Digital BW, The Print

I think the discussion of 21 vs 26 (or even 51 steps) vs Ansel's zones is
very misleading.  Ansel et al developed a system which principally
recognised two simple things: (1) one can obtain better control over process
if we are able to define a mid grey point at the previsualisation stage and
have that be a stable factor from exposure to print and (2) deviances from
this mid can be measured in f-stops.  The second point is what defined the
number of zones he used.  There was nothing to have stopped him defining his
scale in 1/2 or 1/3 stops and having a greater number of zones.

It is the first factor which causes "issues" in this discussion.  There is a
very real loss of "visualization at exposure to print discipline" that
occurs when we abandon the first point, say by "exposing to the right" by
focusing on the histogram with a digital camera.  Yes we capture maximum
information but we delay our setting of mid grey and black and white points
until we get back to our computers - quite some time post visualization.  In
Ansel's case he had no such flexibility (except for altering the processing
chemical and paper grade).  In our case we have enormous flexibility -
enough to dramatically alter the image from the one we perceived making at
the time of shutter release.  The debate centres on whether one should
expose for post shutter release (ie computer) flexibility or for the
previsualised print.

A massive complicating factor here is the way the RIPs we use are
linearized.  QTR's linearization provides a different mid grey for each and
every paper and ink combination.  (I understand IJC/OPM has the ability for
this mid point to be stable.) In this environment, maintaining the sort of
discipline that Ansel sought is extremely difficult.

> From: Paul Roark <paul.roark@...>
> Reply-To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 08:27:35 -0800
> To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Re: Paul Roark's Zone system (who's Annie Lennox?)
> 
> 
>>> At any rate, my point was -- learn the histogram, not the "zone system."
> 
>> Especially when you put your 21 step data in the "LINEARIZE="
>> line and built your QTR curve accordingly.
>> What would Ansel have done with 21 zones? ;) ;)
> 
> And now IJC/OPM uses a 26-step test print.
> 
> These are the new tools and language we use.
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com
>