Digital output options

[wclavey]

I have been scanning my MF B&W negatives and processing them in PS for about the past 6 months now. I no longer have access to a darkroom and I am determined to make the best digital B&W images I can, within my options. I do not do much manipulation, mostly simple levels adjustments and then split toning and I end up with an RGB JPG file (I guess that's what you'd call it), not a B&W file.

Here is the part where I really have no idea what comes next. I do not have any kind of printer myself, and to be honest, probably will not get one in the near term. I periodically send images to the online photo printing services like photopipe to be printed so that I can be sure that what I'm seeing on my monitor looks reasonable on paper. But now that I have a small set of images that I really want to print seriously, what are my options?

My images are all small... I started printing when I was a poor student and printed 5x5 inch full frame enlargements (actually, 4.5x4.5 inch) on 5x7 paper 30 years ago. So even now, when I had access to a darkroom, I printed the same size images on 8x10 paper... it is "my style."

But what kind of printing services should I look for besides the photoprinters like photopipe? What would the relative quality of them be? Could anyone suggest some names? People talk about inkjet printing, giclee, pigment, etc. but I really don't know about them or what they all mean. I started with Google searches, but I get pages & pages of services that sound just like Wal-Mart, Costco, or photopipe printing.

Thanks, in advance, for any insight.

[livemoa]

Try Elevator Digital, a sponsor here. They do B&W Lambda prints on the new Ilford fibre paper that are very very nice. You can ftp the files to them.

I will be using them for a project of mine in the near future.

[Jeremy]

While Elevator does a great job, if you're looking for some place closer to home, you can try here: http://www.hcehouston.com/lab.html

I have a friend who uses their services and has had nothing but positive experiences.

[Christian Olivet]

Check paulroark.com for a lot of info on printing monochrome on inkjet printers. I have used the C88+ which costs less than a hundred bucks plus some thrid party inks, and the quality is absolutely amazing. No printing bureau will print your files better, maybe slightly different, but no better.