Digital BW, The Print

Because I wanted to be able to shuffle and juxtapose the prints made 
with different curves, I printed Paul Roark's 21stepNew.jpg file onto 
4.25" x 11" sheets of Epson Archival Matte, starting with the w5 
curve, which produces a neutral tone, which Paul thought might be the 
easiest to correct, if necessary.

This neutral tone wedge looked so good that I went ahead and printed 
21stepNew from the other three curves too, without going directly to 
a photo as Paul suggested, because I was so eager to compare the 
other, sepia end of the range. It is a lovely, chocolate brown. So, 
but cooler, is its next-door neighbor, just as the neutral's neighbor 
is visibly warmer.

Out of curiosity, I also printed 21sepNew without any curve, and it 
came out looking just as good as, but lighter than, any of the other 
four and more brown than gray. I expect this "uncurved" option might 
have its uses too.

Unfortunately I started this last night, so I was up half the night 
trying different curves on different images I've had in mind for 
Sepia-Neutral. I think it's a winner, a "natural" for old photos but 
also very appealing for some subjects from any era. What's most 
impressive from the step tests however is how even the progression 
appears to be from step to step and without any merging at either end 
of the scale.

Next I want to look at that in the flat-bed. I'd appreciate any tips 
on how best to scan and how best to adjust (if at all) the scan 
before measuring it.

Thanks.

Sam