Digital BW, The Print

Ed Mathews wrote:
> Peter wrote:
>> The curve adjustments go way beyond the sort of control you have
>> with ThumbsPlus. Without these controls -- and the many others
>> built into a capable image editing program -- you are missing out!
>
> Can you give me an example of what other types of controls you mean?
> I find that almost every time I mention TP people assume it's a wimpy
> program that is only good for tracking and sorting files when it's
> really a pretty decent editing program.  Maybe if I knew what I was
> missing..........

Ahh... where to start? Photoshop is an enormously deep and capable
program. I suggest you look a book (my favourite is "Real World
Photoshop" by Blatner and Fraser). Or (just on curves) take a look at
http://www.gurusnetwork.com/tutorials/photoshop/curves1.html

>> Would you like to send me a file -- I can print a small MIS-VM
>> sample and post it to you?
>
> Actually, I'd like it very much if I could hold something in my hands
> and see it under different lights.  I initially signed up for the
> print exchange, not realizing that it required me to offer something
> I've printed to the group, which of course, is not worth sharing at
> this point.  So, if anyone out there has any trash prints or even
> pieces of damaged prints they could send my way - I'd much
> appreciate it.  My mailing address is:
>
> Ed Mathews
> 1901 Coachman Court
> Fallston, MD 21047

OK, I'll send you something (but not this week).

> My situation is this:  I have a lot of experience with film and B&W
> chemical darkroom, and had my own darkroom in my house for years.
> I've been told by many that my B&W prints are very good.  However,
> I'm moving and between houses right now until about May 2003.  So in
> this period of time until my house is finished I'm trying to
> determine which way to go with my B&W printing when I get to the new
> house.  Should I set up a darkroom and continue to shoot film?  I'd
> rather not, since I've been using a D100 for weddings and model work
> and see it's capabilities for color.  But if the investment of what
> I would need to do decent digital B&W would be too costly, or if I'm
> not satisfied with the results I could get, then I would almost
> certainly need to continue shooting film just for the B&W material.
> So I'd like to see and learn as much as I can in the next 3 months
> before I move again to help me determine  if I'll need to build a
> darkroom as soon as I move in.

I'd say you should sell off your darkroom gear as soon as you can,
while you can still find someone interested in buying it....

Peter Marquis-Kyle