Digital BW, The Print

You might also try a soft light blend rather than overlay, subtle, not so
destructive to your histo... also try a contrast mask on the overlay or soft
light so that only those areas you want effected will be.

Rather than duping the background layer, use a curve or levels adjustment
layer, don't set anything within the adjustment but set the layer itself to
the overlay or softlight mode, that way, you get the same effect without
doubling your file size... Sometimes if warranted I'll do a curve adjustment
within the blend mode.

I assume that a curve adjustment just isn't kicking it enough? Have you
tried using the eye droppers to set endpoints, rather than just moving the
end points in in the histo, giving a better depth?

Carolyn

> 
> In order to achieve a decent contrast range in any of my prints (on
> EAM or Photorag & MIS inks) I always have to duplicate the Background
> Layer (with varying opacities) and set the Blend Mode to Overlay.
> 
> If I dont, I never get a decent contrast with a good black tone. To
> try and give you a "picture" - in traditional printing I favour grade
> 3 or 4 rather than grade 2 or 1.
> 
> Is this a perfectly acceptable method of working or am I doing
> something wrong further up the line. Are others using the same trick
> 
> thanks
> Frank
>