Digital BW, The Print

SNIP
> 
> The other 1/2 of my images are of portraits and nudes. These are 
much > more problematic in their printing. It seems that images that 
are soft > in focus in some areas or have very delicate wondering 
tonal transitions > are quite prone to posterization.

> 
> Any input would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> -Jeff Magidson

SNIP

Jeff,

By no means have I mastered this...still experimenting in too many 
directions...however I have experienced exactly what your talking 
about and I've taken to printing those images simply WITHOUT any 
PRINTING curves.  I have been playing with printing from a CMYK file 
straight to the printer, it's just harder to influence the output 
color.  I "think" (since I'm not a very studious scientist) I can 
influence the color by using a "solid color" layer set to darken or 
burn.  

Once I realize an image won't take the printing curves I simply work 
it over in whatever file I like best for adjusting that image (any -
RGB, Greyscale or the CMYK) and print it with Epson's driver.

Sincerely,
Cleavis