T3D Re: Digital resolution

[John Ohrt <johrt@xxxxxxx>]

Well, I will try to be more clear.  THere are 3 aspects of resolution,
x, y, and z.  

X and y are the spatial resolutions and you are correct in that a
printer can offer more spatial resolution than a display.  Great for
blueprints and schematics.  But don't confuse dpi of inkjets and lasers
with that of dyesubs.  Even the best inkjet under $1000 is really less
than 75 lpm best case.  

The z resolution, in various reference frames referred to as intensity,
luminosity, or dynamic range etc is critical to achieving photographic
quality.  Printers be they photo or digital really have to work to
achieve more that 32 linear levels of gray.  Granted that the photo
printers can be artistically manipulated to simulate more.  The problem
is that the human eye can resolve far more levels than are achievable
than any printed output.  Monitors can be calibrated up to 12 bit
resolution and 11 bit accuracy which is good enough for even the most
discerning of the trained eyes, from what I have read.  Even an 8 bit
level display system exceeds the "z" resolution of any printed output.

Now there are sometimes you just have to have printed output.  In such
cases, a "good" dyesub is a match for a "good" photo printer.  I think
the operator is more important.

Hope this helps.

--
John Ohrt,
Toronto * Ontario * Canada



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