Digital BW, The Print

Lew,  I don't see any grain exaggeration difference between types of
silver film (including various 30-year-old Ilford and Kodak, including
2475 recording film, including current Acros and Neopan 400, including
pushes, including various developers such as FG7, Rodinal, and
Emofin...but I mostly use Vuescan with my 50ED.

Nikonscan, used conventionally, isn't optimal for silver film, but it
works significantly better if you scan the silver neg as a positive
and invert in Photoshop/Elements. 

I find Vuescan better with silver negs because that invert step isn't
necessary AND because I normally use the "slight grain reduction"
setting that keeps grain the size I'd expect it with a condenser
enlarger and doesn't soften it. I use that setting with fast C41 color
as well (eg NPZ800)

The standard film transport reads frame lines in order to position
precisely...very nice...but neither Nikonscan nor Vuescan enable that
with silver film. I use Nikon's optional FH-3 carrier with silver film
and generally prefer Vuescan's front end.

As you probably know, you can't use ICE or Vuescan's as-good-or-better
 Infared with your silver negs. 

John

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Lew <lew1716@...>
wrote:
>
> I'm going to start printing my black and white negatives digitally.
I'll be scanning them with a Nikon
> Coolscan. Are there any general guidelines re target contrasts for
development?
>