Those without a darkroom, where to develop/print?

[Flea77]

Those of you who do not process at home, where do you send your film for processing, proofing, printing?

I have been trying to avoid a darkroom up to this point, sending my 35mm B&W off to NCPS for development and some scanning. Unfortunately they want $25 per sheet to scan, and they can not print without scanning, which means every 4x5 I want a proof or enlargement of costs printing plus $25 which is a little steep.

I know a darkroom would be more economical in the long run, but lack of suitable space coupled with the fact that I am a casual shooter would make it much harder.

Allan

[sun of sand]

community darkrooms/friend or bathroom bathtub being most likely
develop film with small amount of supplies
trays
developer
fixer
clips
eyedropper/syringe
contact print with just a few more
glass
lightbulb
print developer
contrast filters

A small box of stuff

[Flea77]

community darkrooms

One of these in/near Houston?

Allan

[sun of sand]

no idea
Think someone on one of these forums at some point may have asked the same thing -maybe Houston maybe Dallas maybe not anywhere in Texas

Found this real quick
http://www.lighttec.com/houstondarkroom.html
single person though
wait lists

money for your 1 scan etc or 1 hour in the darkroom

[Kirk Fry]

Bathroom at night, pans. Scan for proof on epson 3200.

KFry

[Joanna Carter]

If you are shooting B&W, you can easily process your own film in something like a CombiPlan tank, in your kitchen; it only takes half an hour plus drying time.

As for printing, take a look at using a scanner yourself; the Epson flatbeds are perfectly fine for prints, right up to 40" x 32", although finding room for such a large printer could be difficult I use an Epson R2400 for printing up to A3 and get stunning results.

[gevalia]

Combi tank for 4x5, changing tent, and a scanner. Have done about 500 sheets at this point in the kitchen with lights on. I do my own B&W but send the few color slides I shoot to Praus. At this point, the tank, changing bag, and scanner have more then paid for themselves in 2 years with just the B&W I have developed.

[Gary Beasley]

You could send them in for developing only and scan them yourself in an appropriate flatbed scanner with a transparency adaptor, for example the Epson Perfection 3200 Photo that I have. A few minutes at the scanner will tell you what the possibilities are for that sheet of film you shot and in the long run be way cheaper.

[Diane Maher]

I develop my b/w film in a Jobo tank, and then if I need silver contact prints, there are several labs nearby who can do contact prints for me. Otherwise, I either scan the negatives or make myself a pt/pd print.

[Diane Maher]

I develop my b/w film in a Jobo tank, and then if I need silver contact prints, there are several labs nearby who can do contact prints for me. Otherwise, I either scan the negatives or make myself a pt/pd print.

Color film I have to take to the lab because I don't have the ability to control the temperatures during development that I understand is needed.