Digital BW, The Print

Well, Kevin...not really.  There are tonal separations that may not show up
in RGB, that will using grayscale capture.  Because of this, you may not get
the image you want.  I don't disagree that you can't get some exception B&W
output by converting...but the point is, really, it simply isn't the same,
and that this difference does in fact matter, to some.

Also, the human eye does not see only in color.  The human eye has two
spectral systems based on two different types of receptors known as cones
and rods. The cones are responsible for colour vision but are much less
sensitive to low light than the rods. In bright light the cones are active
and the iris is stopped down. This is called photopic vision. When in a
darkened area, over a short period of time there are other chemical
adaptations which make the rods become sensitive to light at about a
10,000th of the level needed for the cones to work. After this time we see
much better in the dark but we have very little colour vision. This is known
as scotopic vision.  Both are active at any one time...but it's the
sensitivity of each that changes.

Regards,

Austin

> Could someone frame this.  It seems to say all that needs to be said
> this theoretical  tangent.
>
> >
> > Since the human eye sees in color, _all_ black and white images are by
> > definition arbitrary. You may prefer an image in which some infrared or
> > ultraviolet light has been turned into visible white, but it's no more
> > "correct" than anything else.
> >
> > In reality, you can take a digital RGB image and produce very pleasing
> > B&W
> > prints. The fact that you can't produce _exactly_ the same image you'd
> > get
> > with B&W film (or a broadband monochrome CCD) means nothing, except to
> > the
> > extent that you happen to prefer the film result for a particular
> > image. On
> > the other hand, B&W film and a bag full of filters can't produce
> > nearly the
> > range of possibilities you can get from an RGB sensor and Photoshop.
>
>
>
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks,
> Polls and other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you
> wish to unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by
> visiting this same page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier
> messages to keep them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or flames
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the
> various resources on the homepage.
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>