Digital BW, The Print

Steve,

I think you and Tyler are at an impass.  You believe that the absolute 
value (of brightness) matters.  Tyler believes that everything is relative.

In terms of "the literature", Tyler is right.  The commonly held belief is 
that the absolute value of brightness doesn't matter.  That the human 
vision system will adapt to the scenes or images dynamic range.  See 
"Digital Image Processing", by William K. Pratt or similar works for a 
complete discussion of why this is.

I'm more of a relativist, too.  The curves I create are visually linear 
from paper-white to ink-black with middle grey falling where it may.  But 
this discussion has made me reconsider this approach and question my 
assumptions.  Or, at least made me consider an alternative: I'm going to 
create some curves that put printed middle-grey at Kodak middle grey, but 
that also make my displayed contrast equal my printed contrast.  Let the 
S-curve fall where it may!

Really, there is no right or wrong here.  It's just how you choose to work.

-Keith


At 04:24 AM 12/7/2004, you wrote:

>Hi Tyler and others following along
>
>No maths, just managing image tones to print tones - what a B&W RIP is all
>about.
>
>With regard to LAB - you sold me.  Even as a (final) edit tool.  In a colour

<snip>