Digital BW, The Print

On 05/09/2012 pdesmidt tds.net wrote:
> Like Mr.
> Katchel, I haven't noticed a shoulder.

I always thought it didn't, and that straight-line response was a design 
aim of T-grain, but it seems like it does and it doesn't, depending on 
dev/temp variables:
See the curves (via buttons) at the bottom of
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f32/f32c.jhtml

The OP also said "However, a lot of old school B&W printers prefered negs 
a bit more on the thinner side while I like a bit beefier negs and lower 
paper contrast grades."

I was definitely on the axis of dev-lite/print hard (G3-G4 was normal for 
me) and TMY seemed shoulderless with slightly weak shadow detail and very 
fine grain. On contrasty scenes it could be a sod to print everything in 
the extended  highlights, lots of burning and flashing, so more exposure 
for the shadows was not an option. ISO400 seemed the best that could be done.

As can be seen from the curves, more dev could change that into a long 
shallow shoulder (more like a reduced slope in upper tones), and more 
exposure would then get you stronger shadow details without the highlight 
headroom becoming unmanageable in printing. It's a slightly different set 
of compromises that I now find interesting. I'd never have thought to look 
in that direction because of my grain aversion.
-- 
Regards

Tony Sleep
http://tonysleep.co.uk