P3D Widescreen Centre / Lenticular prints

[Phil Palmer <phil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You may remember a few weeks before Christmas I was bemoaning the length of
time it was taking to get some Lenticular prints back from the Widescreen
centre ... well I think its time to tell the full story.

In Mid August 1997 I sent a film I had taken with a Nimslo to the Widescreen
centre for processing with a note asking them not to do it in-house (I have
had some very poor prints from the in-house processor in the past) asking them
to email me if there was a problem with this.

I received an email to say that to send them for printing elsewhere would
double the price to 34 pounds (inc delivery). I told them to do it in-house, 
and was told the expected turnaround was 4 to 5 weeks.

At week seven I received a note stating that due to the large demand another 
processor had been sourced and the prints would arrive shortly.

At week nine I rang Widescreen and discovered the other processor was in China !

At week 10 thru 14 the prints were official 'stuck' in Hong Kong customs on the
return leg.

At week sixteen Widescreen finally admitted that my prints were 
'lost in action' - by this time it was the week before Christmas.
 
During the numerous phone calls and in discussion with a number of Third
Dimension Soc. / Stereoscopic Soc. members I believe the following to be true.

3 lens films are being sent to ImageTec (used to be Holland, now seems to be
USA).
4 lens films are being sent to China.
The processing machine at Nottingham is not currently being used.
The China processor is the original supplier of the Nottingham machine.
The prints are being sent to China because the quality of prints is a lot
better that the machine used at Nottingham - this one came from a Widescreen
member of staff. 

As far as I am aware there is now no Lenticular printing for non-professionals
being done in the UK. 

I am currently testing sending films to NimsTec - by my estimation it will
actually cost me less and will probably be quicker !
If anyone wants NimsTec Address/prices please email me.

-- 
Phil Palmer
Oldham, Lancashire, UK

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Third Dimension Soc. (NW) meeting - Tuesday 20th Jan - Bury, Lancashire, UK
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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 2518
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