Our frequent contributor, Bob Carnie, just sent me a couple tests of fiber-based black and white silver prints from my digital files made with his Durst Lambda at his professional photo lab in Toronto.
I'm in agony because now I want him to print everything ;-p
Seriously, I used to work as a silver printer back in the day and I'm not bragging too much to say I can make a nice looking inkjet now that there are nicer Baryta papers and better technology (some of you have bought them from me, thank you). But these Lambda prints blow my inkjets out of the water and into the woods. Obviously the surface and reflective quality is far superior to any inkjet but also these prints display more of what's in my file... the shadows are much more detailed, the highlights are more subtle, yet the contrast is still snappy.
Craft was high too, no dust, no creases, no flaws... nicely flattened traditional B&W prints without spotting, everything adjusted "just so" in editing.
$80 for a beautiful 11x14. Uploading to their server is easy, the website is decent... and in spite of my qualms over shipping from Canada, the package arrived promptly and safely (well packed too).
It was nice to see that my files held up OK, even though he printed from my 35mm scans... the noise-grain in the file makes a lot nicer transition between tones in silver over the Epson inkjets.
I will still use the inkjet for everyday stuff and inexpensive printing but it's been humiliated and shamed. I'm hiding it in the corner... For full-priced prints and gallery shows this is the way to go, period.
http://www.elevatordigital.ca/
[Mods: If this breaks any rules by being so enthusiastic about someone's services I apologize. I'm just giving credit where it's deserved. Thanks]
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