Digital BW, The Print

I've found that the posterization problems I occasionally encounter 
with the VM set (on a 1160) usually reflect the scan or inadvertant 
effects of curve adjustments I've made. I think it's easier to not 
notice the posterization or flatness when you're viewing output on 
screen than with a print. More than a few times I've thought the 
problem was with the printing process, but a closer look revealed 
that the source of posterization (i.e., in scan or from PS tone 
manipulation) was there to be seen on the screen. 

Chris Hargens




--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "oncdoc301" <oncdoc@c...> 
wrote:
> --- 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