Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

Well,  we stand here between two significant numbers for the group. We have 
just recently past the 1000 member mark and we are coming up to the group's 
six-month anniversary on the 28th.

We wanted to take the opportunity once again to thank all of you for your 
interest and your support. This is your group and the amount of information 
that you have contributed to the archives, as well as through your messages is 
very impressive. We certainly don't know of any other location that has as 
much data on various ways to produce B&W prints from digital files. You may 
have to do a bit of searching but we think there is something on all of the 
products and workflows.

The entire effort is a testament to the strength of "open systems" and the 
sharing of information. There is something here for just about everyone. There 
are workflows using the unmodified printer that came with your computer to 
exotic ink sets used with very sophisticated software.  There is info on how to 
take your digital files to silver prints by several routes. (Hopefully we will see 
more on this topic in the future. Anyone making silver fiber prints from digital 
camera files?)

Success has had its price in the number of ads we are being subjected to. 
This is unfortunate but since the space is free, it is not really fair to complain. 
While it would be desirable to move to a commercial free location, this does 
not seem possible given our lack of technical resources.

Four print exchanges have been run drawing from the group membership. 
One complete, one wrapping up and two in progress. If you haven't joined in a 
print exchange you are really missing out. It is an incredible way to see a 
broad range of the different materials and techniques in use, as well as a 
means of collecting excellent photographic prints. The quality of the work in 
the exchanges has been first rate.

The print exchanges caught the eye of Sylvia Lindman, a writer for PIX 
magazine, part of PDN (Photo District News). There is an article on the 
exchanges with photos by Paul Roark (congratulations Paul!). The URL 
address for the group appears at the top of the page. So the word of our 
efforts is spreading.

Most of all we remain impressed by the willingness of the members to help 
each other out with their knowledge and their time. It is a great community!


Antonis Ricos & Martin Wesley

<who started this list on July 27, 2001>

Antonis and Martin-

Thanks to both of you for starting this and keeping it up and running.

The 1000 member mark is a very big milestone... most forums like this 
peak out at 400-600 and die off. The success here is a testament to 
your open, tolerant, yet organized attitude and responsiveness.

The only negative, and you point it out, is the horribly intrusive 
(what arrogance Yahoo has grown...remember when it was just "2 guys" 
with a list of URLs). A move would be wrenching but I would still 
suggest it if the Yahoo (they must be thinking of merging with AOL) 
environment continues to be so utterly irritating, there are other 
venues that would require no more technolgy or committment than you 
put into Yahoo...they are also ad based forums, but they at least 
respect the user by not including the insideous popup and click 
through tactic that is becoming the bane of the web and will 
eventually cause companies like Yahoo to fail...sorry for the rant, 
but this change in their format represents the very worst of the web 
and they force in on us in a group that seems to represent the very 
best of the web... sorry, but I just can't be quiet about it...'nuff 
said.

I have a sense that the print exchange is a venue we will continue to 
grow and enjoy. I might float the question to the member ship (if I 
didn't turn you all off with my Yahoo attack) to see if we shouldn't 
pick up on the concept that is running wild in the Piezography 
group...local meetings of forum members/bw digital printers? Maybe 
eventually extended to Real World exhibits of group members??? Just 
running with the idea... and I really don't have the resources or 
time right now to coordinate it, but would be willing to help someone 
if there is interest.

Again... thanks, guys... the whole digital BW explosion is so 
exciting and you have done us all a great service by creating this 
online community to accellerate that growth for all of us.

Tom O'Connell

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "antonisphoto" 
<antonisphoto@y...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> Well,  we stand here between two significant numbers for the group. 
We have 
> just recently past the 1000 member mark and we are coming up to the 
group's 
> six-month anniversary on the 28th.
> 
> We wanted to take the opportunity once again to thank all of you 
for your 
> interest and your support. This is your group and the amount of 
information 
> that you have contributed to the archives, as well as through your 
messages is 
> very impressive. We certainly don't know of any other location that 
has as 
> much data on various ways to produce B&W prints from digital files. 
You may 
> have to do a bit of searching but we think there is something on 
all of the 
> products and workflows.
> 
> The entire effort is a testament to the strength of "open systems" 
and the 
> sharing of information. There is something here for just about 
everyone. There 
> are workflows using the unmodified printer that came with your 
computer to 
> exotic ink sets used with very sophisticated software.  There is 
info on how to 
> take your digital files to silver prints by several routes. 
(Hopefully we will see 
> more on this topic in the future. Anyone making silver fiber prints 
from digital 
> camera files?)
> 
> Success has had its price in the number of ads we are being 
subjected to. 
> This is unfortunate but since the space is free, it is not really 
fair to complain. 
> While it would be desirable to move to a commercial free location, 
this does 
> not seem possible given our lack of technical resources.
> 
> Four print exchanges have been run drawing from the group 
membership. 
> One complete, one wrapping up and two in progress. If you haven't 
joined in a 
> print exchange you are really missing out. It is an incredible way 
to see a 
> broad range of the different materials and techniques in use, as 
well as a 
> means of collecting excellent photographic prints. The quality of 
the work in 
> the exchanges has been first rate.
> 
> The print exchanges caught the eye of Sylvia Lindman, a writer for 
PIX 
> magazine, part of PDN (Photo District News). There is an article on 
the 
> exchanges with photos by Paul Roark (congratulations Paul!). The 
URL 
> address for the group appears at the top of the page. So the word 
of our 
> efforts is spreading.
> 
> Most of all we remain impressed by the willingness of the members 
to help 
> each other out with their knowledge and their time. It is a great 
community!

> 
> 
> Antonis Ricos & Martin Wesley
> 
> <who started this list on July 27, 2001>

Tom,

thanks for the kind words. I wish I had the time and expertise to search for a 
better on-line messaging board. Not only has Yahoo become offensive in its 
advertising intrusions, it doesn't even provide decent threading software for 
the messages (Compuserve is so much better that way). So, the issue 
remains on the wish-list for now. Suggestions welcome, of course.

As for local meetings of members to share and exhibit prints, I think it is a 
good idea and seems to happen spontaneously here and there (some of us 
met here in Los Angeles as well). I am thinking it should spin into "workshops" 
so that some structured exchange of info and ideas takes place. 

Also, wouldn't mind the idea of a travelling portfolio - one that makes the 
rounds of participants whose only commitment is the shipping cost to pass it 
forward. It would be great if those with reps or gallery contacts (or even 
publications) got them to participate in one of those. Takes a bit of trust, but 
the prints are easily replaceable after all!

One thing we should have added in our "state of the union" message is how 
pleased we are to see so many members from other countries and continents. 
The whole on-line globalization phenomenon  continues to thrill and amaze 
me.

Antonis


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "tomoc" <tomoc@y...> wrote:

> The only negative, and you point it out, is the horribly intrusive 
> (what arrogance Yahoo has grown...remember when it was just "2 guys" 
> with a list of URLs). A move would be wrenching but I would still 
> suggest it if the Yahoo (they must be thinking of merging with AOL) 
> environment continues to be so utterly irritating, there are other 
> venues that would require no more technolgy or committment than you 
> put into Yahoo..