🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi Gernot.

It's been quite a while since I built profiles for a RIP (I use RGB profiles with my inkjet). If I recall correctly, (and I may not), I used to determine the individual and total ink limits first, then I linearized using the RIP and my EyeOne after printing a linearization target with the predetermined ink limits. Once the linearization data was read into the software, I printed a profiling target. It also seems to me that I set the TIL in "either" the RIP or ProfileMaker, but not both. Like I said, it has been awhile.

The ISO Coated profile has a white point tag, but no separate black point tag shown in the Tag Table (similar to ProfileMaker). Monaco Profiler has a separate black point tag in the Tag Table.

I looked at a custom press profile a friend of mine made using Monaco Profiler. In the overview, it shows Maximum Black as 11L*, 3a*, 5b*, (not very neutral), but the neutral rendering curve shows a Dmax of only 13.6 L* (perhaps due to inclusion of CMY inks to attain neutrality). So, this suggests that, at least with this profile, Maximum Black does NOT coincide with a neutral black. I am not sure if this is representative of most press profiles or not.

Perhaps this is not a valid comparison, (since it is not CMYK), but I have an RGB profile created by Monaco Profiler (built by a different color management expert). This is for Crane Museo Max matte fine art paper and an inkjet, so the Dmax is low, as expected. The Overview shows a maximum black of 18L, 1a, 3b, but the neutral rendering curve shows a maximum "neutral" black of 20.6L*.

I also have a profile built using ProfileMaker and the identical input data. I was curious how they would compare. (I own ProfileMaker, but do not own Monaco Profiler). It also shows a Max Black of 18L* on the Overview tab of ColorThink, like the Monaco profile, but the neutral rendering curve for RelCol shows 18.8L*.

I'm not sure if this information is helpful, or just adds confusion. It appears Dmax is not the same a the darkest "Neutral" black from inspecting these profiles. I'd guess that the profile is using the Max black instead of the Max neutral black as the Dmax, since it is hard to detect any color toning as you approach solid black.

You can also open both the profile and the reference data in Gretag's free ColorLab (undocumented) to see the input data and the output data. There is probably an easier way.

Lou