Gretag MacBeth Kit

[martcol]

Can I get some help with using eye1 Proof in here? I have just got hold of Eye1 proof after graduating from eye1. I got it because i get awful, awful prints off my Epson 2100 & 950 but always knew the printers were capable of more. Anyhow, I have been reading, posting and emailing trying to learn this stuff but still don't get the results I think my printers are capable of. Things are better, much better but there you go.

First thing is monitor profiling. I have tried quick and advanced (i.e. complicated) profiling and get what I think looks like good results but I viewed one of those Black Point/White Point charts on screen recently and could see all the patterns that shouldn't be there. My Monitor is a Lacie Blue IV 22 so, I think I should expect good results. Things I don't understand - Luminance, monitor RGB settings and quantum physics; things I nearly understand; Gamma, White Point, Black Point, Profile, love and passion, things I know I understand: on/off

Any takers?

Regards

Martin

[martcol]

No takers?

Too tough for ya, huh?

[DeeplyDigital]

Wish I could help. I have never used the Gretag MacBeth Kit,
but I know that my monitor calibration now is different to
when I didn't use glasses. And my prints correspond very much
with what is on the monitor.

Good luck,
J.

[maderito]

Can I get some help with using eye1 Proof in here?

...

First thing is monitor profiling. I have tried quick and advanced (i.e. complicated) profiling and get what I think looks like good results but I viewed one of those Black Point/White Point charts on screen recently and could see all the patterns that shouldn't be there. My Monitor is a Lacie Blue IV 22 so, I think I should expect good results. Things I don't understand - Luminance, monitor RGB settings and quantum physics; things I nearly understand; Gamma, White Point, Black Point, Profile, love and passion, things I know I understand: on/off

Well ... I'll bite. I have Eye-One Display for monitor calibration and it does a good job. But I was amazed at how much knowledge is required to use this seemingly automated, wizard-like driven application - especially in "advanced" mode. The product is clearly meant for professionals - someting I'm not and don't plan to become.

Among your question areas, the easiest by far is quantum physics: a place where 1=on, 2=off, and 3=maybe on, maybe off.

Next is black point, white point -- the darkest and lightest neutral color on your RGB monitor. Gamma is the line that connects these two points on a plot of input (voltage, pixel value, etc.) vs. output luminance (light energy) on your monitor.

And those values, when properly set, bring your monitor to a calibrated state. (Actually, when calibrating, you effectively do this for the red, blue and green guns of the monitor to created so-called Tone Reproduction Curves). That's calibration. You profile the monitor by writing this data to a file - an ICC profile - for your specific monitor.

Finally : Photograpy = Love + Passion + a wee bit of knowledge

[mbze430]

And those values, when properly set, bring your monitor to a calibrated state. (Actually, when calibrating, you effectively do this for the red, blue and green guns of the monitor to created so-called Tone Reproduction Curves). That's calibration. You profile the monitor by writing this data to a file - an ICC profile - for your specific monitor.

That's almost true. When you are calibrating your monitor, you are essentially bringing your monitor to a known state. Because no one knows exactly what that state is.

With the EyeOne software, you tell the software to bring your monitor to a specific state. It could be Gamma 1.0 at 5500k or Gamma 2.2 at 6500K...etc...etc... Once you have set your monitor to this "state". The software profiles your monitor of the different reponse of color in this color space. This information is written to an ICC profile. With ICC enable software, it than can interpert the color information that the monitor can display.

Remember, your monitor at best can only display "close-to" gamut space of sRGB. so working in the Adobe RGB 1998 space, you can only emulating of the color being display on your screen. Of course you can always spend $9k+ for a monitor that can display 98% of the Adobe RGB 1998 space. Such as this monitor

http://www.necmitsubishi.com/corpus/L/U/RDF225WG_Brochure_0804.pdf

Unfortunately, even with the $1k package like the EyeOne Photo/Proof/etc... you still need alot of tweaking of the profile, specially on the output side(printer).

Good Luck

[martcol]

....I was amazed at how much knowledge is required to use this seemingly automated, wizard-like driven application - especially in "advanced" mode.

I thought that the E1 kit might make my life easier!

....the easiest by far is quantum physics: a place where 1=on, 2=off, and 3=maybe on, maybe off.

And there was me thinking I knew "on/off!"

....Next is black point, white point -- the darkest and lightest neutral color on your RGB monitor. Gamma is the line that connects these two points on a plot of input (voltage, pixel value, etc.) vs. output luminance (light energy) on your monitor.

So when you get the curve at the end of your profiling, one end of the curve is Black Point and the other White Point?

....values, when properly set, bring your monitor to a calibrated state. (Actually, when calibrating, you effectively do this for the red, blue and green guns of the monitor to created so-called Tone Reproduction Curves). That's calibration. You profile the monitor by writing this data to a file - an ICC profile - for your specific monitor.

Sounds so easy, when you say it like that!

....Finally : Photograpy = Love + Passion + a wee bit of knowledge

Now, I know that bit!

Thanks so much for posting

Martin

[martcol]

That's almost true.[/QUOTE]

Story of my life!

Unfortunately, even with the $1k package like the EyeOne Photo/Proof/etc... you still need alot of tweaking of the profile, specially on the output side(printer).

I understand that a profile is a txt file and assume that it can be edited. When you say "tweaking" should I expect to enter the murky depths of a profile and fiddle with that. Not sure if I'd ever be brave enough for that!

Good Luck

Looks like I'll need it!

Many thanks

Martin

[mbze430]

It just depends how critical your work are. The profile made by the EyeOne Photo is pretty good. I would say close to 89-91%. Gretag Macbeth has another software package for the professional that you can tweak till you get 99.99999% accurate. However unless you do some serious Fine Art, it isn't for everyone. It is call the Photostudio Pro & Profile Maker Pro.

I personally slaved over 100+ hrs on my profiles for 5 paper type and 3 printing machine. I am only 96% close, maybe 97% at best.

If you find yourself not a very good profiler, you can always send it in for a professional, they range from $100-$400 per machine per 1 paper stock.

[balzak3]

I just ordered the eyeone photo, should arrive tommorrow, looking forward to its arrival. will let you know how it goes, or maybe just ask for help too.

[martcol]

I just ordered the eyeone photo, should arrive tommorrow, looking forward to its arrival. will let you know how it goes, or maybe just ask for help too.

Good luck to you balzak3! For me, perfect colour management is now the Holy Grail of digital photography - it used to be exposure, white ballance, and finding money to pay for the kit. I've moved on from those things but will continue to chase eternally, the print that matches what I shot!

Regards

Martin