BWMastery.com has created a Mac-based software tool called QuadToneProfiler-QuickCurve that enables a very streamlined linearization workflow for making digital positives for steel-backed polymer plates. This is a 20-page pdf description of that workflow. PDF files this size choke my CMS, so to download this file, please click this link
Check the downloads section for a new downloadable pdf file that covers the process of creating a linearized calibration workflow for positives used in making polymer photogravure plates. This new piece of software from BWMastery.com allows the use of QTR to create perfectly calibrated positives from which to make polymer intaglio plates.
Here is a direct link to that pdf:
Polymer Plate Calibration with QuadToneProfiler
Normally, this would be a download link, but there is something munged up with my download code and pdf files. I don’t have time to figure it out right now, but it is easy enough to click the link on the pdf and then save it from your browser window a printed or saved version is wanted.
This file is an image file that is useful in calculating the screen exposure time for polymer plates. Its use is described in the book Polymer Photogravure: A Step-By-Step Manual Highlighting Artists and Their Creative Practice available here. This file saves a step in that it can be used both for determining the screen exposure value for a polymer plate and also can be used for determining the upper and lower limits (Photoshop Levels) that will be used when printing the positive.
This is a downloadable template file that assists in making even screen exposure strips on an A6 plate during the calibration process for polymer photogravure. It is in the form of pdf that should be printed off at 100% scale on a laser printer or inkjet printer. The markings allow an opaque card to reveal additional plate material under the screen in even increments. Its use is described in the book Polymer Photogravure: A Step-By-Step Manual Highlighting Artists and Their Creative Practice available here.