Digital BW, The Print

I'll try to hold back next time.

The issue is the grid pattern that comes from the LCD used as the  
negative stage. For small prints the grid is small, for larger prints  
the grid is larger, as if you put a piece of window screen where the  
neg would go and make small and large prints. Not having one of  
these, I have had some detailed conversations with the tech people  
who make the head so this info is second hand. I believe the image is  
printed slightly out of focus or moved during the exposure to help  
with the definite pattern the LCD has. You have to remember,  
conventional enlarger light is being sent THROUGH this LCD, so you  
are fighting the pattern that is manufactured into it by default.  
They are trying all kinds of software fixes but every person I have  
talked to (some of my customers giving them a try) have all been  
disappointed.
Concerning the Lightjet route, I think there are some labs out there  
doing it with RC but I think fiber base ISO is too slow and  
processing large rolls (prints) is a pain in the ass. I don't think  
you can just load up a 16x20 piece of paper in one.

Just my little knowledge, please nobody hold me to it.
Mark

PS We are currently testing large negs from digital files to fiber  
based prints, still in early testing.


On Sep 8, 2005, at 2:58 PM, Mark McCombs wrote:

> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Mark Savoia
> <mark@c...> wrote:
> > I have tried it and know many who have, it looks like shit.
>
> hah, tell me what you REALLY think!
>
> I wonder why it's that bad, seems to make sense.  Then again, I don't
> know why someone doesn't just load up a Fuji, Noritsu, Lightjet with
> fiber based b/w paper and do that, or RC is that's not possible, vs.
> using an digital optical enlarger.  While I really like mPix/Miller's
> lab, I didn't find that their b/w only prints were good enough.
>
> I wonder if the grid problem is because of optically enlarging a
> digital file, vs. having a laser image the paper (?)
>
> Thanks for the input.......
>



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