Digital BW, The Print

Paul,
If you have not tried it already, you may wish to use Dave Coffins DCRAW
program as an instructive tool.  In document mode, it can map the raw file
to a linear 16-bit grayscale image without demosaicing.  I think it sets
black to 0, but it outputs the offsets for reference; not exactly sure.
There is a red and blue scaling option that could help in the generation of
bayer pattern layer masks, by blowing that color pixel non-zero values to
white.
It would eliminate the behind the scenes things that ACR and other
converters do.  Perhaps that would allow you to numerically assess the
dynamic range of the raw image and compare it with ones where various
filters were used?  Perhaps this is all too geeky to be of value..
You can get compiled windows executables at
http://home.arcor.de/benjamin_lebsanft/

Best regards,
John Moody

-----Original Message-----
From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Paul Roark
Sent: Friday, July 08, 2005 2:11 PM
To: DigitalB&WPrint
Subject: [Digital BW] "Digital zone system" via filters (?)

I've occasionally made references to some tricks that might be able to
expand the digital dynamic range.  I think it is time that this group focus
on one of these in particular.



A small group of off-list B&W shooters has been pursuing an idea that was
originally proposed by Charlie Bustamante and Lloyd Baggs.  Tom Baker, Lloyd
and I have been trying to follow up on Charlie's idea with both promising
and mixed results.  Based on some outstanding prints shown to me that Llyod
made, and the elegance of the concept, I think there is potential, and I
think this group has the expertise to push the idea - forward or into the
dumpster if that is where it belongs.





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