Digital Photo Prints...

[yalemba]

What printing technology (inkjet vs. laser) are some of the leading professional photo labs, such as "ofoto.com" and "shutterfly.com" using?

For some reasons, my home photo printer seems to generate better quality pictures. Any pointers?

BTW, I am expecting my i960 to arrive tomorrow from Dell. Thanks.

[jcsorensen]

The real answer is neither. Commercial mini-labs and other commercial digital printers use photographic paper and processing to print your image. They use your digital file to expose the paper through a laser imaging process, but the image itself is basically produced chemically through photo processing.

[justdevine]

I use epixel.com and the quality is amazing. Try them and see.

[Rob Larsen]

yalemba wrote:
What printing technology (inkjet vs. laser) are some of the leading professional photo labs, such as "ofoto.com" and "shutterfly.com" using?


Although I do not know what ofoto or shutterfly use, you may find the Lighjet technology interesting.

Professional Lightjet printers use lasers, but differently than office/home printers do. RGB lasers are used to expose photographic paper and is processed similar to traditional film processing. A local lab has a Lightjet that produces outstanding results. A brief description of this process can be found on their web site at http://www.pcraft.com/services/trad/digitoprint.shtml .

[atleypnorth]

Lightjet are using the same method as used by the Fuji Frontiers, Agfa D-labs, Lambda's etc so isnt that different. Dont know if they are better or not though.

I would be willing to bet Ofoto etc will be using one of the above ...

[MediaMagic]

Rob Larsen wrote:
yalemba wrote:
What printing technology (inkjet vs. laser) are some of the leading professional photo labs, such as "ofoto.com" and "shutterfly.com" using?


Although I do not know what ofoto or shutterfly use, you may find the Lighjet technology interesting.

Professional Lightjet printers use lasers, but differently than office/home printers do. RGB lasers are used to expose photographic paper and is processed similar to traditional film processing. A local lab has a Lightjet that produces outstanding results. A brief description of this process can be found on their web site at http://www.pcraft.com/services/trad/digitoprint.shtml .


Hey Rob,
Yes, this is interesting. How did you find a local lab? Just call around and ask each one?

David

[Rob Larsen]

MediaMagic wrote:

Hey Rob,
Yes, this is interesting. How did you find a local lab? Just call around and ask each one?

David

Photo Craft is a well respected pro lab that I had used back in my film days. Recently I dropped in to pick up literature on photo clubs in the area and pleasantly discovered their commitment to digital. I'd suggest looking up pro labs in your area and inquire about their digital capabilities.