Digital BW, The Print

John,

The current hardware (Epson x800) is already capable of printing a least 10
bits of gray (1024 levels) with IP (based on my own tests with a spectro).

Correct me if I am misquoting you Roy, but I think the point you are making
is that human vision probably struggles to perceive any difference in images
with more than 6 bits once you factor in PS dithering.

Certainly without the dithering I think I can percieve more than 8 bits
(around 9 bits) in a step wedge.
I'll do some more testing with dithered vs non-dithered images to see if
there are real world situations that the dithering doesn't handle well.

Mike




On 19/11/06, john dean <deanwork2003@...> wrote:
>
>   Roy,
>
> I believe I understand most of what you are describing here. It seems
> to confirm what you've said all along.
>
> I have two quick questions though. First, do you see the potential for
> sofware rip advances that WILL allow us to gain output advantage in
> sending bit depth larger than 8 bit to the printer in the near future?
> And, second, are any of the new large format 12 channel pigment
> machines that you've investigated addressing anything larger than 8
> bit capability already?
>
> I guess what I am getting at is IF a bit depth beyond 8 bit WAS
> possible in the near future, would we be seeing this capability coming
> from new software, new hardware, or a combination of the two designed
> in conjunction with each other.
>
> John
>
> 
>


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