Digital BW, The Print

Hi all,

As a Gimp user,  I'm just wondering whether the 16bits (not available on Gimp but only on PS) is really an advantage for B&W pictures.  Did any one make a comparison between 8 and 16bits processing, in the case of a standard image retouching? Is there really a difference on the final print?

Really depends on how much you are doing in the way of adjustments.     Try it both ways and look at the difference in the histograms for both.  You will find you have a lot more margin with the 16bit.   However all that being said if your not doing much in the way of adjustments not sure you will see much.

Paul
On May 7, 2010, at 9:20 AM, Sylvain wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> As a Gimp user, I'm just wondering whether the 16bits (not available on Gimp but only on PS) is really an advantage for B&W pictures. Did any one make a comparison between 8 and 16bits processing, in the case of a standard image retouching? Is there really a difference on the final print?
> 
> 



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On May 7, 2010, at 1:32 PM, Paul Grant wrote:

> Really depends on how much you are doing in the way of  
> adjustments.     Try it both ways and look at the difference in the  
> histograms for both.  You will find you have a lot more margin with  
> the 16bit.   However all that being said if your not doing much in  
> the way of adjustments not sure you will see much.
>
> Paul
> On May 7, 2010, at 9:20 AM, Sylvain wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> As a Gimp user, I'm just wondering whether the 16bits (not  
>> available on Gimp but only on PS) is really an advantage for B&W  
>> pictures. Did any one make a comparison between 8 and 16bits  
>> processing, in the case of a standard image retouching? Is there  
>> really a difference on the final print?

That reply really addresses 16 bit image editing, not 16 bit printing.  
I have tested a number of 16 bit export modules over the years, and  
not seen any visible improvements from the 16 bit mode; but then, most  
did not allow B&W anyways, and color hides the detail quite  
effectively. Now that I have direct 16 bit printing capability from  
Photoshop  CS5, I'll probably test some more, but I suspect that  
glossy media would be the only place this might show, and I'm not  
really a glossy media fan, so its not high on my list...

C. David Tobie
Global Product Technology Manager
Digital Imaging & Home Theater
CDTobie@...


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