Digital BW, The Print

I use blur on a separate layer. I use a high degree of blur, with a low opacity - about 12% - and it maintains the grain while softening it.

This photo was taken on 35mm APX400 - the grainiest film I know of - and shows the effect I'm talking about. (I also added a noise layer to accentuate the effect.)
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/rich_s/photos/galleries/people/pages/2003070735.html

Good luck,
Richard
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http://smallfield.vze.com
http://photos.smallfield.vze.com

   "An economist is an expert who will know tomorrow why 
   the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today."
   --Laurence J. Peter