I don't think we're really disagreeing, just describing the same thing a little differently.
Shel > [Original Message] > From: Godfrey DiGiorgi > I wouldn't say that "colors and tonality are converted > arbitrarily" ... rather, I spent a great deal of time learning how to > use Curves, HSV and Channel Mixer layers together, over the past > several years, so that I can get the spectral response and gamma > curve that precisely fits what I had in mind when I took the picture. > > The issue is that different B&W film and developer combinations have > different spectral responses, gamma curves, etc. If what you are > looking to do is emulate a particular B&W film and do it as > automatically as possible, yes, plug-ins like the ones from > TheImagingFactory.com and digitalsilver, as well as others, have > mapped those spectral responses nicely in a black box implementation. > However, all they're doing, really, is manipulating the balance of > the channels, much like using the Channel Mixer or one of the several > ways of using HSV adjustment layers, Calculation layers, etc.
