What would you do ?

Just imaginre the following scenario, not an impossible one.
- In about 10-15 years time CCD technology is such that all of the qualities of film (tonal range, latitude, 'feel' etc.) are capable of emulation by affordable digital cameras. The processing of images using digital/analogue conversion enlargers (as in colour labs) is also affordable by those on median incomes.
In other words you can still print in the same way as you would now but the capture medium is now digital but the output is analogue.

-I assume that you have not become the latest inhabitant of some 'retirement manor' or gone to whatever destination fits with your beliefs (ironic PC in case you hadn't noticed :D )

Would you still be an enthusiastic printer, would you give up and take up some other means of spending money or another choice ? Just interested to know .

I can't imagine it ever happening, but voted for making my own plates if it does. CCD & software might be able to emulate film to a high degree but it can't provide 1 important feature, and that's a tangible object that was burned by the light of that exact moment. That's one thing I love about film capture, just seems more real to me than something that is converted to 1's & 0's vanishing into a virtual existence.

Personaly I can't imagine not being able to go into a darkroom, smell the chemicals, feel them at my fingertips and see the image apeer as if by magic. And the thought that I had some small part of it getting there. When this is no longer possible then whats the point. For me it's the prosses. Film is the only way I prefer to get it there.

I'm with Sean, I'd just find a way to do things my own way if something like that ever happened. I've been around computers since I was 2, and I dont trust them as far as I can throw them.

I thought film photography was already a niche market supported by afficianados of the medium who simply prefer it for many reasons?

If not - it soon will be. ;)

Since my pleasure comes from the craft, I would make my own film and paper, or do wet plate. I have used digital cameras, and print3ed digitally - neither of which interests me in the least.

They managed to do some great photography in the 19th century before the commercial manufacture of film and paper. There's no reason we can't do it in the 21st century.

Even though you are postulating complete analog emulation, just knowing that I'd be using a software designer's algorithm would send me headlong into making my own plates. People like Ron Mowry are going to end up being heroes to those of us who just won't go down that road. My wife and I are headed in the direction of solar plate photogravure anyway (we already have the intaglio press which is 'hard' part) and that will open up a host of interesting explorations that I can't wait to delve into.

If your scenario were to come to pass, it'd be fun to imagine the ad slogans:

"Just like the real thing!" "Photography's Golden Age can now be yours to recreate effortlessly in your study or family room!" "You too can be Ansel Adams with just a few mouse clicks!"

YIKES!

Anyone who's tried one of those "Tri-X plugins" for Photoshop or a software tube amp emulator knows it ain't happening anytime soon.

I have such a back log of negatives that I could spend the rest of my life just printing.