Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

> Austin, thanks for asking - replies inline...
>
> > BH,
> >
> > > I did a series of tests with my printer, a 1270 using the Epson
> > > driver.  Short answer: 360 or 720ppi print noticeable better
> > > than any other resolutions.
> > >
> > > Long answer:
> > > I'm fairly picky.  I usually don't enlarge beyond 4-5x in the
> darkroom.
> > > I look at prints from 6" away.
> > >
> > > The _image_ resolutions I tested were: 840, 780, 720, 660, 600, 540,
> > > 480, 420, 360, 300, 240, 180ppi, 8-bit grayscale images printed from
> > > Illustrator.  I created the different resolution versions by
> starting at
> > > 840ppi, and downsampling to each successively lower resolution in
> > > Photoshop.
> >
> > How do you know the downsampling isn't causing the visual
> difference in the
> > printout?
>
> The image files show no artifacts or moire on screen at 100% pixels.

OK...but that doesn't mitigate that this is a possibility.

> >
> > > My test  image had some thin slightly diagonal lines
> > > (wood joints) which helped identify differences.  The thing that
> > > immediately stands out is moiring(?) in these lines at image
> resolutions
> > > other than 360 or 720ppi.
> >
> > What was the actual original image scan resolution?
>
> It was a 6x7 TMX neg scanned @ 3200ppi on an Epson 3200, no
> "Epson sharpening"
> applied.

But what was it printed at, with no downsampling/resampling etc?

> > > Anyone else have experiences to support/contrast this?
> >
> > My tests show that scanning at the native optical resolution of
> the scanner,
> > and resizing the image without decimating the image (resampling) yields
> > noticeably better results than resampling.
> >
> > Did you try printing one with no resampling?
>
> No, do you mean setting the print size to various resolutions,
> and printing each?
> (Each test would be at a different magnification)  I'll give this a try.

No, simple as printing it the same size as the other prints you made, just
leaving the PPI to the printer fall where it may.

Regards,

Austin