Michael Hiles Posted August 12, 2013 Share #1 Posted August 12, 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. My image is below. The print is indistinguishable. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/210646-impressive-print-mod/?do=findComment&comment=2396070'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 12, 2013 Posted August 12, 2013 Hi Michael Hiles, Take a look here Impressive Print (mod). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kdriceman Posted August 13, 2013 Share #2 Posted August 13, 2013 I ordered some silver gelatin prints from Digital Silver Imaging last week and they are in transit. I'm anxious to see how they look. Did Ilford ship yours from the UK or do they have a lab in N America? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted August 13, 2013 "I ordered some silver gelatin prints from Digital Silver Imaging last week and they are in transit. I'm anxious to see how they look. Did Ilford ship yours from the UK or do they have a lab in N America?" Sorry about the new thread - I am unable to see and respond to the original thread correctly. My Ilford print was made and shipped from the UK - the only location I believe. But it got here very quickly - 7-8 days. I tried the Test offering from Digital Silver Imaging, and was very pleased. I prepared a file and sent it to them, and got a print back in about 3 weeks. I think the quality is indistinguishable from the Ilford offering - and they both use Ilford materials. And the prices was equivalent within 5%. The only advantage from Digital is that they offer either RC prints or Fiber prints. I happen to like fiber, but it doesn't much matter when the prints are mounted and on the wall. The downside from Digital is that they took a long time to get to me - about 3 weeks. And the shipping from Digital was quite a bit more expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdriceman Posted August 14, 2013 Share #4 Posted August 14, 2013 Thanks. Interesting as I ordered from Digital a week ago and it shipped yesterday. Perhaps they are getting faster. I'll let you know what I think when I receive them. I ordered 2 prints of the same image - one printed on fiber and the other on RC. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUF Admin Posted August 14, 2013 Share #5 Posted August 14, 2013 Sorry for this - our forum software has a little bug which shows the print version of a thread if it ends with "print". Thus I had to change the title a little bit (sorry for lack of fantasy, waiting for my third coffee this morning), now it should work again... Regards Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalArts 99 Posted August 14, 2013 Share #6 Posted August 14, 2013 I ordered some silver gelatin prints from Digital Silver Imaging last week and they are in transit. I'm anxious to see how they look. Did Ilford ship yours from the UK or do they have a lab in N America? fwiw, John Weldon in Los Angeles prints these same fiber based Ilford prints. John is one of the finest exhibition printers in the country. His lab is one of the very few that have the Hostert LL140/45 processor which is the only processor approved by Ilford for their Galerie fiber digital paper in conjunction with the Océ LightJet for archival longevity. Weldon also has a 50" Océ. He's an exceptional printer if you're interested in Ilford silver gelatin exhibition prints. He'll be a bit more expensive but I thought I'd just post this as a reference for getting these Ilford prints made in the US. Weldon Color Lab John Weldon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted August 14, 2013 Share #7 Posted August 14, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Michael, why not make itself on Ilford silver paper ? .... from an enlarger It is cheaper right? Your photo shown on silver paper is nice to see. Recently I develop pictures in 30x40 on Ilford silver paper from my FOCOMAT. It's really beautiful too ! Best Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 14, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted August 14, 2013 Hi Michael, why not make itself on Ilford silver paper ? .... from an enlargerIt is cheaper right? Your photo shown on silver paper is nice to see. Recently I develop pictures in 30x40 on Ilford silver paper from my FOCOMAT. It's really beautiful too ! Best Henry Bonjour Henry, I do use my Focomat 1c on Ilford Multigrade fiber paper, but large prints are difficult. Paper bigger than 11x14 inches is a problem because washing etc is difficult in larger sizes. I print (not often) to 9.67x14 or for portraits about 7x11. In this case I needed a print of about 12x18 to fit a specific frame - the print will be given to a silent auction for a charity (we will see how much it sells for...). I was also interested in how well a digital image could be printed onto silver paper - so this was partly a test. I am not moving to digital, but the idea of top quality silver printing from a Monochrom digital file seemed like an interesting idea. Additionally, if I ever want a (say) 20x30 inch print, having Ilford or similar service make the print from a digital file is a nice solution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted August 14, 2013 Share #9 Posted August 14, 2013 Bonjour Michael, I have large tanks to be able to enlarge 50x60 cm (about 19x24 inches) and I project the image on the ground by rotating 180 degrees the enlarger on its support. Best Henry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted August 15, 2013 Henry, I would like to do some big prints, and maybe I will look for some large trays. I have 2 trays 50x60 cm so I would need at least 2 more. I currently use the big trays as a water bath for my 30x40 trays. There is also the issue of volume - I don't make many prints - my wall space has limits... Félicitations Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdriceman Posted August 16, 2013 Share #11 Posted August 16, 2013 Michael, I received my prints from digital Silver Imaging today. It was about 8 or 9 days from upload to having prints in my hands. The prints are very nice indeed, especially the fiber paper print (of course it is 2x as expensive). Although the RC print was nice, it isn't appreciably better than what I can do with my Epson 3880 and it had a small imperfection right in the center of the print - perhaps a blemish in the surface of the paper. Overall I'm pleased with the result but may try Ilford or, as CalArts suggested, the Weldon lab in LA the next time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted August 16, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted August 16, 2013 Interesting KD - thanks. I tried the Digital test offer, and I liked the fiber print better, but there was not much difference. I once had an ink jet print made from a good negative and scan and I was not pleased at all - but my strong suspicion is the technician didn't know much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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