Digital BW, The Print

Cross-posting from another list:

[regarding should you use 16 bit mode]

"The simple answer would be yes.  The bit depth is
really just the amount of precision possible,
analagous to the number of decimal points in a
floating point number.  If you apply a curve to a
floating point number of say 0.12 with a factor of
1.001 and you are limited to two places output you
still have an output of 0.12.  Or, given the same
constraints, if the curve calls for a factor of 1.035
you still get an output of 0.12 (rounded from 0.124)
while if the curve applies a 1.040 factor to your
input you get a jump to 0.13 (rounding from 0.125). 
For a simple single non-agressive curve it probably
doesn't matter much, but if you do more agressive or
multiple adjustments the round off adds up fast, so
even when you start off with 8-bit image, converting
to 16-bit for adjustments buys you something.  That's
why Adobe makes such a big deal about upping its
16-bit support.

mark"
--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Gary Brown" 
<baffin@c...> wrote:
> Could someone elaborate, on the advantages of using 16 bit 
conversions vs 8 
> bit.
> 
> My digital capture is done with a 20D in RAW (obviously). I use Raw 
Shooter 
> to convert, I prefer it over the converter in CS2.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Gary
> 
> 
> www.pbase.com/garyallenbrown