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rbrtptikleoseny
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Registered: 03-2006
Location: Mont Vernon, NH
Posts: 9
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Lab Prints SUCK!
I've been shooting for a year now, and so far little of my work has left the computer screen. I tried printing one of my B&W's at ritz, but it came out green! I was very dissapointed,especially since I had to pay for it... other color prints that I tried had too much contrast, or the saturation was too low. That became quite the issue when I needed 100 4x6's for a wedding I shot...
So now I'm determined to purchase a printer. I've done my research, and the Epson R2400 seems like a great choice. I've heard the K3 ultrachrome inks do a great job with B&W's, and 13x19 is pretttty big!
Question is, are there any other printers you would recommend? And what kind of paper would you recommend? That's where I'm really stuck, so many papers, so many sizes, too many choices.
Or would you recommend a lab instead? More cost affective? I'd assume a lab would be more expensive over time, but then again, the R2400 could be an ink guzzler... I've heard good things about mpix.com... has anyone ordered prints from them?
Alot of questions I know, but thanks for any help!
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Patrick is the name, www.storyclip.com is the website
The gear? Eh, doesn't matter, P&S's make beautiful photos in the right hands.
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24/Mar/06, 9:09 pm
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Bachs
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Location: Montrose NE Scotland
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
Shamefully, all my work has been web based to date.
Even more shameful considering I'm a printer engineer working on the entire Ricoh range.
My recent new arrival prompted me to get some prints done of the baby and I was amazed at the results, especially in monochrome.
These are very expensive, high quality printers and I have a laptop and crossover cable so no more excuses!
I was surprised at the quality at A3 size.
Just got to find suitable frames now.
I've always been a little timid of paying for large prints in case they didn't turn out (I would have been a hopeless film photographer)but now I can tweak the shot in Photoshop on the laptop and print as many trials out as I like...completely free!
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What do all these buttons do?.
www.steve-perks.com - Scottish Landscape Prints || steveperksphotography.blogspot.com
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25/Mar/06, 8:11 am
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martinimages
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Registered: 01-2006
Location: West Yorkshire
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
Patrick, i own a number of printers, my favorites are the Epson r2400 for my monochrome prints and can tell you it is a superb BW printer in every respect, it does eat ink if your printing full A3+ images as i do, my purcahse of this printer was made through dissapointment form lab images previously done in mono, i print on Epson Archival matt and Archival velvet matt papers of which this printer produces stunning neutral mono prints with lots of user control in the driver settings, the other printer i use for colour work but goes only to A4 size is the canon pixma8500, i use this printer for colour work and its the best i have seen to date, i print on Canon paper pro paper and the results cant be beaten, i take cycling photos in summer and sell loads, every one who buys prints comments on the colour , saturation and sharpnes of this printer,if A3 colour sizes are requested i use the r2400 for this and again great reproduction , although it does not beat the canon i terms of quality for colour, the canon is a very fast printer as well i would say twice as fast as the epson so that might have to be taken into cosideration if you have a heavy workflow, if you was to buy either one of these i can guarntee you wont be dissapointed
Martin
Last edited by martinimages, 25/Mar/06, 1:31 pm
--- One to one workshop in monochrome, from capture to fine art print, printing service available
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25/Mar/06, 1:30 pm
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CedricR
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
Maybe this won't be a useful contribution, but I don't print my own photos, including B&W. This is mainly because when I looked into it it wasn't possible to get a printer that was decent in both colour and B&W and affordable to own and run (the R2400 is probably one of the best but isn't cheap on both counts). I get them printed online (www.photobox.co.uk, I have no financial interests there!), for all sizes (from 7x5 to A3; I haven't tried A2 yet). The colour prints are good, and the B&W are exactly as I make them. Judges in print competitions can't tell that the prints aren't film prints (and they hate that because most like to be able to confirm their belief that digital isn't as good as film).
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25/Mar/06, 2:40 pm
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crimbo
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
No lab prints do not suck
I use Photobox or my local printer for single images.
They both use Fuji Frontier printers that work on film in the same way as they work on digital images.
Must do a comparison though with inkjet
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Chris
60N
1W
http://www.paddle.shetland.co.uk
http://www.paddle.shetland.co.uk/my%20piccys/index.htm
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17/Jun/06, 6:54 pm
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martinimages
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
I prob not used the right lab previously 
and Cedric is right the R2400 is expensive to buy and run, i think that unless you sell prints it prob better going to a lab if the results are as good as you are saying, my reason for buying is two fold, complete control over the finel look and conveniance as a quick turn round is important when selling, if you buy something you wont it as quick as poss, my biggest sale is for BW fine art images but i also sell colour cycle race images as well, on both counts the epson realy does deliver but it does cost to get there
Martin
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17/Jun/06, 7:30 pm
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crimbo
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
there are some 'rules' to follow with images done on Frontiers
300dpi
sRGB (and use that space from the camera)
Have a white border of 50 pixels for trimming or do what I do and have a 8x6 image on a 10x8 canvas.
If Photobox then they do not use any of the enhancements unless you ask for them. At your local or other printer you should ask for all adjustments off or even monochome mode of which I believe there are two ways of doing on the Frontier.
If they dont know what you are talking about then you have the wrong place.
Martin, I do not know your circumstances but, you may wish to try somewhere like Photobox and print the same size file on your ink jet.
Photobox and similar only become cost effective when doing several image at a time
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Chris
60N
1W
http://www.paddle.shetland.co.uk
http://www.paddle.shetland.co.uk/my%20piccys/index.htm
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18/Jun/06, 5:38 am
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martinimages
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
Chris i think i will carry on as i am now for two main reasons, 1/ i have total control of the image from start to finish 2/ i love to see the finished work coming out of the printer for me its like seeing the image slowly appear in the developing tray of the dark room [know it sounds sad  ] but it is a great feeling when you get it right
Martin
Last edited by martinimages, 18/Jun/06, 6:22 am
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18/Jun/06, 6:21 am
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crimbo
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
I dont blame you Martin
It is a route I have considered but like many I now rarely print unless I am entering a competitiion or the occaisional one for a local gallery.
If I decided to take the step you have and seriously earn from my images...then home injet printing would be my route
Its horses for courses!!
But to others...if you dont normally print then do consider lab prints - they do not suck!!
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Chris
60N
1W
http://www.paddle.shetland.co.uk
http://www.paddle.shetland.co.uk/my%20piccys/index.htm
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18/Jun/06, 10:21 am
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Carbon Based
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Registered: 09-2006
Location: Portland, Oregon USA
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Re: Lab Prints SUCK!
I've recently purchased an HP8750 and I'm completly stisfied with the prints both color and B&W. Yes I've read all the various reports on dye vs pigment inks with regards to longevity but either dye or pigment outlast traditional photo prints by tens of years.
But the HP is half the price of the Epson. I've also been experimenting with different papers from Ilford and Moab. What fun it has been, just like the wet days with out the mess.
And I agree whole heartedly with Martin, it is having the creative control that is so satisfying.
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Canon 40D, 17-40mmf4L, 70-200mmf4L, 50 prime.
www.drawingwithlight.smugmug.com
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24/Sep/06, 3:40 am
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