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B&W Profiling Problem

B&W Profiling Problem

2007-12-05 by ve3hls

Hi folks,

Just joined a few minutes ago!  I have PrintFix Pro (2.1 I think) 
and have been happy with it.  Last night I started creating a 
profile for Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl for my Pixma Pro 9000 and 
decided to do the additional greyscale/B&W profile as well.

With the software set to do both profiles, it let me go through the 
255 colour test sheet, except there was no audible acknowledgement 
that it was finished when I did the last patch on the last line (no 
bells).  I assumed it was waiting for me to start on the B&W test 
patches, but I wasn't prompted to do so.

How is this supposed to work anyway?  Colour-only profiling is no 
problem (and in fact, the B&W prints I get from the colour-only 
profile are excellent) but something's not right when doing the B&W 
profile with it.  I'm using version 2.1 on an Intel iMac.

I'd be grateful for any assistance.

Ken Alexander

Re: [colorvision_group] B&W Profiling Problem

2007-12-05 by David Miller

Here are my extended notes on using Extended Grays...:-)

(The short answer is: you have to measure the targets separately after
you've printed them, there's no automatic process of measuring one after
the other.)

*****


First, print one of the color targets (either 225 or 729 patches; I'd suggest
starting with 225, to keep things simple, then try again with 729 later if you
like).

Then print the Extended Grays target. If you do the 225 colors and the 238
extended grays, you'll have two sheets of letter size targets ready to measure
It's extremely important that you print both of these on the same paper, using
the same driver settings.

Then, on the Read Patches screen, measure each one of them. Before you step
forward into that screen, you need to set "which" kind of target you're going
to be measuring on the Select Target screen. So: Select Target: 225; click
Next; Save Measurements To...; then Read Patches. Step back to Select Target:
Extended Grays; click Next; Save Measurements To...; Read Patches again. Now
you have measurements saved for colors, and for grays.

Visually check them, too, for accuracy. Open up the Target window for each,
switch to Measured mode so you can see only the measured colors, drag on the
lower right corner to make the window even larger, then visually compare to
your target print. You should see a reasonably close match. Look for "bad"
measurements, which (if they exist) will typically be too-light patches that
stand out among their neighbors in the darker regions; they should be easy
to spot. Remeasure any bad ones (arrow keys to locate the patch, then measure
again).

Now that you've got these, you can Build.

The Extended Grays are used as a supplement to the colors; but you don't build
a profile straight from them; that why if you select them in the measurement
list, you can't step forward to the Build screen. (We have to let them show
UP in that popup, though, because you need a way to measure and preview and
possibly remeasure them).

Instead, this is what you do:

- Select your COLOR measurements in the main popup on the Read Patches screen.

- Once you do this, another checkbox and popup (smaller) will show up below
that, and your Extended Grays measurements will be in THAT popup. (All
Extended Grays measurements that are in your Data:PRO folder will show up in
this supplementary popup below the main popup). Use that smaller popup to
select "which" extended grays measurements you want to use; and then CHECK
the checkbox if you want them to actually be USED when you build the profile.
(If the checkbox isn't checked, then when you build, only the color 
measurements
will be used when you build the profile).

- To summarize: to build a profile with Extended Grays used as part of the
profiling process:

- Measure a color target and a grays target

- Select the color target in the main popup

- Select the extended grays target in the supplementary popup that appears
below it; and also CHECK the "Use extended grays" checkbox.


Best regards,


-- 
David Miller
Senior Software Developer, Digital Color Solutions
ColorVision

Re: B&W Profiling Problem

2007-12-07 by ve3hls

Hi David,

Many thanks...it worked, but even then it took me several tries.  

I wasn't expecting to save the measurements to two separate files.  That particular step is 
not explained during the process, and not in the Help file.  

The Help file doesn't explain the process of measuring extended grays, in addition to a 
colour chart, at all.  When I checked the Use "Extended Grays" box I was expecting the 
software to know what I wanted to do, and then to guide me through the process, as it 
did up to that point.  Instead, I have to go through an undocumented process of going 
forward and backing up a few steps to make it work.  It's not what I'd call intuitive

All that said, in the end it does a marvelous job.  The black and white prints I get out of 
my Pro 9000 without any further tweaking of the profile are excellent.

Sorry for dumping on you like this.  I do appreciate your help, but I assume that one of 
the reasons you're here is to pick up feedback from your customers, and I hope that the 
earful you got from me will give you a few good ideas.

Thanks again,

Ken


--- In colorvision_group@yahoogroups.com, David Miller <dm2363@...> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
>
> Here are my extended notes on using Extended Grays...:-)
> 
> (The short answer is: you have to measure the targets separately after
> you've printed them, there's no automatic process of measuring one after
> the other.)

Re: [colorvision_group] Re: B&W Profiling Problem

2008-01-31 by Ghi Stecyk

i have a question about the Benq LCD monitors. on their website Benq 
promotes a Senseye image enhancement technology. is this a benefit or a 
problem with regards to monitor calibration using the Spyder? also i 
have the old Spyder 2 Pro, does the new Spyder 3 calibrate LCD monitors 
more effectively?

thanks

Ghi

Re: [colorvision_group] Re: B&W Profiling Problem

2008-02-04 by CDTobie@aol.com


In a message dated 1/31/08 2:28:04 PM, ghiangelo@... writes:


i have a question about the Benq LCD monitors. on their website Benq
promotes a Senseye image enhancement technology. is this a benefit or a
problem with regards to monitor calibration using the Spyder?



As far as I can see its a series of "consumer flavors" that should be avoided by serious users, who are striving to get an accurate and "unflavored" result on screen...

also i
have the old Spyder 2 Pro, does the new Spyder 3 calibrate LCD monitors
more effectively?


Its more accurate and more flexible in a number of ways, both due to the new sensor, and the new software. But if you are happy with the calibration you are getting with Spyder2PRO, then thats great.

C. David Tobie
WW Product Technology Manager
Digital Imaging & Home Theater
Datacolor
CDTobie@datacolor.com
www.datacolor.com/Spyder3



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