[Openicc] Printing profiling targets - state of implementation?

[Robert Krawitz]

On Tue, 21 May 2013 22:57:12 +0200, edmund ronald wrote:
> Michael,
>
>  A command line switch that disables color management on all jobs entering
> the queue will be wonderful -
>  I'm quite happy even if it is not accessible from a UI, as long as the
> flag can be set in a way that legacy apps can print with no CMS applied.
>
>  Off to bed - too much wine.
>
> Edmund

This sounds quite satisfactory to me.

> On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:15 PM, Michael Sweet <msweet at apple.com> wrote:
>
>> Edmund,
>>
>> Let me make this clear: YOU DON'T NEED A PPD SWITCH.  PPDs are not the way
>> to implement new features in CUPS because PPDs will be going away in the
>> future.
>>
>> What you need is an option (IPP attribute) to disable color management for
>> a queue or a job.  We are providing such an option to you.  There will be
>> no UI provided for the option.  There *will* likely be an API for
>> applications to call so they can set the option programmatically as needed
>> (so users don't need to go to the command-line for it). Users will also be
>> able to set the option from the command-line for applications that are not
>> written to support it.
>>
>> Oh, and Gutenprint can easily support such an option itself through its
>> CUPS printing interface.
>>
>> So please stop getting all upset with me - I am giving you what you want!
>>
>>
>> On 2013-05-21, at 3:14 PM, edmund ronald <edmundronald at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Michael,
>>
>>  At this point let me be really clear.  We wish to use apps like the GIMP
>> to print our targets on a queue, with no color management. We do not wish
>> to use "special" apps or call an API. We want to be able to do it with
>> "normal" apps on a "normal" distribution.The option to disable color
>> management can be set in the ppd, which means not accessible in a UI and
>> thus not confusing. However if you disagree with providing this option
>> after having discussed it "amongst yourselves", your chances of active
>> cooperation from us re. color management will be very strongly diminished.
>> Is this really what you want? Is it that important not to provide a ppd
>> switch?
>>
>> Edmund
>>
>>
>> On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 5:12 PM, Michael Sweet <msweet at apple.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Edmund,
>>>
>>> On 2013-05-21, at 10:18 AM, edmund ronald <edmundronald at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Michael,
>>>
>>>  I have discussed this issue again with Robert. Speaking as engineers, we
>>> at Gutenprint *really wish* to be able to throw an OFF switch on a queue,
>>> and print *from normal graphics applications* , in particular the GIMP.
>>>
>>>
>>> As I mentioned in my response, you *will* be able to set a default for
>>> the option for this purpose.  But from a UI perspective there won't be a
>>> visible option for it in the standard print dialog, just API for
>>> applications to "opt in" that need it.
>>>
>>>  Also, we really would need to print via the graphics apps - professional
>>> color management people do strange stuff like print 5000 patch A3 targets
>>> multiplexed in different positions on 44" printers to average them  or
>>> mirror and print the same file side by side across a big page to compare
>>> profiling algorithms bypassing any built-in CMS. I myself assemble targets
>>> for some esoteric spectros (Barbieri) by overlaying patch sets with
>>> hand-designed masks, this is done with a graphics app.
>>>
>>>
>>> OK, so there are a couple comments I have about this:
>>>
>>> 1. Hand-generating profile targets isn't exactly mainstream usage, even
>>> among professionals.  This is more in the "color research" arena.
>>>
>>> 2. If this sort of thing is needed for research, small target printing
>>> applications (perhaps based on a common one shipped with GNOME) might be a
>>> better, less error-prone approach.  Then you have complete control over the
>>> color, since graphics apps often are limited by the toolkits and libraries
>>> they use.
>>>
>>> ...
>>>
>>> At this point we really would appreciate being provided exactly the
>>> engineering toolset we request, albeit hidden from the user, and being
>>> allowed to get on with it rather than being told that an off switch hidden
>>> away in a cabinet might confuse users.
>>>
>>>
>>> I believe we are providing you with the Off switch you need.  There was
>>> never any discussion of not providing one, merely that the Off switch
>>> should not be part of the standard printing UI.

-- 
Robert Krawitz                                     <rlk at alum.mit.edu>

MIT VI-3 1987 - Congrats MIT Engineers 5 straight men's hoops tourney
Tall Clubs International  --  http://www.tall.org/ or 1-888-IM-TALL-2
Member of the League for Programming Freedom  --  http://ProgFree.org
Project lead for Gutenprint   --    http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net

"Linux doesn't dictate how I work, I dictate how Linux works."
--Eric Crampton