Digital BW, The Print

> I rented (from a local photo equip rental co) a Polaroid 
Sprintscan 
> 120 with SilverFast 5.2
> I'm scanning the B&W negs (35 & 21/4) as 16 bit HDR 
Grayscale @ 
> 4000dpi (scanners optical res max).
> 

My experience has been two-fold.  I think that 4000dpi for 120 
film is too high because the silver grains form clumps larger 
than 1/4000 of an inch.  This means the scanner is scanning the 
grains.  I would try using 2000dpi and compare prints.

However, you are correct that the film/developer plays a 
surprising roll in all this.  I've been shooting a bit of Tri-X 4x5, 
developing it in Pyro w/Ammidol added to preserve shadow 
detail, hence film speed.  Actually, Color Services in Needham, 
MA does this for me. Pyro has a couple of interesting properties.  
The first is by staining the highlights yellow, it acts to lower 
contrast so you don't have to worry about n- development as 
much to preserve highlights.  Secondly, by staining the highlight 
areas, there is much less film grain for a more velvety look.

One more thing about films & developers.  Some films like Tri-X 
have more contrast in them.  Other films like HP5+ have less 
contrast.  So in N+ development, films like HP5+ build density 
more than increasing contrast.

Dave G.