Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

> Digital printing is a different medium.

That is true....

> Comparing digital prints to
> darkroom prints is like comparing apples to walnuts.

...but that doesn't mean they can't be compared.  Some part of it is
certainly personal preference and skill level...but they certainly can be
compared on a cost level, time level, and quality level (such as density
range, sharpness, tonality etc.), pros, cons etc.

> There really isn't
> a lot of point to it, not that that stops people from doing it of
> course.

There certainly is a point to it, especially when someone is trying to
decide if they should switch from B&W chemical printing to B&W digital
printing.

I was talking with a professional photographer friend of mine today (we
owned a studio together some 10 years ago).  He is one of the better B&W
photographers in both his imagery and his darkroom techniques...and he has
tried to print digitally, but hasn't gotten very far (he doesn't like the
results).  He simply isn't doing it right (printing on a color printer, or
single ink printing), and isn't all that computer/technology savvy as far as
digital imaging goes.  I will bring him some Piezo prints tomorrow, and he
will in fact be making a comparison for him self.  He would very much like
to print digitally, and if he likes what he sees in my digital prints, I'll
be helping him get set-up to do so.

So how you can dismiss the two as being able to be compared, I simply don't
understand or agree with.

Regards,

Austin