Digital BW, The Print

Martin-

I don't really think you are losing 2/3 of the info --just not using it.
Remember that the (Lab) Lightness or Luminosity Channel IS the B&W layer.
The rest is just color info dropped on top. (This is an oversimplification,
of course.)

The advantage of using the RGB before converting to B&W is in the channel
mixer.  That really amounts to the same as using yellow, orange, green, etc.
filters on a B&W film.

Seth


=Glad someone found it of use. Unfortunately he (nor do any of 
=the endless threads here) does not address the basic issue of 
=what happens when you try to print in B&W. All of the files 
=and examples he shows are presumably 3 channel RGB. I am 
=unclined to agree with his 10 megapixal threshold being the 
=point where direct digital cature equals or exceeds 35mm color 
=film but what about B&W? Since the conversion to B&W drops 2/3 
=of the data the implication is that to match 35mm B&W you 
=would need 30 megapixal direct capture.
=
=Martin Wesley
=