Light Impressions

[Wayne Lambert]

Has anyone here dealt with Light Impressions recently? They seem to be back in Rochester again. Are they still up to their old "everything is on backorder but we will charge your credit card now" tricks? I need to order a few matting supplies.

Thanks,
Wayne

[Dan Dozer]

I don't know about today. However, about once a year, i get and E-mail from them telling me that my last order item is still on back order. I don't even remember what that items was, but I do know that it was about 6 years ago that I ordered it.

I would recommend you find someone else to order from unless others here can advise you otherwise.

[vinny]

http://www.lodimaarchivalmaterials.com/lam/index.html
or framedestination.com

be aware, if you happen order Nielsen Bainbridge (alpharag) mat board, the quality control has gone downhill. I've returned most of my last three shipments due to the defects, dirt, etc.

[Winger]

http://www.lumierephoto.com
I think I heard this was the old owner of Light Impressions or someone connected to him. The customer service is awesome.

[Oren Grad]

I think I heard this was the old owner of Light Impressions or someone connected to him.

Yup:

Lumiere Photo History (http://www.lumierephoto.com/About-Lumiere-Photo/Lumiere-Photo-History.php)

[redshift]

http://www.lumierephoto.com
I think I heard this was the old owner of Light Impressions or someone connected to him. The customer service is awesome.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had a large supply of materials but knew I'd need to re-order soon.

[Chester McCheeserton]

Hello – 9 years later....Are people still avoiding Light Impressions? and still using this this Lumiere Place?

[Renato Tonelli]

I am using Archival Methods. Good products and service.

[lab black]

+1 Archival Methods

[Oren Grad]

Mostly Archival Methods here too at this point. Sometimes Hollinger.

[Vaughn]

Conservation Resources, here.

[Chester McCheeserton]

Thanks All

[Tin Can]

I am still using up my 23 year old Light Impressions

[Drew Wiley]

Archival Methods. But be prepared for sticker shock. Not their fault - just like everything else at the moment getting expensive.

[Roger Thoms]

Archival Methods. Just had a good experience with their customer service. In late February I bought 50 sheets of 14x18 mat board which I received promptly. I opened the box a took a quick look, mat board looked good so I closed box and then put it away until a couple weeks ago. I then mounted and matted two prints and when I went to put the first one the frame low and behold the board was an inch short. It was labeled correct at 14x18 but was actually 14x17. Another week went by and I finally contacted Archival Methods and explained the problem. Within a half hour they had sent a prepaid shipping label and a return authorization. Latter that day I got shipping notification and a tracking # for the replacement board. I just received the replacement board today. Considering the time that had elapsed since it had placed the original order I am very pleased with the service.

Roger

[John Layton]

Used Light impressions years ago when they were all the rage.

Recently I've found a local person who gives me great prices on the stuff that Larson/Juhl carries (Rising museum boards, custom wood frames, backing papers, Gatorfoam, etc) - but before this I'd had good luck (price, delivery, and service-wise) with DickBlick, whom I'd also had a contract with when I'd run a college photo dept...so there was that, but still good folks I think.

There was also a good place in Mass., but I've forgotten the name.

[Steve Goldstein]

There was also a good place in Mass., but I've forgotten the name.

Might that be University Products in Holyoke, MA? I been buying mat board and some other supplies from them the last few years. Truth be told, my last two shipments of full-size mat board have with corner damage that I've been able to work around. For my next buy I'll probably just drive out there.

And I'm also a happy Archival Methods customer.

[Oren Grad]

I've purchased from University Products/Lineco many times, but the last few times I looked, their selection of different sizes for boxes and sleeves had shrunk considerably.

Actually, come to think of it, fold-lock polypropylene and polyester sleeves in larger sizes had started to become a problem more generally even before covid - might be even worse now with all the supply-chain issues. I've also sometimes found the sizes I want at PrintFile - yes, the same company best known for its negative pages.

I guess the take-home is that, depending what you need, it may be necessary to shop around more than in the past to find a vendor that has stock.

[Richard Wasserman]

Actually, come to think of it, fold-lock polypropylene and polyester sleeves in larger sizes had started to become a problem


If you are looking for large negative sleeves, Climax Photo has polypropylene sleeves up to 11x14. https://www.climaxphoto.net/sheet_film.html

They also have them in less common sizes such as 4x10 and 8x20 https://www.climaxphoto.net/wide_format_sleeves.htm

[Oren Grad]

They also have them in less common sizes such as 4x10 and 8x20 https://www.climaxphoto.net/wide_format_sleeves.htm

When I tried ordering several of the odd sizes from Climax last year, I got an email back saying that they were no longer in production and all they had left was 7x17. So I took some of those.

Perhaps that's changed. At any rate, their website is evidently not a reliable indicator of stock - I'd contact them in advance to verify availability.

[Richard Wasserman]

When I tried ordering several of the odd sizes from Climax last year, I got an email back saying that they were no longer in production and all they had left was 7x17. So I took some of those.

Perhaps that's changed. At any rate, their website is evidently not a reliable indicator of stock - I'd contact them in advance to verify availability.

I wasn't aware of those issues. I do believe they will make sleeves to order if the quantity is large enough—might be a multiple lifetime supply though...

[Drew Wiley]

Upon inquiry, Archival Methods told me they make their own boxes in house, rather than subcontracting them. So even is a size is discontinued or odd, they can still make it. Of course, there would be some kind of minimum quantity stipulation, or else it wouldn't be cost-effective to them.