Digital BW, The Print

B&W is more demanding, in that one can't judge neutrality effectively  
with color in the viewing area, and one does not focus on gray  
gradients and linearity with color involved.

But a calibrated display, correct display brightness, appropriate  
viewing light, and a B&W savvy printer profile should produce  
reasonable matches for density, contrast, whatever you care to call  
the elements of B&W.

Many on this list will argue the details of best neutrality, best  
linearity, most levels of gray, best longevity etc... But I believe  
most will agree that a good general match should be achieved through  
appropriate ICC process.

If you are not getting that, then there is probably some element in  
your process that is not optimal.

C. D. Tobie
Global Product Technology Mngr.
Digital Imaging & Home Theater
Datacolor.com
CDTobie@...

On Feb 5, 2010, at 11:35 PM, David Kachel <david@...> wrote:

> I am curious if others have had the same experience I have had  
> printing B&W digitally...
>
> I started making the transition from analog to digital a year and a  
> half ago (had I known, I would have started by first taking up  
> drinking!) and feel as though I have just recently started getting a  
> more or less firm grip.
>
> I print color only very occasionally but when I do my calibrated  
> monitor and printer don't seem to have much trouble giving me a  
> first print that is reasonably in the ball park. But with B&W I find  
> that though print color is usually within a single point of correct,  
> contrast and density (brightness if you prefer) don't look right in  
> the print unless they look way over the top on the monitor. This  
> isn't really a problem. I understand the transmittance/reflectance  
> dichotomy and have simply adapted to the difference in my workflow.  
> But I would like to know if others have seen the same thing printing  
> B&W as compared to color.
>
> I presume the difference is due to the fact that color as we all  
> know, hides a lot of sins and color printers aren't paying attention  
> to density and contrast as much as B&W photographers.
>
> David Kachel
>
>
>
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