Digital BW, The Print

Perhaps a heretical viewpoint: I think it depends on the nature of 
the image.  If you're dealing with direct digital capture, something 
like GF is probably a necessity if you desire printing at 
impressive sizes (16x20" and beyond).  How much "help" is 
needed depends on the level of digital capture - a 16x20" print 
from a file generated by a Canon D30 is quite different from that 
of an EOS-1Ds (or a Phase One back, for that matter).  Genuine 
Fractals seems to be the de facto commercial standard for the 
moment, but it is not the only solution readily available. 

Since I deal almost entirely with 35mm film, I prefer scanning at 
as high an optical resolution as posiible (without breaking the 
bank), and outputting/printing with a relative minimum of digital 
jiggery-pokery, leaving interpolation - by whatever means - as a 
last resort.  Fortunately, as of late last year, the acquisition of a 
Minolta Dimage Scan Elite 5400 film scanner has brought me a 
good deal closer to my ideal workflow (and I emphasize that it's 
simply *my* ideal;  there are may roads to a good final result, as 
can be easily assessed on this Group).  In my current 35mm 
workflow, interpolation is unnecessary up to around 18x25" 
output;  In the rare event where I need to use interpolation, I work 
with Fred Miranda's Stairstep  arrangement via Photoshop, 
which yields decent results, and,  simply in terms of 
bang-for-the-buck performance, runs rings around Genuine 
Fractals.

- Barrett