Digital BW, The Print

If other folks are anything like me, someone has to rip the print out
of their hand and say "Enough already.Let it go!". There is always
something I think could be better. Curves and profiles, even the very
best, can't account for that. If they could, no one would be talking
about master printers and photographers. We'd all just be using the
canned ones set up by previously aknowledged top dogs and that would
be the end of it.

Likewise, between thought and reality, there is often a disconnect and
what I think I see onscreen just isn't there yet in the print. No. I'm
not looking at an unmanaged scanner,screen or printer etc. Whenever I
think I have the numbers all dialed in, the output starts looking, to
me, like drugstore prints. Good ones to be sure but nothing special.
Something like the difference between a player piano and an
accomplished musician playing a piano.

Clayton is spot on about different photos requiring different
treatments. In my view there is no way it(the printing) can be totaly
mechanised in all it's infinite variations without losing something.
There is a good reason artists and those who print for them generaly
require proofing.

Regards
Duane





--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Clayton Jones"
<cj@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Scott,
> 
> >attempting to create one adjustment curve... and use that for all 
> >future prints. Is that nuts? Looks like you are suggesting the 
> >generation a a new adjustment curve for each image even though you 
> >are using the same final paper. Have you found that to be really 
> >necessary? Is using a generic custom created curve not a reliable 
> >choice? Obviously our eyes will tell us, but I am interested in your 
> >thoughts and experience. 
> 
> Good question.  In theory a universal curve ought to do the job.  I
> think people who have densitometers and tightly calibrated systems and
> carefully made paper profiles are doing that.  But I don't work that
> way and so must do the best I can by eyeball.  In the beginning I
> thought a single curve would do the job, but soon found that the curve
> varies with each image.  They can be similar in shape, but differ
> enough in the details to need changes.  The biggest differences are
> with images such as high vs low key, high contrast vs lots of
> midtones, etc.
> 
> My next thought was to save a curve for each paper and use that as a
> starting point, and then do minor tweaks to fit each image.  That can
> work, but I found in practice that I can make a new one from scratch
> in about as much time, so I just drifted away from doing that.
> 
> Another thing I found is that the final results can vary with a new
> batch of paper or ink.  On a couple of occasions I have modified some
> of my saved curves to adjust for that.  I suppose people with
> calibrated systems would have to make new profiles as well.
> 
> In actual practice making these curves is so quick and easy that it's
> just not an issue.
> 
> >Thanks again for continuing to help those of us who use the R2400 and 
> >like your particular type of work flow!
> 
> You're welcome.  Glad it's helpful.
> 
> 
> Regards,
> Clayton
> 
> 
> Info on black and white digital printing at    
> http://www.cjcom.net/digiprnarts.htm
>