Digital BW, The Print

Thank you for all this - I will try it.



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., workmantx@a... wrote:
> Frank,
> 
> When I sent my first email this morning, I forgot to put in that 
besides 
> converting to 8-bit, I convert to RGB before loading one of Paul's 
curves.  
> I've added that to the steps below.
> 
> >
> >
> 
> I'll confess to being a "newbie" at this, but last week I came up 
with a 
> solution that I'm very happy with to give more "snap" to my 
photos.  I think 
> I learn something every day from my experiments and reading the 
email from 
> the members of our forum.
> 
> Anyway, here's what I'm doing now using B&W negatives scanned in 14-
bit mode, 
> 
> my Espson 1280, the MIS-VM inks, PS7 and Paul's curves:
> 
> 1)  Make all major adjustments to image in 16-bit mode. I set black 
and white 
> 
> points first, and then continue to tweak curve several times until 
I'm happy 
> with image on the monitor. 
> 
> 2)  Convert to 8-bit mode and convert from Grayscale to RGB..
> 
> 3)  Make two background copy layers (1st one is probably not 
necessary, but I 
> 
> do it just in case I want to do some, DARE I ADMIT IT, dodging or 
burning in 
> after I do my first test print.
> 
> 4)  Above the first background copy layer, add a curve adjustment 
layer and 
> load one of Paul's curve (I've been using his MW curve).  Then set 
the Fill 
> to around 70% to begin with.  (I've been use the Fill % rather than 
Opacity 
> %.)  Keep layer type as Normal.
> 
> 5)  In the second background copy layer (your top layer) change 
layer type to 
> 
> Overlay and then adjust the Opacity to around 80% to begin with.
> 
> This has made an incredible difference to the quality of my 
prints.  I no 
> longer have any posterization, and my prints don't look flat or 
muddy.  I 
> have found that in the strong highlight areas, I might have do a 
bit of "burn 
> 
> in" because of the impact of the overlay layer, but it's very 
manageable.  
> Playing with the Fill % makes a difference, too.
> 
> Let me know if you try this out and find some improvement.
> 
> Bob