Digital BW, The Print

>...Some of these samples I saw where done with Quadtone inksets and the 
>results were excellent. The problem is that excellent is not good enough
>for me....
>I am not sure how many of you actually saw an original Ansel Adams or
>Robert Mapplethorp print. This is the quality I need to achieve. ...

Yes, I've seen AA prints, and I'm quite sure he'd be doing digital now.

I did silver printing for years and will not go back to it.  Digital is
better in my view.
  
Sure, the silver print has some characteristics that are outstanding, but
what really distinguished AA and Mapplethorp prints, in my view, was the
artistic skill of the individuals.  I see digital B&W as still, primarily,
B&W photography.  A technically perfect print with either medium will be
boring and not look like much if the printer (person) is not very skilled.

Several years ago I concluded that my digital prints could hang side-by-side
with my silver prints (under glass).  Now I'm about to change that opinion.
The silver prints usually can no longer make the grade.

So, the skill of the printer is, in my view, the factor that I'd most worry
about.  I'd say it's time to start getting down that learning curve
regardless of whether you decide to use it now or not.

Paul Roark
www.PaulRoark.com