Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Re: B&W repro in National Geographic, Thomas G. Tamura wrote: > >I wonder if it was even shot with B&W film? I believe many of the >news magazines (snip) are running B&W photos that were originally >shot on either color film or digitally. > >Just my thoughts. You're quite right, Thomas. This is now the norm because it's so easy to strip the colour out in Photoshop and still retain the densities needed to print as a full tone B&W image - if done properly. But few people do this because it takes real skill to get rich, open shadow detail using a single ink (black) on an offset press. B&W pictures in art books, monographs etc., are usually printed as duotones (black and a second colour, often grey, to retain highlight detail and enrich the lower mid-tones) to overcome this. What you may not be aware of is that nearly all B&W images in magazines are printed using CMYK process inks, i.e. they are really colour! Examine the characteristic rosettes under a loupe and you'll see it clearly. Nick.