Digital BW, The Print

Hi Anthony,

Anthony writes:

> When someone tells me that he did a scan of Velvia or T-Max or something
and
> it looked worse than digital, all that tells me is that he doesn't know
> anything about scanning.  It's true that scanning is not for the
impatient.

True...learning the "ins-and-outs" of scanning takes some time. I've been
scanning MF/LF B&W film for about 3 years now and I'm still finding little
ways that I can produce a better scan. About a year ago, my head was turned
by a simple (and inexpensive) piece of scanning software called Vuescan;
after having used Silverfast Ai for the prior two years. B&W scans using
Vuescan showed much more shadow detail and lower overall contrast; yet local
contrast was maintained. I have not touched Silverfast for B&W since. Color
is a different story.

> Also, you'll want a scanner that can handle far more than 8-bit scans,
> otherwise you'll never recover the subtle tonality of B&W film.

The Epson Expression 1680 generates 12-bit scans.

> I've been fully satisfied by the LS-8000ED.  It occupies quite a bit of
> space on my desk, but it sure does a nice job, and it lets me scan MF,
which
> was very important.

I'm thinking about the Nikon 8000. But, then, again, I'm also thinking I
could just skip the "middle man" (MF) and shoot LF. An 8x10 neg scanned at
1600dpi producing a file that opens in PS as 16-bit grayscale is something
to behold! Clayton has seen a couple of prints from my B&W 8x10 work...I
think he would agree.

> It would be nice if there were a LS-12000ED or something to scan LF film,
> but I don't know if that will ever happen.  If I were to venture into LF,
> I'm not exactly sure what I'd do with the results if I didn't have a
scanner
> to scan them with.

Can you imaging the cost? The Imacon scanner that handles up to 4x5 is
something like $18,000US. Don't know about you, but that's more than a
little bit steep for my budget.

> Above all, it seems to me that with a good scanner and a good printer
> dedicated to B&W, it should be possible (?) to produce exhibition-quality
> prints right in one's own home.  This last point is the question I'm
trying
> to get answered these days.  I have a bit of space on a table for one more
> printer; when and if I have the money, I'd like to dedicate a printer to
B&W
> for this purpose.

Go for it! Those of us trying to tweak every last ounce out of our dedicated
quad setups, and have experienced the frustrations inherent in the process,
will tell you that that is exactly why we do it...when it's right...the
results are second to none!

Alan Huntley