Digital BW, The Print

Austin,

I have no idea whether you are right about inkjet prints actually being ABLE
to discern the tones better, but I can imagine it being a whole lot EASIER
to maximize the mediums ability, at least once one is starting with a good
workflow.

Matching a negative to the built-in contrast curves of silver papers can be
a mighty feat. I think the advantage, in terms of linearity, would have to
go to inkjet, but one wonders IF one really worked to calibrate the wet
process, to match the paper and development to the negative, if it's analog
con-tone advantage wouldn't win the day...

Just thinking out loud. I know I'll never have the energy to test it for
myself. ;-)

Ultimately, it's the whole gestalt of the process that has one prefer one
over another anyway, I suppose.

Todd 



> Ho Tidd ;-)
> 
>> Okay, full circle now, why do you believe that Piezo prints have a greater
>> dynamic range than silver prints? Is this a just a sense, a hunch based on
>> theory, or something you've observed through controlled tests?
> 
> I have printed the identical prints using chemical and then scanned the
> negative and printed using Piezo.  I see more tones in the Piezo prints than
> I do the chemical prints.
> 
> Also, because of the ability to basically create a dither to replicate a
> huge range of tones, as well as add number of inks within that set, you have
> the capability to create a huge number of tones.
> 
>> IOW, lets say you were comparing each process using a 200 step
>> wedge, which
>> I imagine would challenge our eyes ability to discriminate between the
>> steps,
> 
> That is correct, and why there really is a limit to the number of tones that
> are "usable", but like audio, because you may not discreetly discern
> something, doesn't mean there isn't an overall "effect" that it creates.
> That's getting into the esoteric.
> 
>> are you of the mind a piezo print can handle it better than a
>> properly exposed and developed contact print on a good silver
>> paper? If so,
>> why?
> 
> Handle it better, yes I believe it can, for reasons I stated above, as well
> as the ability to use tonal curves and setpoints to be able to control the
> discernment of these tones.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Austin
> 
> 
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