Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: "Austin Franklin" <darkroom@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 31, 2002 8:31 PM
Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Re: Converting to B&W Workflow question


>
> > (snip)
> > Austin,
> >
> > I am using a Howtek D4000 for my 4x5 scans and for grayscale
> > scanning I can
> > choose to use any of the three sensors. I have set the software to use
the
> > Blue channel under the assumption that the shorter wave length
> > will give the
> > sharpest scan. How do you think this compares to using a ND filter?
> >
> > Martin
>
> Hi Martin,
>
> As far as tonality goes, it is going to be "different", as you are only
> getting the blue info...and at the very least, your curve will be WAY off.
> You'll probably be able to (assuming high bit mode) make the curves
"match",
> but it may take a LOT of work...
>
> In regards to sharpness, you should be comparable (if not better, because
of
> higher resolution), in as such that PMT scanners do not suffer the same
> issues with the red and blue channels as CCD scanners do.
>
> You could always simply replace one of the filters with an ND filter ;-)
>
Austin,

I guess I should have specified B&W negs being scanned to grayscale as
opposed to scanning color film. I don't see large differences between the
three channels with conventionally developed B&W film but with pyro
developed films the data seems to be spread over a wider range on the blue
channel compared to the Red and Green.

Given that I am not inclined to attempt replacing one of the filters in the
scanner <G> and the PMT technology, what would you recommend among the three
choices I have available. Take a grayscale scan off a single channel, take
the grayscale scan from the scanner without specifying a specific channel (I
have no idea what the firmware in the scanner does in that case. An average
would seem likely but I would not care to second guess what the designers
might have done.) or scan in RGB mode converting to grayscale in Photoshop?

Thanks,
Martin