Digital BW, The Print

> From: dlruckus <dlruckus@...>
> [snip]
> A scanner can 
> substitute in most instances even though not as precise.

> [snip] Color spaces and color management merely
> distort the 0-255 or % no's onscreen in different ways for different
> purposes and are themselves an artificial construct. Yes they are
> usefull albeit with much mumbo jumbo attached.

When you scan something it records a file value which in turn depends on the
scanner colour profile. 128/128/128 from a scanner has little meaning unless
you know its colour space.  So using a scanner assumes you have a good
profile for that scanner.  Circular.

>You can 
> also simply use photoshop curves to linearise black&white output.

How do you tell if the result is linear?  Eyeballing is not particularly
accurate.  You can use a scanner but as noted above you are dependent on the
assumption your scanner profile is good.  But is it?


> 
> In terms of numbers, I believe they are indeed relevant. If you send
> a 128,128,128 dot to the printer, it will be printed the same every
> time.( or else you need to change printers )

Yes but what colour is it?  Does it match what you see on screen?  Again you
can eyeball or desire, as you seem to do, something better.

>It is the consistancy
> that truly matters. You can compensate balance and/or tones so long
> as a given #set prints the same each time. This is particularly true
> if you are not trying to match up to someone else's gear but merely
> printing your own stuff.

>Color spaces and color management merely
> distort the 0-255 or % no's onscreen in different ways for different
> purposes and are themselves an artificial construct. Yes they are
> usefull albeit with much mumbo jumbo attached.

Sorry but this is garbage.  They don't distort anything - they give a pixel
value meaning and help you manage pixel values from one device to another in
a way that keeps the colour (greyscale or not) consistent.  There isn't any
mumbo jumbo to that but it does involve understanding a little.  A simple
book Real World Color Management by Bruce Fraser will tell you all you need.