I recently had a small batch of transparencies returned from a lab. Scanned and printed to 8"x10" proofs, I have both Chromira prints and Epson 9600 prints for several of images.
I'm going through the process of proofing and deciding which medium I prefer for each image. Interestingly, there isn't one absolute answer. The issues are several, including gloss and sharpness (and yes, at 1.5ft, you can EASILY tell which is sharper on an 8x10 - the 9600). But one issue is causing me a problem - seeing the prints slightly side on, the inkjet prints are obvious - the ink has a strange pattern, and the colours all seem to move to shades of blue and grey - regardless of the actual colour of the ink, while the Chromiras don't look any different.
I'm trying to judge the strength of this effect in a room with inkjet prints of at least 20x24 (and preferably up to 50x40) on several walls (or even along the same wall - you tend to glance side to side then as well!), as you move around the room. Anyone with experience? Does this effect decrease once the prints are behind glass?
On a lesser issue, where there are expanses of similar colours (sky with slightly varying shades of blue eg), the Chromira copes much better at producing a smooth image - the Epson looks slightly grainy, although I may be a bit close to the image. Others have commented on this before, and I'm interested in whether this is too much a matter of looking too closely at the image (because I'm proofing), and whether this effect decreases once matted and framed behind glass.
I'll provide a summary of my experiences of the process and the lab once it's all over, and will be happy for UK residents to come over and see the images on the different media. In a couple of cases, it wil also be possible to see the images as Cibachromes.
Bookmarks