Monitor/Printer calibration usage

[johnp]

I'm a bit puzzled over the proper way to use the Monitor/Printer calibration tool.

These are probably stupid questions, but I really want to try to get a better WYSIWYG experience. If it makes any difference, I am focused on B&W photography.

What is the proper sequence for use this feature?

I start by setting the inverse printing file to None in the print menu, then I print out a test pattern.

I then open the Monitor/Printer tool and try to adjust the displayed image to match the printed test pattern. Once I'm satisfied, I save it away.

Now what? If I now use that file in the printer menu, what happens? Should I see the corrected image printed? Does it tweak my display or simply use the file to match what I see on the display to the printer output? It seems, by experiment, that no matter what I do, the printed test strip is always the same.

What is the purpose the tool button that enables the display adjustment? How do I specify a file for it to use?

Any tips?

Thanks!

John Providenza

[jsachs]

Check out Color Management.pdf, starting at page 25. Let me know if you still have questions.

[johnp]

I had previously read that section and I'm still puzzled (a) and also think the doc is not quite correct (b).

a) when I use a printer curve I see no change in the image printed. I'll try again later today with some more
extreme curves to make sure my eyes aren't folling me.

b) The doc says
"To be able to compute inverse monitor curves, the monitor curves must be monotonic; in other words the curve must increase steadily from left to right with no peaks or valleys. If this condition is not met, Picture Window Pro displays an error message."
My test curve has hills & valleys, but there is no error message displayed and a correction curve for the monitor is created.

Thoughts? + Thanks for the help!

John P

[jsachs]

I just checked and printer curves do seem to be working -- you can use a strong curve to test such as 30% dot gain. You don't actually have to print to see the effect as it shows up immediately in the print preview. If the monitor curves darken the image the printer curves should lighten it.

Monotone means there are no places where the slope of the curve goes negative, such as a curve that would produce solarization if used as a brightness curve. If you make such a curve you will get an error message.

[johnp]

Attached are two snips from Monitor/Printer Curves tool.. Both have 'dips' that I assume should trigger the error message, but only one does.

I'll keep playing around.

John P

[johnp]

I also can't seem to use the "Enable/Disable Monitor Curves" button. If I go into the "Color Management Settings" menu, the bottom setting "Monitor Curves on Startup" has a valid file name entered, but the "Enabled" check box does not let me set it to enabled.

John P

[jsachs]

The top curve is monotonic, the bottom one is not. To be non-monotonic there must be parts of the curve that are local maxima or minima where the curve is horizontal which is what I meant by peaks or valleys. Monotone increasing means each value is greater than the one before it. Monotone decreasing means each value is less than the one before it. Either type has an inverse, but non-monotonic curves do not.

It looks like the Monitor Curves on Startup isn't working right now so until I fix it you will need to load the curves manually.