Digital BW, The Print

J,

I would say digital carbon printing is a very simple "point-and-print" 
process. Though I have been using the MIS/1400 for more than a year I am always 
re-reading and re-thinking the process. Not because it is complex or 
complicated, its because there are so many ways to create the artisic image. As 
one person may view a print as acceptable, the printer/photographer may remain 
frustrated. Once the printer understands all of the variables going into a print 
will they become comfortable and frustration departs as artistic abilities 
improve. 


Sure you can do point-and-print but the images will the result will reflect the 
thought and effort that went into it. I think most noobs should focus on 
printing using just black only (1-ink) to learn the process and then add the 
other inks/tones as skills improve. Afterall, the basis of the print is carbon 
balck. Other inks are used to develop tonality. Very much like handing someone a 
guitar instead of a didley bow and expecting them to start playing chords and 
triads. However, to become an artist is a trip into the senses and soul.When the 
process of printing with 6 inks is new, everything is a little confussing. Layer 
this with calibration & profiling processes and frustration takes over.

In fact, to increase my level of understanding of the carbon printing process I 
have actually returned to the trational darkroom and instantly realized my first 
mistake. Digtial carbon printing is not silver halide printing. You can acheive 
B&W prints with MIS/1400 but the use of tones will either distract or add to the 
final print. If you understand what you are trying to acheive, then you can 
manage the process. If you are new, it may not be obvious why the prints are 
brown instead of black & white.

 



________________________________
From: mrjimbo <mrjimbo@...>
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, February 26, 2011 7:21:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Talk about intimidating

  
Phillip,
I read your post twice.. Words of wisdom for sure.. To many want instant 
gratification without really learning and understanding the process.. 


j 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Phillip Kimble 
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Talk about intimidating

Rusty,

First & foremost, welcome to the "dark side". Er, I mean the "carbon" side of 
life. The processes and technology can be a bit overwhelming. It is no different 

than spending hours trying to perfect the spooling of film onto the wire spool 
or perfecting contact printing. No different than trying to understand why teh 
print has a slight yellow tinit.

As in any trade, to learn requires pateince and time. To become expert requires 
learning. To become a master requires vision. We are or have all gone through 
the same learning curve. The trick is to print, observe, understand, and try 
again. Quite simple if you ask most but rather difficult to become much more 
than a novice at the skill. To seek is to understand and to understand is to 
have patience. Nothing is for free and everything that is for free is not 
worthwhile. Ask and we shall try to help. We ask that you simply try.

________________________________
From: Rusty Sterling <rustysterling@...>
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@...m
Sent: Fri, February 25, 2011 11:33:27 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Talk about intimidating

I made a conscious decision at the beginning of this year to focus exclusively 
(except for client needs) on BW photography. Printing certainly has been an 
issue, although the Epson R2880 with ABW has helped a lot in that regard.

So now I have read all of the Paul Roark articles on his site and Clayton Jones 
articles. I not only feel intimidated by the technology but thoroughly confused 
by some of the procedures.

Obviously some of this stuff was written a few years ago and there have been 
some changes. When I read some of the articles and look at the screens on my Mac 

some things just are not there as described. So I try and extrapolate what I can 

and try and find something equivalent -- not always successfully.

Meantime, I'm using my old R200 to print BO until my MIS inksets arrive. I get 
some banding that I'm not happy with but you have to look very closely to see 
it. In general, though, thanks to some settings outlined by Jones, I'm seeing 
better results both on the R200 and 2880.

Nonetheless, I feel a lot of confusion, have a lot of questions, and experience 
some frustration trying to soak it all in for this process.

But it is important to me to get back to my BW roots. The difference is that I 
worked in a darkroom then and digital is such a different animal. 

Just venting a bit. ;^)

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