Digital BW, The Print

Hi Todd,

> So back to the step wedges... At each end of the scale either process
> (inkjet vs silver) will give you it's paper white for dmin, and max black
> for dmax, and the range between those two will define their
> "density range".
>
> Then, once the ends are taken into account, what may mitigate either
> processes ability to discern intermediate tones (dynamic range - which
> includes the endpoints as well) will be noise, which in the case of inkjet
> might be poor profiles/separation curves, toothiness of paper, nozzle
> alignment, etc,

Sounds good to me...but I've never explored specifically what is the source
of "noise" in the digital printing system.  It may be other than noise BTW
that limits dynamic range.  It may be the dithering algorithm...it may be
the accuracy with which ink can be laid down, or the accuracy of the print
heads...the tonal variations of the inks with in the same color, the
temperature, humidity....

> and in the case of silver prints might be lens aberration,
> flare, dust on the negative, improper development, etc?

Well, I believe it's mostly limited by the paper, as well as exposure and
development.  Again, I have personally not explored the reasons for this.
I'd suggest seeing if AA's book "The Print" has some information on this.

> Thus you can have a situation where one process has a greater
> density range
> but a lower dynamic range, and vice versa?

Yes.

> > BTW, this stuff is just so important to a deeper understanding
> of quite a
> > lot of stuff in photography, much less other things in life.
> At least in my
> > opinion.
>
> For example?

...most any sensory information or things having to do with perception.
Video, audio...hell, even taste, thought (how's your thinking when you have
a head cold...low signal to noise ratio ;-) if you want to get really
esoteric about it.

Austin