Digital BW, The Print

Howard; IMO the likely culprit is overaggressive use of he 
curves/level functions, as you supect. If that is the case, it 
should show up in your histogram as moderate to severe 'combing' in 
the lower end of the scale. Check for combing after flatening any 
layers (including adjustments) and converting to 8-bit. That's what 
your printer driver sees and prints, even if you are seeing a 
respectable histo before flatening.

Steve Karafyllakis

http://www.stevekphoto.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Howard 
Slavitt" <howard.slavitt@s...> wrote:
> John:
> 
> Actually, I'm working with a beta version of RAW that does support 
> the D70.  The quality of conversion is very good.  The problem 
I've 
> noted does not appear when printing to color.  I do the conversion 
> into 16 bit.  I'm pretty sure it's a Bayer pattern phenomenon, 
and/or 
> a result of overaggressive use of levels and curves.
> 
> Also, my terminology in my original post was mistaken.  I should 
have 
> said posterization/mottling of deep shadow/black areas.  The 
problem 
> is probably best described as mottling.
> 
> Howard
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "John 
Vitollo" 
> <jvlist@c...> wrote:
> > "Howard Slavitt" <howard.slavitt@s...> wrote:
> > > I recently bought a Nikon D70  BTW, my work flow is to shoot 
in 
> > > raw, and use the Photoshop Camera Raw plug in.  I work 
entirely 
> in 16 bit.  
> > 
> > Photoshop Camera Raw does not suppport the D70 at this time...it 
> will open the raw file 
> > but as you can see the quality is not there yet.