P3D photo labs

["nathan kreuter" <nathankreuter@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Recently on P3D there's been a lot of talk about problems with photo labs.  
I haven't participated in the discussion because I've never had any problems 
with mine.  They're great.

Many people don't know what is actually involved in running a lab.  One of 
the most critical things a lab can do to maintain quality is run a control 
strip every morning.  Amazingly, this 10 minute task is often skipped by 
high volume labs.  Several values are measured on a pre-exposed control 
strip, which is read with a densitometer (a very accurate light and color 
value measuring device).  The first two values are High Density and Low 
Density (they measure the light or darkness of a picture and are also 
referred to as D-max and D-min).  The  red, cyan and a magenta values are 
all measured in each area.  If any of these are out of whack the lab can 
take measures to correct them before beginning the day's work.  Master 
balances should also be conducted throughout the day to ensure that the 
chemistry is not affected by the changing volume of work the lab has to deal 
with. When you go to a photo lab ask to see their plots (they are marked 
with different colored pens on graph paper showing the target values).  If 
the lab refuses or the plots are off by more than 5-10 points, take your 
film and walk away.  There should be a plot for each of the RA-4 (color 
printer), E-6 (slide developing) and C-41 (color negative developing) 
machines.  It's the best way we can keep labs honest before they ruin any of 
our work.

My lab also hand inspects each and every color and b&w print before selling 
them.  They check for color balance and density and correct as much as 
possible by reprinting, of course within the latitude of the original 
exposure, all without additional mark-up.

I have complete confidence in my lab, but my lab only.  If anyone cares, 
they are The Camera Center
                194 Zan Road
                Charlottesville, VA 22901   phone; (804)973-9200

They often will work mail orders out with individual customers (that's what 
I do from Iowa), especially in the case of high volume orders.  They offer 
complete E6, RA4, and C41 processing as well as digital services.  
Unfortunately, they don't offer any stereo specific services such as stereo 
mounting.  If anyone has seen Boris Starosta's work, he often uses this lab.

nathan kreuter

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