So I'm not sure why you think there's a question about whether profiles can be used with the 16-bit plugin. Read any of the reviews of the IPF5000 that cover the plug-in and you'll see that full ICM support is provided, including the ability to disable print-driver color management and use canned or custom profiles at the application level. Mr Reichmann's own review covers these details, as well as stating that he was able to create profiles for both the 8-bit and 16-bit print drivers.
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I have no doubt one can generate and select profiles to be used with the 16-bit plug-in. I've seen it done. If there is any issue at all, it is about what the profile is actually doing. Go back to post 272, where Chromix (not X-Rite) tells Martin:
<<The 16-bit driver works differently than other drivers - as a Photoshop plug in. From what I've heard a custom profile works best when used within the 16-bit driver, rather than in the Photoshop print with preview dialog. I don't know yet whether this device is considered an RGB or a CMYK device. It is most likely RGB. I believe your Pulse colorelite is the standard version which does not do CMYK so this is a consideration.
<<This is such a new printer that we haven't had a chance to get our hand on one, so I wish I could tell you more.>>
When I see phrases like "from what I've heard", "it is most likely", and "this is such a new printer that we haven't had a chance to get our hands on one...." it tells me that there is uncertainty in the mind of the writer.
Perhaps that uncertainty is just an excess of caution in this case, because we know it is an RGB device. We also know that other participants in this discussion have reported good results making and using their own profiles, but those reports weren't based on the use of MonacoGamut software.
All said and done, Jeff, I agree with you - unless I heear convincingly otherwise - I don't see any reason why such a profiling package shouldn't work just as well for any of these high-end RGB printers regardless of how many inks they use. That is where the logic takes one, but of course undrlying logic are technical details and the devil is often in those details.
Cheers.