Digital BW, The Print

> The other thing is don't forget that digital printers print at 225 or 240
> dpi so you have an increase in size straight  away. Also they print RGB
> files so you need to make sure that you convert to RGB in a way that
doesn't
> introduce colour casts. My lambda lab publishes its profiles so if you
have
> a profile for your printer you can print through both and check for colour
> casts.
>
> Julian

the DPI you are giving are not exactly bindin. My printer can (and does)
output at 400 DPI for critical detail. they also provide on-the-fly
enlargements, as the machine uses it's own proprietory upsampling which was
specifically designed for photographic output.

> > > I have a B&W digital file of a B&W photo scanned at 1600dpi at 2 1/4x
> > > 2 1/4, then enlarged with genuine fractals. The file ends up being an
> > > RGB file and is 10"x10" at 360 dpi. The file size is about 45 megs. I
> > > usually print with my 1280 using Piezotone selenium inks and get
> > > great results. However, now I need a print larger than I can make on
> > > my 1280. Can I rez up to 20x20 using genuine fractals and get a print
> > > of equal quality? Which of the 2 printers, (Lambda laser or Kodak led
> > > printer) will give me the best nuetral print that will closely match
> > > teh prints I'm now making? How many Dpi should I give the lab?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for your opinions.
> > >
> > > Barry Wolf

now to the original question. you say that the scan was 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 @ 1600
dpi. that should give you a file of 3600x3600 pixels without any
interpolation. if the image quality, detail, sharpness is great inspected at
100% magnification you can easily print this image after interpolation at
20x20". try interpolating to 30x30, sharpen moderately, add some gaussian
noise, resize down, print.

i generally send my files to the lab at 300 dpi, unless i want some
small-format with rich detail, then it is 400 dpi. as for the choice between
durst and kodak - no lab i know would not make you a small test print at no
or very moderate fee, so you can judge the output ...

cheers

veniamin kostitsin