Digital BW, The Print

Jon Cone wrote:
> I do not know that others will agree with my opinion on dMax, until they see open linearization just up to dMax. Most of the digital b&w glossy that I see is very closed shadow. I also do not know what will be gained by going deeper. I just know that I have not yet come up against the point at which I can not get it "blacker". I think it will only make the dynamic range more expansive - rather than punchier. If I were to release this system in some way that could be used on Epsons, I would have no doubt that most users would prefer to force more of the 3/4 range into blackness and go for the "punch". To me that reduces "image quality", but might enhance the "wow" factor for the photographer.
>   
> best,
>
> Jon

What I'm looking for from an inkset that can deliver an actual black 
isn't the black itself. It's the increase in local contrast in the 
shadows that said black will enable. By having an actual black as the 
bedrock of the visual you have something that the 3/4 tones can use to 
improve separation. Thus, the shadows can open a bit, which is really 
what I'm after.

I don't disagree with your conclusion that "most users" will compress 
the 3/4 tones even farther. But I'm not one of those users. I want a 
serious black so that I can uncompress the 3/4 tones some and open up 
the shadows. I can't do that and make it work for my images when the 
darkest I can go is a dark gray (Dmax of 1.6).

So, I encourage you to continue to work in this direction. I would love 
to see this capability in a current wide format printer. Doesn't have to 
be Epson.
--
Bruce Watson