Digital BW, The Print

i have done two things to darken images. one is i have created a 
darkening curve which i have stored in the my documents folder and i 
load it when i need it. i used trial and error to arrive at a proper 
curve.  i basically make a curve layer. the other is to create a new 
layer and use the multiply function in the layers box and adjust to 
about 50% opacity. when all is said and done i make test prints till 
i like the image, then "save as" a new image. like darkroom printers 
we may change the way we feel about the printing of an image over 
time and want to change things so i leave it in layers. just my 
2cents. larry pirrone

DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "ednmetrodc" <ed@h...> wrote:
> I've been lurking for a while looking for answers, but have not 
> found exactly what I've been looking for. Maybe some of you, or 
> Paul, can clear things up for me.
> 
> 1)  According to Paul's workflow, I should be using the 
> Photoshop 5 default color settings in PS 6. This brings up the 
> question as to whether I should be assigning a profile to my 
> image file before I edit it. For example, if it's an RGB file, do I 
> bring it in untagged (no color management) or do I assign the 
> working space, i.e., sRGB? When I convert the file to grayscale, 
> PS assigns the PS5 default grayscale profile, gamma 2.2. Since 
> I'm on a Mac, shouldn't I be assigning it a gamma of 1.8? Should 
> I be saving my grayscale file with an imbedded profile or not?
> 
> 2)  In the Epson Printer dialog, do any of you use the Brightness 
> or Contrast sliders, or should this be left at 0?
> 
> 3) The reason for question number 2 is that my prints seem a bit 
> less contrasty (particularly in the shadows) and maybe slightly 
> lighter then when I view them on the monitor (I'm assuming that 
> my monitor is calibrated correctly). In one of Paul's text files, 
he 
> mentions using the Black (RGB) curve of his curve set to adjust 
> for monitor to print matching. Won't this affect or alter the 
> separate R-G-B curves in a non-linear fashion? Placing a point 
> in the center of the Black curve should just affect the mid-tones, 
> no? I just want to adjust the gamma so that my prints come out a 
> bit darker, like what I see on the monitor. How do I do this?
> 
> Well, I guess I've used up my 15 minutes... btw, this group really 
> rocks. You folks have provided me with a wealth of information. 
> Thanks.
> 
> Ed
> 
> <http://www.his.com/ed>