Digital BW, The Print

Thanks John and Tyler.  

John, that's interesting about the numbers you check in Photoshop.  
That's kind of what I was wondering - and for the most part 
coincides with what I found on a couple of the prints I recently 
ordered.  

I agree about the proofs - I'm not selling these so I was more 
worried about getting as close as possible the first time to hold 
the cost down! 

Thanks again for the info!

Brian
http://www.brianchapmanphotography.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "john dean" 
<deanwork2003@...> wrote:
>
> Like Tyler says there is no way to know how it will output with a
> particular printer driver combination. I well set up system should 
be
> close to what you view on a good monitor in greyscale mode. Mostly
> what you will probably run into will be slight density differences 
but
> you could end up with slight contrast variations as well. As we all
> know slight difference in black and white output can transate into 
big
> differences in visual impact.
> 
> If it were me I would convert the file to Grey Gamma 2.2. View it 
on a
> good monitor for midtone brightness. Then check the numbers in
> Photoshop for your extremes with the eye dropper tool set at 3x3
> average - make sure good shadow info within  important areas 
doesn't
> drop below about 95 greyscale value in PS ( Remember 100 is pure 
black
> and 98 and 99 is still usually visible as something other than 
total
> black with a good inkset) and the brightest highlight values are 
not
> blown out at 0. I will almost put any large area of tonality at at
> least 1 or 2. At that point all you can do is have them do a test. 
> 
> As any good black and white printer will tell you there is so much
> that is subjective, even with a perfect file. Curves is where the
> creativity lies. That is why I always do proofs of everything if I 
can
> for a client before outputting final things. I would ask for that.
> Even a 5x7 proof of your file can tell you a lot. If you are in
> another town and are spending money on this Fed Ex the proofs 
first.
> 
> John
>