Digital BW, The Print

> I
> think I get why
> with low bit justification higher bit depth leads to higher DR, thus a
> larger histo, but I don't get why the histo doesn't get larger when it's
> high bit justified.

Higher bit depth, whether high bit justified data, or low bit justified
data, can represent/hold a higher dynamic range.  High bit justified data
will show a wider span on the histogram than low bit justified data, even
though they are "the same" data.  Remember, high bit justified data has
space between the valid data points...and low bit data does not have any, it
uses contiguous values (if the original scan was able to provide contiguous
values that is).

> If a person doesn't know how their data is being
> justified, can they make a meaningful assessment of the histogram? Ooooh,
> maybe that's why you want a 16 bit histo....

Well, you should always take the data and set the setpoints and spread it
out...that will eliminate any issues with high bit justification or low bit
justification.

> PS, when you do discuss the stuff below maybe you can work this
> in too. I've
> heard it said over and again, including from Andrew Rodney, that
> DR and bit
> depth are totally unrelated. When people say that, do they mean in all
> instances other than at point of capture?

I don't know why they say this, because it's simply wrong!  Yes, you CAN
represent any dynamic range with any number of bits 2 or more...BUT you
don't get the intermediate values (tones).  Can you show me where Andrew
Rodney states this.  I would like to read exactly what he as to say.  Ed
Hamrick agrees with me on this, BTW.

> Is it that they just don't
> understand how capture devices work, but they are correct in all other
> instances? If you are correct about the relationship, and I trust you are,
> why are so many otherwise knowledgeable people mistaken?

Well, I don't know that they are hardware engineers...they may be very
experienced in imaging, but just don't understand how the hardware works.  I
don't actually know that they are truly knowledgeable.  The knowledgeable
people I know, agree with me ;-)