunately, steps 4, 3, and 2 also read 0, i.e., there is a flat spot.  And in Paul's pdf, he 
notes that one should be able to create an ICC - provided there is no flat spot.  When I 
plod on, dropping the txt file into Create ICC (both on the desktop) I get the message: 
"The Lab values are not in order.  Cannot make a profile."  If I reverse the order, I get the 
same message but with a different empty table.

I may also be confused about the proper order; Paul refers to the high numbers as being 
at the light end (white = 100%), whereas step 21 in the 21-step strip is black, 100%.

So, now I'm stuck.  Assuming that the flat spot is the problem, what is the next step? (And 
why do I have such a large flat spot?)  Or, perhaps I've not followed Paul's instructions 
properly.

Advice much appreciated.

Harry