Digital BW, The Print

Hi Anthony,

> > Even when it is converted to CMYK and with
> > six different shades of gray ink?
>
> Conversion involves interpolation.  The rule holds only for
> situations that
> do not involve interpolation (such as constant resolution and no change in
> color space).

Or decimation...

> > If the visual appearance of the print is enhanced
> > then what else do we need to be concerned about?
>
> It's important to not confuse the visual impression created by an
> image with
> its information content.
>
> Unsharp masking, for example, creates the impression of greater
> sharpness--and yet in reality it degrades image quality.

I agree with that.

> > If the information being created results in a
> > more pleasing print then I would say that is
> > the exception to the rule.
>
> If you extend that logic, you may as well paint the scene instead of
> photographing.  Photography's distinction is that it draws upon
> images that
> accurately represent reality; remove that, and it's not photography any
> more.
>
> > This is photography and not information theory
> > after all and it is only the quality of the end
> > result that counts.
>
> Quality in photography is fidelity to reality.  Other aspects of
> photography
> may be artistic, but they are not quality.

To some degree, I agree with what you've said above.

Austin