Michael Hiles Posted June 23, 2013 Share #1 Posted June 23, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Has anyone tried Ilford's mail order service? Any opinions? Was the quality acceptable, great, fabulous...? How fast is the turnaround time? The prices look quite good, if the results are leading edge - any opinions on this? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 23, 2013 Posted June 23, 2013 Hi Michael Hiles, Take a look here Ilford Lab Direct. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted June 23, 2013 Share #2 Posted June 23, 2013 Ages ago. Bearing in mind the source... Quality OK Turn around quick Price reasonable I get better results processing my own, because I know what I'm doing. And it's very cheap. And quick. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted June 23, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted June 23, 2013 Thanks Andy. I think I can make a pretty competent print, but anything larger than 11 x 14 is a pain in the lower back, what with big trays and washing and drying challenges, so I am interested in what other quality options might be available. Much appreciated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo_alves Posted June 26, 2013 Share #4 Posted June 26, 2013 I used the Ilford Lab service recently to print some B&W pictures from my M8. I was really impressed! Strong blacks and whites and nice grey transitions... I think you need to try It! Leonardo Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted June 26, 2013 Many thanks Leonardo, Between Photoshop Elements and SIlver Efex Pro I can create a good file that should (I hope) print well without intervention. And Ilford's printing prices are quite good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted June 26, 2013 Share #6 Posted June 26, 2013 I used them recently having decided to put a roll of film through my old Contax T . Turn around was pretty quick and the results were good and well packaged. I ordered a high resolution scanned cd of the negs as I don't have a scanner , which was then very handy to email friends. About 8 days I think all in 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted August 13, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just received a print from Ilford Labs Direct that I ordered about 8 days ago. I scanned my XP2 negative and prepared a file using Photoshop Elements and SilverEfexPro to get the nuances I think best expressed the original idea when I made the picture. I sent the file down the line to Ilford (55megs) and ordered a 12 x 18 glossy print. The result is superb. The print matches completely what the file shows on my screen – i.e. the reproduction is perfect, as far as I can see by comparing my screen with the print. This is the second time I have had a print made by Ilford Lab Direct and they are shooting 2 for 2. The advantage for me is that the print is a true silver gelatin print – not an ink jet. I am keen on silver prints – in my view they continue to be the gold (or more likely Silver) standard and it is great to have a service that can take a digital file and produce a winner of a print from a file that I control. The price was £27.31 all in - including shipping to Montreal. If you are working particularly with a Monochrom, I think you will be pleased. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted August 13, 2013 Share #8 Posted August 13, 2013 Just out of interest were you using an Apple IMac , I live very close to Ilford at Mobberley and have recently used their facilities to have a Black and White film processed and printed, and have considered using them to have an enlargement done. Their website gives advice, re altering the settings to about "half brightness" to produce a realistic and accurate print regarding exposure etc. Thanks for the information regarding the print. I'm also waiting to get a file that I really want printing and I'm going to try having it printed on barayta paper, just to see quite what it is capable. The lab " Whitewall" seem to be offering that. At least one excellent photographer and contributor to this forum has suggested that they are very good generally, and they have recently begun to offer this service. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted August 13, 2013 Just out of interest were you using an Apple IMac , I live very close to Ilford at Mobberley and have recently used their facilities to have a Black and White film processed and printed, and have considered using them to have an enlargement done. Their website gives advice, re altering the settings to about "half brightness" to produce a realistic and accurate print regarding exposure etc. Thanks for the information regarding the print. I'm also waiting to get a file that I really want printing and I'm going to try having it printed on barayta paper, just to see quite what it is capable. The lab " Whitewall" seem to be offering that. At least one excellent photographer and contributor to this forum has suggested that they are very good generally, and they have recently begun to offer this service. I use a Windows machine, PS Elements and SilverEfex Pro (v1). I also have heard good things about Whitewall, but never tried them. I will look. I didn't do what Ilford suggested about "half brightness". I just made sure that I was getting Zone I blacks and Zone IX whites and good shadow details. SIlverEfexPro is terrific in this regard - very powerful. In fact, Digital SIlver Imaging strongly recommends preparing files using this software, and I think that is the best route (certainly as far as I can see). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted August 13, 2013 Share #10 Posted August 13, 2013 Thanks for the reply, it's something that's very new to me. I bought Silver Efex Pro, but before using it , and having installed it, I updated the operating system on my Mac from Leopard to Snow leopard or whichever way round it was. The next time I tried to use it, it came up saying something to the effect at it wasn't compatible with this system ? Which was rather a waste of money unless I'm missing something obvious ? I've not been able to make a single print with it, but bought it based on reading a lot of recommendations. I should read the manual perhaps that came as a PDF I think, but I'm not going to pay for the software again. Thanks again Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted August 13, 2013 (edited) I also had instalation problems on my Windows machine. My SFxP works in conjunction with my Photoshop Elements as an add-on filter. It did not work as a stand alone. My original version of PSE was version 2 that came free with my scanner - it was fine, just old. SFxP would only work with a much newer version of PSE, so I bought version 9 (latest at the time), and all worked well. As I remember, installing SFxP into the right file folder was important. PSE would only look in one defined folder. This likely has no bearing with your situation, but there may be some incompatibility. There must be some kind of fix - not problem is ever unique, as far as I can tell. Edited August 13, 2013 by Michael Hiles Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted August 13, 2013 Share #12 Posted August 13, 2013 I bought Silver Efex Pro, but before using it , and having installed it, I updated the operating system on my Mac from Leopard to Snow leopard or whichever way round it was. The next time I tried to use it, it came up saying something to the effect at it wasn't compatible with this system ? Leopard was OS X version 10.5, Snow Leopard was 10.6 (i.e. more recent). Silver Efex Pro 2 installs and runs without problems on my 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted August 13, 2013 Share #13 Posted August 13, 2013 Thanks for the reply, I don't suppose there is anything I can do to make te Silver Efex pro version 1 work on snow leopard then ? I'll try and email the company and see if I get a response, but thanks for the info Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted August 13, 2013 Share #14 Posted August 13, 2013 Thanks for the reply, I don't suppose there is anything I can do to make te Silver Efex pro version 1 work on snow leopard then ? I'll try and email the company and see if I get a response, but thanks for the info Actually, Silver Efex Pro 1.007 worked with Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on my Mac too (I used it in conjunction with Photoshop CS 5 and LR 4.4). Did you already try to uninstall SFX after you upgraded to Snow Leopard (by opening the Nik installation package and running the "Uninstaller"), then install it again? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted August 14, 2013 Share #15 Posted August 14, 2013 No I've not tried that, thanks for the tip, I'll give it a go and get back to you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted August 19, 2013 Share #16 Posted August 19, 2013 Just in case anyone else has the same problem i tried re-installing silver efex pro (version 1) onto my iMac with Aperture 3 and when i tried to use it it stated that it was not compatible with that version of Aperture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share #17 Posted August 23, 2013 (edited) Ilford Lab Direct has just announced a new facility in the United States (California) - Welcome to the ILFORD Lab Direct website - Black and white photo prints | Silver Gelatin prints | Black and white film processing prints | Black and White Prints from Film | Black and White Prints from Digital | Ilford Lab | Film processing lab. I just got an email from them making this announcement. Edited August 23, 2013 by Michael Hiles Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortstop Posted August 27, 2013 Share #18 Posted August 27, 2013 Good morning, I live in Italy; in my experience the quality of the Ilfolab prints lacks the greys I obtain in ordinary printing in my amateur darkroom. Anyway the initiative is very useful and efficient. I use the ilfolab for those printing who does not require a particular quality. It is ideal for small album photos. It also have a relevant role to save the film photography. Everyone in any corner of the planet has its own film-lab! Antonio Thanks, Ilford Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted August 27, 2013 Good morning, I live in Italy;in my experience the quality of the Ilfolab prints lacks the greys I obtain in ordinary printing in my amateur darkroom. Anyway the initiative is very useful and efficient. I use the ilfolab for those printing who does not require a particular quality. It is ideal for small album photos. It also have a relevant role to save the film photography. Everyone in any corner of the planet has its own film-lab! I too still like hand made prints from my enlarger - but Ilford produced a print for me that matched exactly the file I sent, as I prepared it on my screen. The print, matted and framed, is going into a silent action for a good cause, and I am proud to sign my name to it. The match between my screen image and the print I received was essentially 100%. I had no gray complaints, but I freely admit my experience may not be what everyone experiences. I hope it is clear that I am not trying to proselytize for Ilford - but I was very interested in the capacity to have a silver print from a digital file. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortstop Posted September 23, 2013 Share #20 Posted September 23, 2013 Hi Michael, I'll reconsider to evaluate better the results of the next prints made for me by Ilfordlab. May be the causative factor is the paper(I use Rollei Vintage and not Ilford). Surely ilfordlab is at the moment the only solutiion I know to print chemically a digital file. I love darkroom, but I'm also fascinated by the possibility that photoshop gives to work on a bw file (direct or indirectly obtained scanning a negative). Is this the future? At the moment I print only in darkroom. Antonio PS Yesterday, I've seen in Rome the Salgado exposition "Genesis". Wonderful photos! But... I'm asking if the post-process is made by a wizard in darkroom or simply is the result of a passage through Photoshop...? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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