Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "husseyhussey" <mh@t...> 
wrote:

mh:

Thanks for your reply. I am scanning in 48>24 bit color mode then 
converting to grayscale for editing. I have been using the 
brightness/contrast sliders in a new adjustment layer to boost those 
areas which posterize ( I hope that is the correct term..it appears 
as merging of what as a photographer I would call zone III-IV tones 
into a single flat poorly detailed puddle.

Stuart
> This could be a number of things. Do you scan in 16bit? When you 
say 
> boost in local contrast does that mean you are using 
the "brightness/
> contrast" adjustment? If so, you should use curves instead so as 
to 
> only affect the tones you want to. But doing all that really just 
hides 
> the posterization. The actual cause might be in the scanning, the 
> negatives themselves, or the transfer curves you are using which I 
have 
> no idea about since I use the piezography plugin.
> 
> -mh
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "oncdoc301" 
<oncdoc@c...> 
> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > 
> > I am a new digital B+W printmaker employing an Epson 2450 to 
scan 
> > 6x9 and 4x5 negatives into Photoshop 6 printing to an Epson 1280 
> > employing the MIS variable mix hextone inkset.
> > 
> > I employ the Silverfast scanning utility which shipped with the 
2450 
> > allowing the software to determine a file size which for any 
given 
> > image size allows a resolution of 320 dpi. I utilize the custom 
> > settings on the Epson printer driver specifying 1440 dpi.
> > 
> > Although I have been pleased with the output for the most part, 
I 
> > have noticed a bothersome tendency to posterize dense mid and 
> > darktones such as might occur in a tree line or a bed of salt 
grass 
> > in a shore scene. I have noted that a boost in local contrast 
can 
> > correct this in large part, but this is a nuisance and compels 
> > increasing local contrast to the point where dark tones tend to 
> > merge.
> > 
> > Any explanation or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> > 
> > Thanks.
> > 
> > Stuart