I would like to start to have prints from some of my best 35 mm slides (Velvia). I will not print them myself I will do it through a photo-lab. What is the best process available to ask for and what is the maximum size advisable? Thanks very much

-- Javier (j_perezbarberia@hotmail.com), August 08, 2001

Answers

Cibachrome prints brings out the most rich and vivid colors. I don't know where you're located, but Clone-a-Chrome in Manhattan specializes in this method.

-- Gregg (gregg_bellows@yahoo.com), August 08, 2001.

Masked Ilfochrome up to about 16x20. Larger than that, Professional digital scanning, such as the Tango Drum scan, and printing by lightjet or other competing processes. Try www.westcoastimaging.com.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), August 08, 2001.

Just an FYI -- Ilfochrome is just the new name of Cibachrome -- Ilford bought the process and can no longer use the name Cibachrome, but it's the same thing.

-- Gregg (gregg_bellows@yahoo.com), August 08, 2001.

I had good luck with Fuji's top of the line type R printing, best quality plus economical prints from slides. I forget what they call it, but it cost about $5.00 for an 8X10 than there regualar prints from slides. Any shop that uses Fuji developing can get this service. Am I the only one that hates Cibrachrome/Ilfochrome? I wasted a bunch of money having a premier printer here hand do some 11 x14 Ilfochromes and they look like cartoons-too much saturation and contrast.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), August 08, 2001.

Ilfochrome prints generally show increased contrast compared with the original transparency. Velvia is already contrasty so the effect can be considerable with Ilfochrome prints.

To reduce print contrast, have the lab make an unsharp mask and then print the transparency in register with the mask. Any competent lab can do this and should know what you mean. It will cost considerably more but will get better results generally.

-- wayne murphy (wayne.murphy@publicworks.qld.gov.au), August 08, 2001.

If you can find a Fuji Frontier lab that will print slides on Crystal Archive, that is the best cost/quality ratio you are going to get in today's world. In Japan, 5x7's are about $1.25, and the quality in high contrast/backlit scene slides is simply extraordinary for a machine print.

The best process available is a Light-Jet without question. Ilfochromes are analog old-hat, and don't bring out the best in the slide.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@Pacific.net.sg), August 09, 2001.

I second the recommendation for finding a Fuji Frontier machine. Cost effective, same day turnaround at many places, and it blows away non-direct printing methods (e.g., internegs). I long for the day when this quality is available from a $300 home printer.

-- Darin Artman (depcot@snet.net), August 10, 2001.

I am not very fond of Frontier prints. If you look closely you may detect straight lines or bands on uniform colours like skies. And sometimes they just appear too sharp. Maybe a good lab could do them better.

I have a few big old Ilfochromes which are very light stable (hanging on walls for more than 10 years). They have high saturation and would not be suitable for today's oversaturated emulsions. And I remember they were very expensive...

I stick to R prints. If you find a competent lab it could be the best looking and economically most reasonable solution.

-- George (gdgianni@aol.com), August 11, 2001.

My vote goes for a regular R-Print (Kodak or Fuji). Ilfochromes are nice but too expensive. A good R print is beautiful with nicer contrast. Lightjet is probably the best, but the price is exorbitant and it only seems worth it if you want huge prints that you know you will keep for ever. Of course, this assumes someone has done a good job scanning your slide (not necessarily the case, of course)....

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), August 13, 2001.

The lab I use in Washington, DC just got a Frontier printer. 8x10s are $14, a lot more than in Japan!

-- David Enzel (dhenzel@vei.net), August 26, 2001.