Ansel Adams likened printing to a musical performance with the negative serving as the score. But where his stanza had ten black and white zones, digital advances only recently have brought 256 controllable steps to color printing. Less to "match the chrome", the interpretation of a color transparency to overcome the limitations of the film is possible. Beyond burning or dodging and global corrections, hue, contrast and much more may be adjusted for particular areas of the image, which I use to enhance a heightened reality in my photography. Improved color management has increased the accuracy of the interpretation of color and tone between the high resolution drum scanner, the monitor where I work, a proof printer and final output. The LightJet printer uses lasers to expose photographic paper with an eveness and detail surpassing the glass of a conventional enlarger. You get all there is. The Fuji Crystal Archive color photographic paper used exceeds any other in both light and dark storage according to the authoritative Wilhelm Research, with normal display over 80 years. I once spent a long February printing in a cold barn, and don't miss the chemicals. Its nice to get out into the (subdued) light.

Interestingly, I spend considerably more time preparing each new print, often three days or more. There's just so much more there to explore. And it also forces a more complete understanding of each individual image.