Digital BW, The Print

Hi Jeff,

> WRT to the sharpness the print... that isn't too bad.  It was a good scan of a very sharp image.  The sharpness holds even when viewing close... still not as sharp as the darkroom print, but close.  Looking at the eyes the print is fine, but detail gets lost in things like hair.

What resolution did he scan the negative at?
> 
> The big problem is the resolution.  If you are looking at the print from arms length or further then the resolution holds its own when compared to the darkroom print.  But anything closer and it gets bad.  I don't see any "lines" on the print, but I can see the little dots quite clearly.  I've seen this in both color and B&W prints.  Tiny details get lost that are clearly there in the traditional print.

> Now, on to the color and tone... well, the image I gave was a straight B&W print with black blacks and white whites and a good range of tones in between.  The print I got back looked very brown... like and extreme sepia toning had been done to it.  The lab said that was close as he could come to the B&W print I gave him as his "target."

He doesn't know how to use his equipment, OR he is set up for glossy
paper, and you got a matte print. or vice versa. Very neutral black and
white prints can be had from epson printers, but you have to work hard
to get them the first time. 

> I've seen comments on how these printers produce better results than a darkroom print and I don't see how that can be possible.  I can understand how that opinion can be made if the difference were very slight, but from what I'm looking at we aren't even in the same ball park, not even the same league... it isn't even the same sport!
> 
> So, is this what can be expected or did I get a VERY bad print?

You got a bad print.

Any tone of black and white is possible with third party inksets like
MIS VM inks.

Obviously you didn't get the best scan you could have. A GOOD inkjet
print is better in all respects than a darkroom print!

Jerry

  Like I said... it holds its own (baring the color and tone) from arms
length away and further.  But, I don't see how people can say they are
getting prints that equal darkroom prints.  I can see how another
operator may be able get the color and tones better, but I don't see how
the resolution and sharpness can get any better.  And, if this is as
good as it gets how can people like Greg Gorman be using this printer
for their gallery shows (color and B&W)?
>