Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 11/7/06 11:25:38 AM, e.neilsen2@... writes:


> 
> I am sure that we can all make gray scale ramps from our settings if that
> truly would mean something. However, as a silver printer for many years, I
> know that there are many ways to skin a cat, and file prep for printing will
> vary as does negative creation and printing still do in the land of silver.
> 

The way I see it is this: everyone was shocked by the level of variation of 
the different systems on a standard file, in the "A" prints. The adjusted "B" 
prints were typically less dissimilar, as people had used image adjustments to 
attempt to correct for system nonlinearity. This wasn't necessarily a concious 
thing, but as you use a system, and learn how to get the best out of it, you 
are working towards an optimal print. Eric's Piezo Sepia prints were nicely 
optimized... but for a system with a significantly lower d-max and a heavy color 
tint, so that put them in a different range. They look great by themselves, 
but weak on a wall of prints with deeper blacks. Its like natural paper looking 
white alone, but beige next to a whitened sheet.

So yes, I'd love to measure and plot a standard stepped grayramp from each of 
these systems, it might not interest everyone, but it would very much 
interest me. If others are interested, I'll volunteeer as measurement geek, and 
graphing geek, and will post the results. Let me know if there is interest in this, 
and I'll post shipping and mailing addresses, and sent out a standard ramp 
file that I can measure.

C. David Tobie
Product Technology Manager
ColorVision Business Unit
Datacolor Inc.
CDTobie@...
www.colorvision.com



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]