How do you print your B&W negatives

[jdredd]

im in a bit of a quandary right now.. am going to start developing my own negatives soon to save cost. but as i am looking for larger format prints, i cant decide between...

Option A.

Getting someone like riceball to run the prints ($9 for 8x10). will be expensive in the long run.

Option B.

Paying for high end scanning then getting prints developed in commercial lab - still about $5-6 for 8x10, plus scanning cost.

Option C

Buy my own scanner (but only budget for something like epson 4490), scan the prints myself then send for commercial developing.


Option D

Finding a darkroom and develop prints myself. Cheapest option i guess, but time consuming.


am wondering which options u guys went for and why?

also, if i did get a epson scanner and scanned negatives, is resolution good enough for 8x10 prints

 

[sljm]

im in a bit of a quandary right now.. am going to start developing my own negatives soon to save cost. but as i am looking for larger format prints, i cant decide between...

Option A.

Getting someone like riceball to run the prints ($9 for 8x10). will be expensive in the long run.

Option B.

Paying for high end scanning then getting prints developed in commercial lab - still about $5-6 for 8x10, plus scanning cost.

Option C

Buy my own scanner (but only budget for something like epson 4490), scan the prints myself then send for commercial developing.


Option D

Finding a darkroom and develop prints myself. Cheapest option i guess, but time consuming.


am wondering which options u guys went for and why?

also, if i did get a epson scanner and scanned negatives, is resolution good enough for 8x10 prints

For me i use C and D.
C because when i develope at home, i can scan the negs when they are dry and see how the negatives actually look like. And if i want i can have the option of sending them to people and so on.

D is for prints that are either of sentimental value or something in my opinion that i think its worthwhile to print.IMHO i feel that darkroom prints are much superior to a inkjet printout or if u are thinking of keeping the prints, Darkroom printing has better archival qualities

 

[jdredd]

but how does darkroom compare to a commercial lab print of a scanned negative? i know its definitely better than inkjet, but if the difference between these 2 are close, then to me commercial printing is more viable.

 

[clubgrit]

I am not sure, but what I think sljm means is that he scans to see the negative results (as a contact print), and sends for traditional B&W printing. This is what I do at the moment until I can sort out my printing equipment (darkroom).

I find it makes no sense to scan and print with a home or commercial or industrial printer (although it still is much preferable than using a dslr and converting to B&W and printing), when it can be printed traditionally, which has its own feel and soul.

Konota, Riceball, Ruby can print B&W traditionally.

 

[kex]

u can print it urself at objectif's!

 

[jdredd]

where is objectif's?

im in the course of getting safra membership to use their darkroom.

need to learn how to use enlarger first tho..

 

[kex]

Objectifs Pte Ltd
12A, Liang Seah St
Singapore 189033
Phone : (65-) 63393068

 

[nmk]

where is objectif's?

im in the course of getting safra membership to use their darkroom.

need to learn how to use enlarger first tho..

If I want to use the SAFRA darkroom facilities, do I need to be a member?
Do I have to be a Singaporean to be a member?
Do you need to know how to operate the equipment before you rent the darkroom or are there any intro courses?

Thanks

 

[jdredd]

yea u need to be a member either of safra. i think the photo club itself also has term membership. can check the safra website and email them for details. they do do some intro courses, all is onthe website i think.

 

[sljm]

I am not sure, but what I think sljm means is that he scans to see the negative results (as a contact print), and sends for traditional B&W printing. This is what I do at the moment until I can sort out my printing equipment (darkroom).

I find it makes no sense to scan and print with a home or commercial or industrial printer (although it still is much preferable than using a dslr and converting to B&W and printing), when it can be printed traditionally, which has its own feel and soul.

Konota, Riceball, Ruby can print B&W traditionally.

haha actually i do the traditional print myself too, for safra u need to be a member (Of the photo club i mean) and take their B&W course in order to use the Darkroom, think they are starting a new course soon.

 

[hopefulphoto]

Option D

Finding a darkroom and develop prints myself. Cheapest option i guess, but time consuming.


Only option I had while going to school! I personally didn't like it at all. :bigeyes: I'm more of a digital darkroom type.