Different Types of Prints.

[poppers]

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I use my local lab for my prints either from my dslr or scanned negatives. They are fairly cheap for enlargements. What could I expect if I used one of the "Pro Imaging" places that advertise lambda prints? The costs seem a lot

More expensive, will I see better results.

 

I've compared scanned tri-x printed onto real b&w paper by ilford and just

Converted to grayscale and done at my local lab. There was no real wow factor.

 

I have access to a decent scanner at the moment but just want to know which printing option will give best results. Especially B&w

 

Regard

 

M

[topoxforddoc]

The difference between a standard print and a stunning black-and-white print is all about how the printer interprets the negative. Whilst one can just do a straight print (either off negative film or a digital file), the skill in black-and-white is all about how you manipulate different areas of the print, as well as the contrast. Dodging and burning allows you to change or enhance the focal points in the print and to balance the composition. Altering the contrast can change a print enormously.

 

I am by no means a master printer (either in the darkroom or a computer). I just view myself as being a technically competent amateur printer. If you want to see the work of master printers, then I would suggest that you look at the websites for people like Robin Bell and Steve MacLeod.

 

Good luck

 

Charlie

[CalArts 99]

I'd rather not open up a debate on the advantages of making Lambda or Océ prints from a professional studio, but I will suggest that you take a file (unedited) and have your local lab make a print. Then take that same file (unedited) and have a studio make the same size print. It may cost you, but you'll get the answer. And the answer will be from you instead of from other people's comments.

 

I think that's the only real answer. You need to be the judge of what you see as 'better.'

[poppers]

Thanks for your reply.

[Larcomb]

I use my local lab for my prints either from my dslr or scanned negatives. They are fairly cheap for enlargements. What could I expect if I used one of the "Pro Imaging" places that advertise lambda prints? The costs seem a lot

More expensive, will I see better results.

 

I've compared scanned tri-x printed onto real b&w paper by ilford and just

Converted to grayscale and done at my local lab. There was no real wow factor.

 

I have access to a decent scanner at the moment but just want to know which printing option will give best results. Especially B&w

 

Regard

 

M

 

B&W film prints different;y than scanning does.

[sblitz]

Not sure I completely understand the question. There is a difference printing directly from the negative vs printing from a scan. Every time you copy from one media to another some information is lost. Quality adjusted, meaning top people scanning and printing and you should a difference. And the master printer can tease more out of the print from the negative. Info action that may not get scanned in.

[poppers]

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Sorry if I was unclear. I mean with regards to digital files either from a DSLR or a scanned neg from the Leica. Does anyone have direct experience with comparing say DS Colour labs my local one with Metro Print or such like. Are there easily detectable differences between a fuji frontier and a Durst lamda?

[Fgcm]

I have my files printed by a Fuji minilab and by a professional printer in Milano using Durst printers (Lambda and more modern Durst printers ).

 

If the Fuji minilab is properly maintained and profiled, it's almost impossible to tell which photo is printed by Durst or Fuji.

I had some prints of the same files printed by both printers to compare results.

 

The main difference is that Fuji prints up to 30 - 45 cm depending on the model.

 

Lambda can print much larger prints.

 

BW is the same. If you put into the minilab or into the durst a BW paper, you get astonishing good prints.

If you print BW on color paper, you get a crappy print whichever printer you use.

 

Who makes the difference is the man who manage the printer, not the printer used.

 

Franco