Mini-lab Processing

[P3D Dave Worrell <dworrell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Marvin Jones >Actually, few if any "one-hour" processors
are prepared to handle half-frames, and probably few of the
high-end labs can handle them either. Why bother tooling
for an obsolete format you might be called on to print once
in a decade? 

I'm not sure what the problem is here. I used to be a
printer at a one hour mini-lab. The printers have different
lenses and masks for different formats 110, 35 etc. I used
to experiment by printing 35 with the 110 lens for
enlargement with good results. It was no real problem to
crop down a 35 mm mask with silver tape to _ANY_ lesser
size. The print would still be full size, but sides could
easily be trimmed.

The key is to find a lab to work with, explaining clearly
and directly what you are looking for and, if possible,
talk to the lab tech not the clerk at the counter. I'd have
been happy to work with anybody who was understanding of my
needs: clearly someone needing special masking couldn't be
accommodated in one hour. You'll pay more for this type of
service, but less than going to a custom or pro lab.

Now I shoot slides and have them processed by my local
custom lab and returned to me uncut. Once I have them
mounted I could have them printed by the custom lab and
because they're already masked it should be no problem. I
would however have to pay custom prices ... oh well.

Dave Worrell (dworrell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Publications Technician
State of Alaska
Section of Epidemiology


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