Digital BW, The Print

Carl Weese remark in "The Online Photographer" May 2006 
(http://theonlinephotographer.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_theonlinephotog
rapher_archive.html) -- sorry, cannot figure out how to get link to 
a particular post from there. Nice publication, skipping stuff like 
multi-megapixels shootouts a la Michael Reichmann.

<<
The highlights of a platinum/palladium (Pt/Pd) print are nowhere 
near as bright as those of a silver print (as measured with a 
densitometer), yet highlight interpretation is probably the medium's 
greatest strength. The point is that, in a print, what counts is 
description, not absolute density. A shadow filled with clearly 
differentiated dark values is more convincingâ€"seemingly darkerâ€"than 
an area of dmax that looks like a pool of spilled India ink. Same 
for highlights.
>>

Cannot agree more -- it is all human interpretation of the human 
brain, which could be effected by any number of DMax unrelated 
reasonings.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tyler Boley" 
<tyler@...> wrote:
>
> I think this also has a lot to do with image tonality. Certainly
> something like a still life on a black background or anything with
> areas of solid K are going to definitely appear different, no
> question. The prints we were comparing were clearly printed with a
> high emphasis on the middle tones sitting just right, and detail
> everywhere. This means only very small areas of full dmax. 
> I also was not attempting to re-introduce the tired matte vrs 
glossy
> issue, just describing an interesting experience with an unexpected
> outcome.
> I've heard from 3 or 4 big name (very) west coast silver printer
> photographers that they "hate" platinum prints, the density range 
is
> "inferior". Too bad, some of the most beautiful prints I've ever 
seen
> are platinum, some of the deadest flat prints I've seen are 
platinum.
> Some of the most beautiful prints I've seen are silver, some of the
> harshest ugly prints I've seen are silver. I don't get the dogma, I
> just don't get it. You'd think these people would know how to look 
at art.
> Also, I've said it before, I didn't say the Turner blacks appeared 
as
> dark as the gloss placks, I said the Turner prints were richer in
> impression, and the blacks "felt" as black.
> I realize some will have a lot of trouble with that kind of talk, 
all
> I can say is that these decisions are the individual artist's and
> these kinds of comparisions, with real prints not numbers, have to 
be
> done by those interested in nailing down a personal materials 
preference.
> Tyler
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Brian 
Chapman"
> <brianechapman@> wrote:
> >
> > I got my first box of the FibaPrint Gloss a couple days ago and 
in 
> > comparing the same sample images visually with the other papers 
I've 
> > been using (photo rag, william turner, german etching) it 
definately 
> > has higher dmax.  
> > 
> > However, when viewed individually, where there isn't a 
comparison 
> > print with higher dmax, the most important factor is what the 
viewer 
> > perceives as black in the image.  Before I compared them (PR and 
> > FibaPrint Gloss) side by side, I was pretty convinced that what 
I 
> > was looking at on PR was deep black.  Obviously the FibaPrint 
Gloss 
> > paper changed my perception in comparison but when I look at the 
> > prints individually I still feel like I'm looking at black in 
the PR 
> > print.  
> > 
> > I'm not trying to turn this in to a matte vs glossy debate so 
I'll 
> > leave it there ;)
> > 
> > Brian
> > http://www.brianchapmanphotography.com
> > 
> > 
> > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul 
Roark" 
> > <paul.roark@> wrote:
> > >
> > > 
> > > > ... a few of us here had some SilverRag, FibaPrint Gloss, 
> > > > Fine Art Pearl, air dried fiber selenium toned silver, and 
> > > > quads on coated art papers all spread out here the other day.
> > > 
> > > > Guess which took the subjective edge in richness?
> > > > That's right, the lowly 1.7 dmax quad inks on William Turner 
> > prints.
> > > 
> > > I've also noticed that with such prints spread out on my desk, 
but 
> > in better
> > > display and lighting conditions the 2.2 dmax black makes the 
1.7 
> > look gray.
> > > Luckily most display conditions are bad enough that I'll be 
able 
> > to use my
> > > matte paper for most printing.
> > > 
> > > Paul
> > > www.PaulRoark.com
> > >
> >
>