Digital BW, The Print

Ernst Dinkla wrote:
> What I still do not understand of film manufacturers is why 
> do they not go for that last stronghold in film making:
> A compressed color slide film unusable for projection etc 
> but ideal for scanning and with the noise in the shadows of 
> the print, the same for a B&W slide film for scanning.
>   

I've been wondering the same thing for years now. A color transparency 
film designed for scanning would be ideal. As you say, put the noise in 
the shadows where it "belongs" and have nice "grainless" highlights. 
Give it the same dynamic range, contrast index, etc. as a color negative 
film like 160PortraNC or Fuji Pro160-S. Doesn't need to be a family of 
different films with different contrast and saturation characteristics 
because it's going to be scanned and manipulated in a photo editor 
anyway. It can really be a one-film-for-everything kind of deal.

The only reason I can see not to do this is that it would take sales 
away from existing films. But in the end, the first company to release 
such a film will be taking sales away from it's rival. So you'd think 
both companies would be interested in the concept. So maybe it will 
happen one day.
--
Bruce Watson