Digital BW, The Print

Take a look here about half way down under Why Gamma?  His stuff makes very
interesting reading.

http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html


> From: Carolyn Frayn <carolyn@...>
> 
>> 
>> Just as an fyi, contrast IS gamma.  You mean dynamic range which, yes, is
>> determined by dMin and dMax and not gamma/contrast.
> 
> Adjusting the gamma slider is not going to add contrast to your midtones. It
> darkens or lightens the mid tones, placing the midpoint in a different place
> along the range, stretching or bunching either end of the tonal range, and
> if used to extreme will lend posterization.
> 
> In levels you can set your endpoints, thereby defining your dynamic range
> best within your file. Adjusting the gamma slider within levels, a small
> amount if desired, will lighten or darken the mids.. But I prefer to do that
> in curves as well. Compressing your tonal range will also give more
> contrast, but can be detrimental to your intent.
> 
> In curves, an s-curve will add contrast to your mid range without blowing
> out your highs, or clipping blacks.. Keeping your dynamic range in tact..
> but adding contrast to the image file.
> 
> So I'm not sure why you keep saying gamma equals contrast.
> Carolyn