No need to read things manually! This is a trivial task if you use ArgyllCMS. You can easily generate a 21 or 51 step (or larger if you think that is worthwhile) target sheet, print it out and read it using this command: Chartread -v -l -n PrinterName where PrinterName is the *.ti3 file you are going to generate. Open this *.ti3 file in Excel and you will get the necessary L*a*b* values you need for the QTR script.
Using QTR linearising/profile creation tool with ArgyllCMS measurements too as the last install of Measure Tool on Windows 7 gave locked measurement files where the same install on XP mode in W7 works, like it does with Vista. It becomes easier (and more reliable in time) to use open source these days and it is nice that I can use identical profile creation methods on the Ubuntu system too.
There is something I would like to see added to the QTR linearisation/profile creation or in a "new" ArgyllCMS function. QTR only addresses the tone range but could have the addition of calibrating the Lab a b to the target neutrality (either absolute, taking paper white as the base or making the a b paths straight between white point and black (all color perceptually correct which could imply special color spaces)). It has no color engine at work so this is probably too much to ask. ArgyllCMS would be a better base for that. ArgyllCMS may even have the functions available to create an "RGB-device" B&W profile that addresses a perceptual tone range and calibrates the a b values within the paper/ink capabilities. The Printcal function could act like that but should have the perceptual tone linearisation of QTR.
Using the HP Z3200 calibration first and printing from Qimage Ultimate through HP Z 3200 driver CM (expecting sRGB assigned) I already have a reasonable linearity and a b deviations (a within 2 and b within 3 over the range, this is a low OBA trial paper). That improves with a QTR "RGB" B&W profile in Qimage's CM. Better L curve, Dmax not compromised (2.55 D with PremiumIDsatin + Gloss Enhancer) compared to calibration target black and linearisation target black. The sort of B&W profiles I made with ArgyllCMS + a near neutral target so far are not satisfying. Perceptual does not improve the tone range, Dmax suffers and no improvement on a and b deviations. Relative Colormatric does improve some what the a b deviations but (of course) clips the tone range and Dmax suffers.
The Printcal functions should be able to make absolute color metric corrections on the a b paths near neutral, a QTR style L function adds the right perceptual linearity for the paper/ink combination + on tone range shift caused by the choices on the a b path corrections as mentioned above. The possibility to add calibration results to the ICC profile in ArgyllCMS intrigues me but I still fear the loss of Dmax or tone range clipping that happens so far with any application CM and ICC profiles I used. For the same reason I have no trust in enhanced color profiles with iterative near neutral processing steps.
It would still be a dual profiling (or in my case more a -color calibration/driver profiling/near neutral color calibration+L profiling system- on a color mode B&W workflow. In theory it should work on small gamut ink sets too or even quad sets with two color toner inks. Of course no solution for a monochrome B&W ink set.
Paul Roark's work has been very inspiring but at the same time I have seen so much of his painstaking color tweaking on B&W ink sets that I wonder if methods from color management could not make that aspect easier, regular custom calibration faster and the workflow more flexible. I know adding color hues to B&W pigment ink sets does not improve longevity but here I start from what is today the best OEM pigment ink set and the addition of the color hues is very limited. Any sepia or split tone print will have to cope with colorants anyway, the variety of carbon black hues do not extend that far.
Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst
http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htmDecember 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots