Have an B&W image.
Gave it to a commercial lab to print off a SD card. Print looks nice.
I print the same B&W image from my computer and printer (Not off the above card.), and my image looks soft and less contrasty than theirs.
I noted the image on the SD card that I got back from the lab had been altered and saved as "Dot Gain 20%." My original was "Gray Gamma 2.20."
Does Dot Gain 20% (or whatever other percentages) control contrast, and in this case, increase it? The two prints look like one paper grade change from the old darkroom days.
Lab said they liked the results better than "Gray Gamma 2.20" (Apple used to be Gray Gamma 1.
by using "Dot Gain 20%" for their Epson 9900 and Epson Luster paper. They forgot to switch it back to "Gray Gamma 2.20" when I picked it up.
I cannot see a visible difference in the Photoshop's Preview when switching between the two profiles on the screen, but the printer sure picks it up. Don't know if it has a detrimental effect when blown up really large either, say 24x36 inches.
SG