Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jerry,

> You are "Manipulating" the development times for the film far from
> "normal". This is definitely a form of "manipulation."

That isn't manipulating the image.  What you are doing is acquiring higher
"fidelity" (accuracy of reproduction).

> > Using the "Zone System" up front is hardly manipulation.  What
> you are doing
> > is capturing as much information as you can on the film.  How is that
> > manipulation?
>
> > but...if that less that perfect negative is missing a chunk of tonality,
> > that could have been captured by taking the time and
> understanding to do it
> > right in the first place (yes, I did say "do it right"), there
> is nothing
> > you can do, the information is gone.
>
> Depends on how much info is missing. Photoshop can do a LOT to make a
> bad negative into an excellent print.

Yes, that's true...but you can't create tonality at the ends when it's cut
off.  You can't unblock highlights or shadows....you can't discern tones
when you've combined them...without "making them up".

> > > but it will always be your vision that gets
> > > you a good print and not your technical perfection.
>
> Nope, it takes both

Ah, we agree on that one ;-)

> Can't tell you how many times I've seen a Great image but a bad print.
> Spoils the whole presentation.

Right, or someone who spent a WHOLE LOT OF TIME on a bad image...trying to
make it a good image...

Regards,

Austin