<x-charset iso-8859-1>That's quite interesting Paul. I wonder how a Profiler Pro run Gen 4 set would compare to your custom curve result. Several folks have commented this software builds extremely neutral profiles, very usable for B&W printing. Dave King ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Roark <proark@silcom.com> To: Epson-inkjet <epson-inkjet@leben.com> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 1:23 PM Subject: B&W color -- Curves for Generations inkset > I use my 1160 for both Piezo ink and Generations ink. I recently wrote a > set of RGB curves to balance the Generations inkset for B&W output. The > curves separate the blacks (95%- 100%) as well as the Piezo system software, > eliminate all significant crossovers, and compromise the metamerism so that > the prints are OK in any light. The overall color is a tad on the cool side > (less than some true cold tone outputs). > > Bottom line results: In side-by-side viewing contests of the same landscape > shot (Clearing Storm, Yosemite, on my website), the Generations inkset B&W > output beat the Piezo quad inkset output consistently in all light sources. > The viewers were people who are accustomed to cool or neutral-tone silver > prints. They thought the Piezo outputs looked yellow, with weak blacks. > They also thought the Generations print was sharper. (They are wrong here, > but its the eyes that count, not the technical resolution numbers. It's > probably the perceptually deeper blacks that do it.) > > Now, I'm not at all claiming that a color inkset is better than a quad > inkset for ultimate technical quality, but viewers show such a preference > for cool or neutral-toned landscapes that the technical differences that > those of us on this list might see are simply irrelevant to the normal (but > sophisticated) viewers. > > Of course, I will continue to use Piezo inks for my digital photo > restorations or where warm tones are preferable. And where longevity is > critical, I assume the Generations inkset will fade unevenly, such that > those outputs will eventually take on too much color to be acceptable. (Of > course, I will next try to balance out a 2000P, which might well outlast the > best quad tone inkset.) > > The curves I've written for B&W output are for the 1160 only, Archival Matte > paper, and Generations v.3 inkset. (I still have a lot of that in my CIS > system.) If anyone wants a copy of the curves -- Gen1-G3 -- let me know and > I'll e-mail the file. We've already determined that they do not work in a > 1200, and I assume that the G4 inkset is too different. (I'll write curves > for that when I run out of G3.) > > I would like some feedback from an 1160/Generations3/Archival matte user on > these curves. It's possible that the individual machines differ enough that > crossovers will appear on other machines that do not appear on my 1160. If > this is the case, then these curves won't be useable by others. > > I'd say the quad inkset folks ought to get it in high gear if they want to > be relevant in the "modernist" B&W market as opposed to just the > "pictorialist" market. There is no reason a 6-ink printer can't do it all, > and a six-ink B&W printer that just does warm tones is a total waste. Only > three inks are needed for dotless, smooth B&W prints. > > Paul Roark > Solvang, CA > http://www.silcom.com/~proark/photos.html - Turn off HTML mail features. Keep quoted material short. Use accurate subject lines. http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions. </x-charset>