Soft proofing for black and white images

[picturesfromthelow]

I wrote a short article on my website explaining how I do soft proofing in order to optimize a black and white image for print. I read several tutorials regarding soft proofing, and found that they almost always focus on color images. So I thought I could share my B&W workflow, which is based around the concept of taking advantage of the Advanced B&W Photo mode of my Epson 3880 (using ABW paper profiles). You can read the text here:

http://www.lucasetti.com/blog/Soft-proofing-for-black-and-white-images

You can also download an Action for Photoshop that automates all the steps explained in the article.
If you have questions, need further information or find mistakes (!) feel free to leave a comment directly on my website or here in the LL forum.

Saluti,
Luca

[Alan Goldhammer]

Problem is that on the new MacOS, you cannot use ABW profiles to print your image and softproofing only works with a kludge.  There was a recent thread HERE.  You should update your article to reflect this since the soft proofing won't be of any use without the ability to print with the profile.  Win users are unaffected (at this point in time but that could change if MSFT changes the OS when Win8 comes out).

[RFPhotography]

The text colour and background combination make your site very difficult to read. 

I'd be cautious of a 'do these specific things' type of approach.  Every image is different and may require a different approach to optimise the proof for printing.  Similary every paper is different and the same image printed on two different papers may require different adjustments.

[picturesfromthelow]

Hi guys,
thank you for your kind feedback.

Problem is that on the new MacOS, you cannot use ABW profiles to print your image and softproofing only works with a kludge.  There was a recent thread HERE.  You should update your article to reflect this since the soft proofing won't be of any use without the ability to print with the profile.  Win users are unaffected (at this point in time but that could change if MSFT changes the OS when Win8 comes out).

Alan, thank you for the information. I shall add that I use Windows 7.

I'd be cautious of a 'do these specific things' type of approach.  Every image is different and may require a different approach to optimise the proof for printing.  Similary every paper is different and the same image printed on two different papers may require different adjustments.

Bob, I agree with that. The article does not pretend to teach soft proofing to other people, it simply explains how I personally did it on a specific image and for a specific paper.

[Les Sparks]

Thanks for the article. Since I use Win7, I found it very useful.
Les

[picturesfromthelow]

Thank you Les, I appreciate!

[pknouf]

Eirc Chan says on his website that he no longer produces profiles for ABW due to the change by Apple in their OS.  Does anyone know of others that are still producing profiles for Windows users?

Thanks.

[Alan Goldhammer]

Eirc Chan says on his website that he no longer produces profiles for ABW due to the change by Apple in their OS.  Does anyone know of others that are still producing profiles for Windows users?

Thanks.

If you have a spectro, you can use Roy Harrington's QTR program to create your own ABW profiles.

[pknouf]

Alan,

I don't have a spectrophotometer so that option is out.  Do you know anyone else who is making B&W profiles for a Windows PC?

Thanks,

[Alan Goldhammer]

Alan,

I don't have a spectrophotometer so that option is out.  Do you know anyone else who is making B&W profiles for a Windows PC?

Thanks,

To my knowledge, Eric was the only one making B/W profiles for the Epson printers. 

[picturesfromthelow]

Alan,

I don't have a spectrophotometer so that option is out.  Do you know anyone else who is making B&W profiles for a Windows PC?

Thanks,

You could purchase ImagePrint RIP, I understand that it comes with gray profiles as well. Of course the price for the license is comparable to purchasing a spectrophotometer.....

Saluti,
Luca