Digital BW, The Print

At 02:00 PM 3/1/2002 -0800, you wrote:
>I am very new to B&W digital printing and am glad to find this newsgroup.
>However I am having a difficult time with all the acronyms, etc.  Maybe I
>could get some help.
>I am presently using the following:
>Windows XP
>Paint Shop Pro 7.0
>Epson 2450 scanner for 2 ¼ X 2 ¼ negatives w/Epson Twain
>HP PhotoSmart P1000 printer
>Hasselblad 500C/M camera w/100ASA Ilford film
>I am making primarily 8X8 prints on Epson glossy paper.  I scan negatives
>with the 2450 at 2400dpi, and print at 300dpi.  When I don’t use the unsharp
>mask the prints are not very sharp. (It makes me wonder why I don’t just
>replace the Hasselblad with a box of Quaker Oats with a pinhole.)  With the
>unsharp mask the prints are pretty good.
>Here are my questions:
>1.	What book should I get to learn all the acronyms/processes that are being
>discussed here?
>2.	What parts of my process should I change to improve my prints, in order
>of importance?  I will eventually want to make larger prints.
>I would really appreciate any suggestions.
>Mike Bergen


Mike,

There are any number of similar how-to books available. PhotoShop Artistry
is popular.  I learned a lot from "Scanning the Professional Way."

I tested the EP2450 and found it maxed out at 1800dpi - see my web page. You
need to add sharpness. It's a terrific little scanner. 

My work flow changes as I gather more info from the guys on this list.
Here is where it is now:

I scan everything at 1800 RGB and autosharpen.  Couldn't see an improvment
at 2400dpi on the 2450.

Make as many corrections in SilverFast as you can. It is very good at
nailing the tonal balance on its own.

Save the raw scan TIFF to CD as a master file.
Make an extra PS adjustment and printing file.

Manually convert to grey scale in channel mixer.
Make necessary adjustments to do the print. It is a real art to tweaking the
image to print the way you like it. The subtle changes are no different than
darkroom printing.

good luck,

AZ

Maker of Lookaround panoramic camera.

www.geocities.com/soho/gallery/8874/
         or
keyword.com lookaround