Digital BW, The Print

John wrote:

>Recently I show some of my B&W prints using C86 and EZ inksets to some 
>members of a traditional darkroom group. They said overall the tonal 
>separation is good but too smooth and sharp. They also said without 
>grains, one can tell that it's a digital printout.
>
>Therefore my question to the senior members here; do you add grains and 
>sharpen in the final picture before you print?
>
>Thanks,
>John
>  
>
I'm mainly a traditional darkroom worker, although recently I've had a 
lot of fun with a C86 and the MIS EZ inks. (So far, I like using Epson's 
Premium Semi-Matte best.) For me, the goal of digital printing is not to 
make the image look like a silver gelatin print, but rather to make the 
best print possible. With about one week of digital printing under my 
belt, I can make a sharper print with better local contrast digitally 
than I can in the darkroom, and we're talking 4x5 negatives enlarged to 
8x10. The silver gelatin prints have a slightly better surface look, and 
they're "smoother" in even-toned light areas, but that probably has to 
do with my sharpening technique.  Suppose that I find a inkjet paper 
with a better looking surface than air dried, glossy FB silver gelatin 
paper. I'd use that paper in an instant, assuming that the other 
characterisitics were acceptable.  I'd be careful showing any kind of 
prints to people in a camera club or darkroom group.  It's my experience 
that people try to show off by making as many critical comments as 
possible.  Make prints that you like, and let others do the same.

-Peter