Digital BW, The Print

jlk4410 wrote:
> Sorry if this sounds too basic and I am struggling.
> So much that I've read seems geared to RGB that I'm looking for advice about sharpening 
> Grayscale images. Yes, I've searched the archives at DB&WTP, and Googled, and what I've 
> found seems dated, RGB,  and unclear.
> PhotoKit, Pixel Genius suggests 
> 1:Capture sharpen{easy/gentle with an edge mask}, 
> 2:Creative sharpen, 
> 3:Output sharpen, {for the method, size and DPI} 
> meaning 2 or 3 sharpening passes. AND Photokit only works in RGB!
> Convert to RGB? Then back again for output? What's the workflow look like?
> Other sources suggest sharpening for output at the end of the workflow. {only one pass} 
> I'd appreciate hearing from the experienced members on the subject of sharpening 
> Grayscale images for Ink jet output. 
> FYI
> Mac OS 10.4.7  PS2
> NEC LCD calibrated monitor
> Epson R2400
> Specific project is 645 B&W NEGS Fuji Acros scanned with an Imacon
> Anyone willing to share their secrets?
> 
> Thanks,
> Julian Kaiser



The consensus is sharpening in two or three stages (Bruce 
Fraser old and new). The last stage being a print sharpening 
that isn't saved with the edited file. For the last I use 
Qimage before bringing the file to QTR for quad printing. In 
discussions with Mike Chaney his answer was:

quotes:

">Remains that question whether the interpolation and sharpening
  >> qualities of Qimage are as effective in B&W (quad) 
printing as
  >> they are in color. Or are there better algorithms for B&W 
only ?

The techniques should be identical.  I don't know of any reason
to treat
B/W sharpening and interpolation any differently than color.

Mike

  >With a B&W image, you are altering only luminance values, so
you should
  >> be able to use higher levels of sharpening..  That leads 
to a
question
  >> of whether QImage currently defaults to higher sharpening
values when
  >> sharpening B&W images?


Shouldn't matter.  Qimage sharpens based on the luminance 
channel to
begin with, even in color images.

Mike"
end of quote

Sharpening in other applications will probably work in similar 
ways.

Ernst
                    --
           Ernst Dinkla


www.pigment-print.com
(         unvollendet         )