Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., lrryr@a... wrote:
> The only transparency material out there (that I know 
> of) that will hold enough ink to get the density's 
> needed is Pictorico OHP.
> 
> The problems are:
> 
> 1. Zero dot gain, any inconsistancy in the printing 
> sticks out like a sore thumb, the dither patterns (and 
> the peizo pattern) are painfully apparent.

Larry,

So what you are saying is that the ink does not spread amd absorb 
into the media to hide imperfections. I guess this is where the very 
small print head nozzles would be beneficial. 

A friend of mine is making 4x5 negatives on Pictorico OHP utilizing 
Berkholder's methods. There are two ways he makes desktop negatives. 
One is using color fill and the other is called something else. It 
is this second method that Tom says works the best. His 4x5 Platinum 
prints look as nice as his prints made from the duplicate negatives.

The texture and properties of the fine art watercolor papers that 
are coated with Platinum salts are much like the digital papers. The 
inherently hide the imperfections. The platinum process is self 
masking. That is the emulsion becomes less sensitive to exposure as 
time goes on. So it is possible to gain detail in the highlights 
without the risk of blocking up the shadow detail. I am not sure how 
this helps, but I thought I would throw it onto the table.

> 2. The dark end of the negative has an extreme image % 
> vs print density curve that needs to be straightened. 
> this is true with both the epson driver and the peizo 
> driver. Applying a correction in curves with this 
> results in noticeable posterization. If this could be 
> handled in 16 bits in a rip, that may take care of it.

I don't see why it could not. In fact, using CMYK inks to make the 
negatives as colorized monochrome images, a standard RIP could be 
used to take advantage of the RIPs dither, ink channel, reduction 
and adjustment capabilities.

> I'm glad to hear others are interested in pursueing this.

I think that unless someone is having great success with making 
negatives on a 1280, or 10000 and is willing to share the successes 
publicly, this may be a long arduous process.

I will eventually ask Martin and Antonis to include a digital 
negative section in the Files area as a database so that we can all 
share our triumphs and failures. 

Mike