Digital BW, The Print

Val,

The big plus of working in 8-bit is the ability to use layers and layer
masks to great very precise adjustment layers that can be tweaked
individually. There are so many tools available in 8-bit that are not in
16-bit I really can't begin to list them all.

I tend to do all the large overall adjustments and large area adjustments in
16-bit and then do all the fine tuning in 8-bit with adjustment layers.

The advantage to staying in 16-bit is that you will have more and smoother
data to send to the printer. In 8-bit you are more at risk of running into
problems with posterization.

You don't need to drop into 8-bit to sharpen since you can apply unsharp
mask in 16-bit mode. Personally I like to create a second layer in 8-bit
that is edge sharpened and using the layer opacity blend it with an
unsharpened or very lightly sharpened layer.

Basically you sound like you are on the right track. There are just so many
different ways to do the same thing in Photoshop there is no "correct"
method.

Martin Wesley

http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html



----- Original Message -----
From: "vbrunell23" <vbrunell1@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2002 10:40 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] PhotoShop Work Flow


> I am a new member and this is my first post to this group.  I have
> been inkjet printing for about six months.  I am using a 1280, CIS
> and PiezographyBW and have been quite satisfied with my recent
> results and printer "up time" after a tough first few months sorting
> out all the normal issues.
>
> I am still not sure of a few PS workflow issues regarding bit size.
> Following suggestions I have seen on various posts, I am doing major
> tonal adjustments (levels and curves) in 16 bit mode and then saving
> a working copy (just in case!)  I then convert the file to 8 bit for
> sharpening, if needed, and any final cosemetic fixes like spotting.
> I am assuming the major advantage of changing to 8 bit is file size
> and speed, as the tools I normally use at this point also work in 16
> bit mode.  Are there other advantages to converting to 8 bit?  Do I
> give anything up by not staying with 16 bit right through to the
> printing process, other than the ability to better tweak tonal
> values if necessary?
>
> Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give me with this issue.
> Following this group from the sidelines has been a great help in
> getting my digital darkroom efforts off the ground.
>
> Val Brunell
>
>
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and
other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
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&amp;amp;quot;flames.&amp;amp;quot;
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>

Val,

One does not need to go into 8-bit mode, at all, if you don't require saving/keeping an image intact with adjustment layers. For many images, I scan my B&W negs into Photoshop in 16-bit greyscale, create a duplicate, convert to 8-bit, do all my selections on the 8-bit version (all tools available), save selections as a channel, click on the 16-bit version, load the saved selection, and apply adjustments as needed. Whew...it's a lot harder to write then to do! There is a good tutorial on editing images in 16-bit mode on Ian Lyon's website at www.computer-darkroom.com.

Also, sharpening can be completed on a 16-bit image via several techniques, but Fred Miranda's ES Pro (Edge Sharpen PRO) action does a very nice job. I, personally recommend, as Martin did, staying in 16-bit mode for as long as possible in your workflow. As stated previously, you can work fairly effectively without ever converting to 8-bit. But, with 16-bit you do lose the ability to make changes at some later time which 8-bit with adjustment layers gives you. As with everything in photography, there is always tradeoffs!

Alan

-----Original Message-----
From:	Martin Wesley [SMTP:mwesley250@...]
Sent:	Thursday, September 12, 2002 12:26 AM
To:	DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject:	Re: [Digital BW] PhotoShop Work Flow

Val,

The big plus of working in 8-bit is the ability to use layers and layer
masks to great very precise adjustment layers that can be tweaked
individually. There are so many tools available in 8-bit that are not in
16-bit I really can't begin to list them all.

I tend to do all the large overall adjustments and large area adjustments in
16-bit and then do all the fine tuning in 8-bit with adjustment layers.

The advantage to staying in 16-bit is that you will have more and smoother
data to send to the printer. In 8-bit you are more at risk of running into
problems with posterization.

You don't need to drop into 8-bit to sharpen since you can apply unsharp
mask in 16-bit mode. Personally I like to create a second layer in 8-bit
that is edge sharpened and using the layer opacity blend it with an
unsharpened or very lightly sharpened layer.

Basically you sound like you are on the right track. There are just so many
different ways to do the same thing in Photoshop there is no "correct"
method.

Martin Wesley

http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html



----- Original Message -----
From: "vbrunell23" <vbrunell1@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2002 10:40 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] PhotoShop Work Flow


> I am a new member and this is my first post to this group.  I have
> been inkjet printing for about six months.  I am using a 1280, CIS
> and PiezographyBW and have been quite satisfied with my recent
> results and printer "up time" after a tough first few months sorting
> out all the normal issues.
>
> I am still not sure of a few PS workflow issues regarding bit size.
> Following suggestions I have seen on various posts, I am doing major
> tonal adjustments (levels and curves) in 16 bit mode and then saving
> a working copy (just in case!)  I then convert the file to 8 bit for
> sharpening, if needed, and any final cosemetic fixes like spotting.
> I am assuming the major advantage of changing to 8 bit is file size
> and speed, as the tools I normally use at this point also work in 16
> bit mode.  Are there other advantages to converting to 8 bit?  Do I
> give anything up by not staying with 16 bit right through to the
> printing process, other than the ability to better tweak tonal
> values if necessary?
>
> Thanks, in advance, for any help you can give me with this issue.
> Following this group from the sidelines has been a great help in
> getting my digital darkroom efforts off the ground.
>
> Val Brunell
>
>
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and
other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or
&amp;amp;quot;flames.&amp;amp;quot;
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various
resources on the homepage.
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>




Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same page.

Please follow these basic guidelines:
- Include your full name with your message.
- Include the address of your website, if you have one.
- As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep them short.
- As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
- Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or &amp;amp;quot;flames.&amp;amp;quot;
- Complete your Yahoo profile.
- Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various resources on the homepage. 


 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "A. Huntley" <prasepe@a...> 
> 
> Alan, Thanks to you and Martin for your responses asn for sharing 
your expertise in this area.

Val Brunell
> >
> >
> > Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, 
Polls and
> other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
> >
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
> >
> > If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you 
wish to
> unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting 
this same
> page.
> >
> > Please follow these basic guidelines:
> > - Include your full name with your message.
> > - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> > - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier 
messages to keep
> them short.
> > - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject 
header.
> > - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or
> &amp;amp;quot;flames.&amp;amp;quot;
> > - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> > - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the 
various
> resources on the homepage.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, 
Polls and other resources as they are often being updated. The page 
is at:
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
> 
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you 
wish to unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by 
visiting this same page.
> 
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages 
to keep them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject 
header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or 
&amp;amp;quot;flames.&amp;amp;quot;
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the 
various resources on the homepage. 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 

> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]