Digital BW, The Print

As noted by a couple of forum members, the image files that have had
partitioning workflows -- specifically the VM curves -- applied to them can
show "combing" in the histogram.

While I have never identified this as a source of trouble in my prints, I do
try to avoid this apparent reduction of grayscale steps as much as possible.

One member (whose name, I apologize, I forget) noted that changing the size
of the image could smooth it out.

I have just taken a look at this suggested approach to smooth-out image
files.  Changing the size/pixel-count of the image does appear to eliminate
the combing in the histogram.

Likewise, changing the size of the image file after the partitioning/VM
curves have been applied seems to eliminate/smooth-out the combing.

My thanks to the member who shared the knowledge with us.  (I apologize for
not remembering names.  Concepts I can handle -- names I can't.)

Based on this experience, my VM workflow relative to this includes: working
at the scanner's native resolution as long as possible, and not changing the
size of the image until after I have done all my editing, saved the image,
converted to RGB, and applied the VM partitioning curves.

The very last step I now take is to change the size of the image in
Photoshop from the scanner's native resolution to my print size at 360 dpi.

When I check the histogram there is no combing.

I have not analyzed prints to see if I can see any difference.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com