Digital BW, The Print

> XP2 is a great film for scanning, sharp, very fine grain, great 
tones, etc.

Although I agree that XP2 is a nice film and scans well,
I am beginning to think Provia 100F is a better choice for me.
Of course it's a color reversal film, but in the digital domain
that isn't a problem and many advantages acrue:

- you can get virtual R, G, and B filters using the Channel
  Mixer to convert to B&W

- the colored original can sometimes make it easier to
  create masks (e.g. a blue sky behind a brown foreground)

- Provia's grain is even finer than XP2

- if you accidentally take a shot that would be better in color,
  you've got it

Of course, to be fair, it has to be said that Provia is of course
more expensive (to buy and to process) that XP2, and of
course has much less exposure latitude.

One might could have most of these advantages and avoid
at least the second disadvantage by using color C41 film -
but I find it a real pain to scan well, at least on my 2450.

John