Digital BW, The Print

At 06:25 AM Sunday 10/14/2007, you wrote:
>I would like to see the lith workflow.   Thanks.

Hi Alan,
your isp is blocking my isp so my reply got bounced.

But here is my version,
Richard

Grey Scale Lith Print Workflow
(To be toned via Quad Tone Rip or Grey Scale Variable Mix inks, or converted to RGB and toned and printed with colour inksets.)

Adapted from an RGB workflow in 'Black and White Photography In The Digital Age' by Worobiec and Spence.

1. Take a photo.:)
2. Duplicate the 'Backgound' layer.
3. Add grain: Create a new layer then fill it with 50% Grey (Edit>Fill>50% Gray)
4. Add Gaussian Noise. Try a level of 140.
5. Smooth the grain with Gaussian Blur - radius 0.4 (on the same layer).
6. Blend this layer with 'Soft Light' blending mode.
7. Activate 'Background Copy' layer and set 'Overlay' blending mode.
8. Activate the grain layer (Layer 1), select Colour Range and select the shadows.
9. Go to the 'Select' Menu>Feather. Try 5px or more radius.
10. Press Ctrl+J to copy the selection to a new layer. You can now delete layer 1 if you are happy with the result of the new layer. (You can keep it, but make sure it is hidden unless you want to use it again.)
11. That's about it. You may want to add a gradient if the sky is now too pale. (Activate Quick Mask by pressing 'Q', then the Gradient Tool - check your selection, then leave Quick Mask mode (Press Q again) and Press Ctrl-J to make a new layer from the gradient selection, that you can now adjust - probably with levels. Or a global levels adjustment might be needed.
12. If you are using QTR, try printing with Warm and / or Sepia curves ... or convert to RGB and adjust the hue with your preferred method to get the tone you want and print via the Epson driver. If you want to print it neutral, then you get the contrasty Jeanloup Sief look.  
--
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   "That which achieves its effect by accident is not art."
   --Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the Younger 4 B.C. - A.D. 65