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Black and white linearisation with the i1Pro 3

  |   Article, Articles and reviews, Black and white, Colour management, Printing, Test Images, X-Rite   |   No comment

Using the i1Pro3 for B&W print linearisation

Update for the i1Pro3 spectrophotometer



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This article is an update to our original article about using i1Profiler to read linearisation charts for black and white photo printing.

The article shows some of the process using the latest version (V3.2) of i1Profiler, with the i1Pro3 [review]

The data files and images for the test strip are available freely for non-commercial use.

scan-monochrome-test-strip

The i1Pro3 spectrophotometer

The i1Pro3 was announced in early 2020 and incorporates a number of improvements over the i1Pro2. These do not affect its use for B&W print linearisation.

The process (and files) for the i1Pro2 and original i1Pro are described in

There are target sets described for use with the i1iO and i1iSis:

Note that if you are using an original i1Pro, then do not update your copy of i1Profiler beyond V3.1, since V3.2 has dropped all support for the original spectrophotometer (X-Rite and Gretag Macbeth models).

Reading targets

The i1Pro3 allows for a smaller patch size, but should be able to read i1Pro2 targets as well.

This example shows a single line 21 step wedge ready to be scanned with the i1Pro3.

measure-BW-test-strip

The process is still the same as described for the older devices [click on images to enlarge]

The ‘Measure Reference Chart’ option is used in CMYK mode – we are just using the ‘K’ or black channel for the target.

This needs the data file for the test strip loading.

load-reference-chart

The i1Pro 3 allows M0,M1 and M2 measurement modes all to be recorded at the same time in the results.

A single scan of the row is all that is required.

measure-reference-file

You don’t need the text and box around the test strip – that’s generated when building the original target, and just printed here for test purposes.

scan-monochrome-test-strip

After the scan, you can check the measured data.

Here is the data for the 0% black, or paper white.

greyscale-measurements-paper

Note the lack of bump in the data where the paper has been measured with some UV in the lighting (M0/M1) that confirms that this paper (Innova IFA-11) has no OBA content. It’s a natural white smooth cotton rag paper I’ve used for several years for some of my B&W printing).

The second shot shows 100% black.

greyscale-measurements-black

The data can be saved in many different formats – all we actually need are the Lab values.

data-saving-options

The result is three data files for the different measurement modes.

greyscale-data-files

Dropping the M0 data file onto the QTR Create RGB Profile app gives me a correction profile and this curve data.

These days, it’s this curve that I’ll use to create a custom Photoshop curve adjustment to apply.

There’s more about such curves, including using a simple flatbed scanner to make measurements in: Fine tuning black and white printing

ifa11-greyscale-curve

Note how the darker blacks are crunched up – a simple curve can fix this.

If you’re unfamiliar with the correction process, see my Epson P5000 printer review, where I create a curve for this same paper, and use it with the Epson ABW print mode.

The targets and data

A zipped file of the targets is available for download – it is free for any non commercial use.

target-info

The TIFF files are single channel (K), CMYK files whilst the .psd files are RGB and in the grey gamma 2.2 colour space. This makes them really easy to just drop onto a test image, which I’ll have in GG2.2, since that’s what I use for my B&W photo editing and printing.

Any questions? Please email me or use the comments at the bottom of the page.

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