Hi Vic ... I understand the point you're trying to make, but for me using the computer, desaturated color film, and an ink jet printer just doesn't provide the results I'm looking for. Desaturated color film does not have the same tonality as B&W negative film, and please, don't even suggest chromogenic B&W. While it has its place, it's quite limited in the results it can deliver, and there are very few emulsion choices and but one speed of film.
Apart from different results, there's the pleasure derived from working in a darkroom that I don't get from sitting in front of a computer screen. I don't believe that the costs between a wet darkroom and computer generated prints are that different, and suspect that a wet darkroom is less expensive, especially in the long run. Printing ink for B&W work is quite spendy, and good quality paper is not cheap either. A printer that's capable of making high quality 11x14 prints is probably as expensive, or even more expensive, than an enlarger, which doesn't wear out and never becomes obsolete. Apart from chemicals and paper, and perhaps safelight filters, all darkroom purchases are one-time only affairs. Enlargers, lenses, trays, tanks, etc., are not consumables. They don't wear out or become obsolete as does computer gear. A forty year old enlarger works just as well today as it did when new. The environmental concerns may be similar, IMO, between computers and a chemical darkroom., although I believe that computers, overall, are more of an environmental disaster. But, IAC, it comes down to choosing your poison and how it effects you and the rest of the world. Old computers, monitors, and the like are a real disposal hazard, and the manufacture of chips and circuits can wreak environmental havoc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Shel: This is probably going off in a completely different direction than you > wanted but I'm wondering why you, or anyone for that matter, would continue > to process film and work in the darkroom when you have the option of doing it > all with the computer. I recognize that there is a certain amount of > enjoyment going into the darkroom and watching your film and pictures develop > right there in front of you. But the health concerns, the time and, of > course, the money involved in darkroom work makes a scanner, computer and > printer such a tempting alternative. And if it's B&W we're talking about. > Shoot colour and convert it to B&W, and your off and running. I would > hesitate to invest any money in traditional B&W techniques at this point... > Just my opinion -- Shel Belinkoff mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.earthlink.net/~belinkoff/ - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
