Digital BW, The Print

Mark,

You wrote:

>It's a continuing source of hearty chuckles to pick up B/W
>Magazine from time to time. I love to watch the
>subtle ways that they continue to bash digital
>technology with one hand, and somehow manage to
>accept advertising dollars from companies
>that use digital techniques, with the other hand.

>.... (big snip)

I agree.  I think it is a good way to get to "know the enemy" -- the fears
and concerns of those who avoid digital prints for irrational reasons.

Of course, I think that there are also very rational reasons why a silver or
platinum print would and should fetch a higher price than a current, typical
inkjet, assuming the artistic quality and artist reputations are equal.  The
dye inkjets fade.  The pigment inkjets have a weaker dmax/lower dynamic
range than an ideal silver print.  Our typical print is also less durable,
with a very easily damaged surface and less permanent image.

There is also a relationship between quantity and price.  If more of a
product is made, each individual piece will be less valuable.  The fear that
the digital printer can simply press a button and print as many copies as
s/he likes with no manual labor probably does lower the price of the
product.  (Of course, AA just hired legions of assistants to do the
printing, but who's counting ....)

So, we do have some things to work on to deal with the real factors that a
collector might take into account.  Once the real/rational factors are dealt
with, I think the irrational ones will fade away.   (Notice how many of
these real problems are dealt with by hand coating the prints.)

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com