New Ilford B&W Lab for the USA!

[250swb]

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Forgive me if this has been covered before, but I think it is breaking news, Ilford have opened a new mail-in lab in the USA that can process and print all B&W films!

 

Welcome to ILFORD PHOTO

 

There is no excuse now...

 

 

Steve

[Michael Hiles]

I have recently used their UK lab for a 12x18 inch silver print, with fine results. If the US lab is as good (and why not...) this is good news for Americans.

[jplomley]

Anyone tried the US lab yet? Anxious to hear some feedback. Sure hope they open one in Canada.

[earleygallery]

It's always exciting to hear new of new ventures in traditional photography, this is very good news for our friends in the US, and good news for Ilford too, who should hopefully see an increase in film sales on the back of this.

 

No doubt they considered the issues at Kodak as a great opportunity.

[CalArts 99]

fwiw, apparently they'll be contracting the work with Swan Labs in San Clemente CA (north of San Diego.) Swan Labs are a huge company and do wholesale contract work for retail stores and others: Low-Cost, High-Quality Photo Processing / Film Developing / Swan Photo Labs

 

They've been doing B+W services for quite a while now (using the Océ and Ilford B+W FB digital paper) and were probably the best choice for Ilford to contract out with since they're already set up to handle large volume and mail order.

 

A place in the US for custom exhibition B+W prints using the same Ilford Galerie B+W FB digital papers with the Océ (and who have the Ilford approved and required Hostert LL140/45 processor) is John Weldon in Los Angeles: Weldon Color Lab - Los Angeles, CA

 

John is a master printer and has printed for well-known artists and museums throughout the years. He will be more expensive but if anyone needs personal custom exhibition work, he has the same products and processes that Ilford offers.

[Michael Hiles]

I have had good results (one time) from Custom Black and White printing using silver gelatin fiber based paper, in the Boston area. Worth looking at their site. The print matched my screen perfectly.

[johnkunstadter]

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Just an update on Ilford Lab Direct U.S.

 

In the past couple of months I've sent the lab four orders, totaling about two dozen rolls of 135 36-exposure: all but one HP5, the other roll being Delta 3200. I've had the rolls developed and scanned at the medium resolution included in the $16-per-roll price. I usually shoot HP5 at 250 and have paid the $3-per-roll push/pull charge.

 

Aside from one roll scanned in reverse sequence and the end of one roll clumsily cut into two two-negative sections, the service has been reliable. Negatives are clean; scans have a low level of dust; turnaround time has averaged nine-day coast-to-coast using priority shipping on the return. Ilford Lab Direct returns the negatives sleeved in four-negative strips. One can specify uncut negatives, which I now do.

 

If one were to ship to The Darkroom rather than to Ilford Lab Direct (both operations use the same Swan Labs facility in San Clemente), the price for development and medium (The Darkroom calls it "enhanced") scan is $15 instead of $16, the push/pull charge is $2 instead of $3, and the priority shipping charge is $7 instead of $7.50.

 

I recommend the lab.