Digital print lab recommendations?

ZombieUK

ZombieUK

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Scott
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Recently our trusted and prefered photolab shut up shop and decided to leave the life behind for...well whatever he's chosen now.

The only problm this has left us with is who to use for high quality prints of all sizes...

CC imaging were recommended in Leeds, but their prices which they've quoted me are ridiculous (£5 + P&P for A4?)

I'm about to start ramping up my operations this year doubley so now I'm coming away from the company I work with, so I could use a company who offers good quality and either good starting prices on prints or willing to negotiate for repeat business...

Do any of you good folks have any good recommendations?
 
I still can't get over the quality that Sam's Photolabs produces, I know the customer service is a bit marmate with people on here, but I simply haven't come across anything that even comes close.
 
DSCL again, never had an issue with them. Other than the massive wait I had for prints over xmas...
 
I've used DSCL with good results, also Moorfield Photographic in Liverpool are decent.
 
DSCL gets my vote, used them many many times now and always got excellent results.
Used to use snapfish also and they were very good!
 
Loxley give great service, and good prints - I use DSCL as they are as good but cheaper.
 
Sams is great for quality of product and price. If you want rock solid reliability then Loxley, but they are more expensive and the prints aren't as nice (in my opinion).
 
I've also had ccimaging recommended to me, have yet to see anything by them but have got an exhibition coming up soon and am keen to find a printers myself...
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
DSCL again, never had an issue with them. Other than the massive wait I had for prints over xmas...
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I'll retract this statement.

Am approaching a week now in waiting for a reprint for a batch of damaged photos I received.

Funny, when I ordered and paid, I had my photos within 24hours....now I need some customer service and reprints of the originals due to no fault of my own they're royally taking their time. :thumbsdown:
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
I'll retract this statement.

Am approaching a week now in waiting for a reprint for a batch of damaged photos I received.

Funny, when I ordered and paid, I had my photos within 24hours....now I need some customer service and reprints of the originals due to no fault of my own they're royally taking their time. :thumbsdown:
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Never had a problem with DSCL..and they always deal with my queries on the phone....hope you have tried ringing them?
 
tiler65 said:
Never had a problem with DSCL..and they always deal with my queries on the phone....hope you have tried ringing them?
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Why do you hope? Yes, I called yesterday. And I emailed today to say they still havent arrived. If I don't receive a reply soon I will call again before the end of the day.
 
do a search under labs and you wil see the same query has come up many , many times.
 
Just to record my experience based on the following:-

I PPed in Lightroom and prepped for print using QImage.

I sent same files off to DSCL and Sams ~ in the case of DSCL I used their printer profile and as per Sams instruction used the default sRGB (they actually say if I recall choice of profile does not matter so make me think they strip it out???) now though I had thought my screen was calibrated (doh!) I got back two different sets as follows:-

Note - both were too dark by about a stop (my fault see note below)
DSCL looked right for colour and look
Sams were odd in that there was definite pink/red hue/cast to them

Now I got back to my monitor and completely reran the calibration using my Spyder3 Elite, it had been calibrated to a white luminence of 120cd but this was obviously too bright based on getting back 'underexposed' prints. I recal'ed at a target white luminence of 100cd (NB this brightness 16 and Contrast 75 ~ originally with the 120cd I had brightness 46 and Contrast 54)

So onscreen at the 100cd the first set of prints now looked like the screen view i.e. underexposed. Decided to only use DSCL this go round (avoided Sams because even underexposed there should not have been a colour cast IMO) using both the Gloss & Lustre Profiles I sent off the files again having re PPed them to screen satisfaction and suffice to say they look one heck of a lot better :) well pleased on two fronts:-

My testing revealed the pooorly calibrated screen, so now sorted :)
The way DSCL handled the orders speedily and 'got them turned round' was very good :)

HTH anyone else???
 
Sams instruction used the default sRGB (they actually say if I recall choice of profile does not matter so make me think they strip it out???)
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We certainly do not strip it out!

Our production software looks at the embedded profile and then, at the time of printing converts to the required printer profile. Most labs specify you work in one given colourspace, usually sRGB. I would recommend most people to use sRGB as this space is the closest to any digital c-type printer, and unless you've spent £2000+ on a monitor that will actually show the larger ADOBE98 you'll not be able to softproof.

As we are unable to check your files without knowing who you are I cannot comment on your pink/red cast - but I can assure you our machine is balanced at the start of each day for each paper size.

As you've noticed, prints done when your monitor is too bright will look too dark - and within our own working enviroment, which is lit to D65 standard, we've come down in favour of 100cd/m2. Another issue for checking prints is the light used to look at the prints - again it should be a good quality daylight balance - the ISO standard used by the ICC is much brighter than the usual domestic enviroment - another reason why it's best to set your screen a little darker than the default.
 
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snappingsam said:
We certainly do not strip it out!

Our production software looks at the embedded profile and then, at the time of printing converts to the required printer profile. Most labs specify you work in one given colourspace, usually sRGB. I would recommend most people to use sRGB as this space is the closest to any digital c-type printer, and unless you've spent £2000+ on a monitor that will actually show the larger ADOBE98 you'll not be able to softproof.

As we are unable to check your files without knowing who you are I cannot comment on your pink/red cast - but I can assure you our machine is balanced at the start of each day for each paper size.

As you've noticed, prints done when your monitor is too bright will look too dark - and within our own working enviroment, which is lit to D65 standard, we've come down in favour of 100cd/m2. Another issue for checking prints is the light used to look at the prints - again it should be a good quality daylight balance - the ISO standard used by the ICC is much brighter than the usual domestic enviroment - another reason why it's best to set your screen a little darker than the default.
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Hi David

I will PM you my name and invoice/order info as it would nice to have some feedback??? My screen is the Dell 2209WA so no it does not display the aRGB gamut, trying to recall just how wide the reviews said it was?

Edit ~ hmmm! no PM linky for you???

Edit 2 ~ just rechecked what you say about profile "Use any colourspace you like - sRGB , ADOBE98 or any embedded space" sorry my poor memory though this had infered something it does not....:eek:
 
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snappingsam said:
Box Brownie

You can get an identical light from many craft shops - without the gretag logo - for £25! (ok, no grey mat with it either)

I bought a couple from Hobbycraft. http://direct.hobbycraft.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=278264

I have not PM as I am considered a trader - but you can email me - you'll have details on email from me...
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Hi David

Email sent with the o.no info for your appraisal.

Thanks for the heads up ref the lamps, if I can get a nice large 'grey' card for <£10 then saving to be had :)
 
if I can get a nice large 'grey' card for <£10 then saving to be had
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Take your grey card to B&Q and get them to make paint the same colour in matt - the walls in the lab are painted this colour and refreshed every so often - and the worktops where the prints go are just MDF - which we also paint...
 
snappingsam said:
Take your grey card to B&Q and get them to make paint the same colour in matt - the walls in the lab are painted this colour and refreshed every so often - and the worktops where the prints go are just MDF - which we also paint...
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Now there is an interesting 'take' on getting an 18% grey surface :clap:

PS I hope my email got through ~ I look forward to your answer(s) to it :thumbs:
 
Hi David

As you got me on the trail of 'generic' design craft lights, I have found the same one as sold by Hobby Craft online for just <£20 and as HC sells it for over £31 though I saw the one at Focus for as little :lol: as £50

Found a Kodak Grey card for <£13 so good to go :)

PS Did you get my email, if so did you have a gander at the files???
 
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Glad I helped - and I'm sure the standholder at Focus will be happy I did!

I was down yesterday myself.

I have got email and will contact you directly...
 
snappingsam said:
Glad I helped - and I'm sure the standholder at Focus will be happy I did!

I was down yesterday myself.

I have got email and will contact you directly...
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:( I edited that part..........would not want be the caster of doom. FWIW I have bought from "them" before i.e. my Spyder

I was at Focus primarily do a scoping on the business front ~ we have customers who were exhibiting but I did have look round for personal interests and it was a bit of a scrum in places :|
 
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Just got my first prints through today from DSCL and am disappointed. Quality is hugely variable (even on the same prints) and some have bubbles on them. Waiting to see their response to my email to them.
 
I can say that Sams labs prints are superb, also I had a minor issue with an order last week (a print went missing) and David sorted it instantly and kept in contact with me by email so I new what had happened and why it happened and that it was being taken care of..
 
DSCL called me first thing this morning to discuss the problems and work out a solution. Credit goes to them for their customer service.
 
I got back my second set of 8x12's from DSCL yesterday and quite frankly they look superb! I just need to decide which ones to frame.
 
I've used DSCL for sale and exhibition prints and have been really pleased. I like that bigger prints are packed flat.
 
Just got another set of 15x10 prints from DSCL today. Very pleased with the results.

I also got some done by Sams Photolab and again can't fault them.

Both came packed flat which, like the previous post, is a plus.
 
Loxly but I know they can be expensive but I stick with what and who I know
 
Have you had a look at Photobox. I've had prints from them for a few years now and always pleased with what I get. Price wise they are very good as well and very quick turnaround. Just as an example, if you ordered say 8" x 6" prints before 4 pm they will be delivered next day. Just a thought :thumbs:

Ps You also get web space to sell prints from if you register as a pro gallery user.
 
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snappingsam said:
Glad I helped - and I'm sure the standholder at Focus will be happy I did!

I was down yesterday myself.

I have got email and will contact you directly...
Click to expand...

Hi David

Did you get a chance to look at the files???
 
Hi All

Has David of Sams been around of late, I did email him again last Tuesday 5th April but he has not answered so just in case the email went in the www version of a blackhole???

Any feedback for me on those files would be very welcome :)
 
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