Digital BW, The Print

Hello John,

>There is little point in trying to convert someone who argues
>against _your_ preferred workflow.  Responding to someone who 
>objects to using a level of control they feel is pointless and 
>unnecessary is, in itself, pointless and unnecessary.

Thank you!  This is the first statement containing any real wisdom so
far in this thread.  

This discussion is actually just the latest guise of the age-old
debate between the Theorist and the Practical Realist, and this is
a replay of a similar one last April (see "Matching Monitor and
Print", April 10-15, 2005) which had some of the same players.  

The statements of the theorist are usually true and can't be logically
argued against.  But the Practical Reality is that it doesn't have to
be done that way.  The theorist says that the high tech approach is
more accurate and saves time, paper and ink, and he is theoretically
correct.  The practical realist knows that, while true, the difference
is usually not worth the extra effort and expense.  

If one is preparing images for a press job or to be printed by a
service bureau then of course the calibrated approach is called for. 
But for the legion of those who do their own work then it's simply not
necessary if one is not so inclined.

The simple methods I've been using have adapted beautifully to the
2400 and I'm now working very quickly and efficiently with good
WYSIWYG and minimal paper and ink use.  I can print on any paper I
want without having to first make a profile or get one from someone
else.  Last weekend I finished a detailed outline of the method and
it's now on the web site (article #9, "Fine Art Black and White with
the Epson 2400 - A sensible and easy approach..."

The fact is that not everyone is inclined to the high tech approach,
and many people, especially beginners, are intimidated by it and are
scared away or afraid to ask questions (I know because I get a lot of
email from them).  This forum should not be scaring people away, so
every now and then the ordinary mortals need to speak up and present
the other side.

Some people become engineers and some become real estate agents, but
both may love photography.  The non-technically inclined need to know
that the high tech approach is not necessary in order to get gallery
quality fine art BW prints, with accurate and repeatable results, with
efficiency and minimal fuss and bother.  It doesn't have to be
complicated (see article #8 for more thoughts about this and a
comparison to the Zone System wars of yore).  


Regards,
Clayton


Info on black and white digital printing at    
http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm