Printing
gulabi.co.uk
parkcameras.com
Park Cameras
Naturally, a significant step towards printing at home is finding and purchasing a printer. In that event, it’s of great benefit to have a trusted dealer that offers a range of options for all levels. In addition to its league of cameras, lenses and accessories, family-run Park Cameras provides a considerable selection of printers, ink and media. This includes smaller options, such as the Fujifilm Instax Mini Link printer or Canon’s Selphy models, which produce prints in a similar way to an instant camera. This is a less daunting commitment for many, setting a prospective buyer back about £100. Of course, Park Camera’s range also includes more advanced printers, with A4, A3 and even A2 and large format printers that are capable of providing the best results for those printing at home.
Key models from Canon and Epson are available, as well as a host of compatible inks from each brand. There are also quality papers from various manufacturers, meaning there’s something for every need, from matte to gloss and everyday printing to fine art. Finally, it’s worth emphasising the knowledge that the Park Cameras team possesses, as well as its willingness to advise.
hahnemuehle.com/en/index.html
Hahnemühle
the Photo Gloss Baryta 320 paper provides a smoother surface and a lustrous finish. There are many options available. In terms of Hahnemühle’s Fine Art Collection, there is a similar range of choices that boast even finer quality, including the Natural Line, which consists of paper made from sustainable bamboo, hemp and agave. Sample packs are available, so you can try before stocking up.
With any aspect of photography, it’s reassuring to know a brand is a real specialist in one particular area. Hahnemühle certainly fits the bill in that sense, with its long paper making history. Though it certainly offers high-end papers, there are also options that are ideal for daily printing. For example, its Photo Matt Fibre 200 offers a light texture and pleasant, neutral finish. Alternatively,
Gulabi Many photographers still choose to shoot on film. As such, the first step towards any kind of physical image is through developing. While there are fewer and fewer options compared with times gone by, there are still independent labs like Gulabi. The Glasgow-based lab offers professional developing and scanning
The real benefit of Gulabi is that it does the work for you. Then, you receive scans that are ready to print at home or send to another lab. Developing a 35mm C41 film with standard- sized scans costs just £8 and a range of options are available, including push/pull processing, scans of unusual formats and Tiff files.
for C41 and black & white film. And there's no worry if you're not local because a postal service is provided, as well as a trusty drop-off system. While there's no print service on offer, prints can be arranged via Gulabi with Gelatin, a photographic darkroom that’s also located in Glasgow.
From£179
epson.co.uk
fujifilmprinttoproveit.com
From£159
spyderx.datacolor.com
Print to Prove It
Datacolor
photos printed, then finding they look nothing like your final edit. Not only is the SpyderX fast, accurate and easy to use, it offers a printer profiling feature, enabling you to get a true to life preview of the specific printer, ink and media combination you plan to use. The SpyderX Pro is available alone at £159 or in various bundles that feature other workflow tools.
When it comes to printing, there are certain steps that are easy to overlook. However, cutting corners can be costly. One crucial step is screen calibration. With a screen calibration tool, like the Datacolor SpyderX, you can ensure what you’re seeing on your monitor is what you’re actually going to get. With an uncalibrated screen, you run the risk of having
Working alongside One Vision Imaging, Fujifilm is offering photographers the chance to try its professional paper for free. It’s a great incentive for those on the fence about printing in general, but also for those who are yet to try Fujifilm’s media. Of course, there’s also the added element of using a professional lab – you’ve already discovered what One Vision Imaging offers in this guide. While many may be expecting a tiny offering, there are actually three 10x8in or 12x8in prints included in this scheme. Better yet, there’s a choice of paper to really ensure your work looks its best.
Epson
Fujifilm Lustre is highly versatile and has no hard glare, making it the go-to for many. Meanwhile, Fujifilm Gloss is really eye-catching, with a smooth and shiny finish. It also makes for a sharp print with vibrant colour reproduction. The final option is Fujifilm Pearl, which is distinctive and impactful. It’s punchy and boasts a vibrant sheen that highlights photos with bright, contrasting tones or even monochrome shots.
memory card slot. And the prints look great, thanks to its Claria Photo HD Ink. More advanced, the brand’s Eco Tank printers are revolutionising cost- effective photo printing. Models like the ET-7750 feature refillable ink tanks rather than cartridges, and refills contain enough for literally thousands of high-quality photographs. This particular printer produces prints in sizes up to A3.
Epson is one of the biggest names in
domestic photo printers, and for good reason. Its range of printers extends beyond photography, but even for photographers, there’s lots on offer. Even entry models like the Expression Photo XP-970 offer decent quality and boast appealing features, such as the ability to handle ordinary documents, media capacity up to A3, mobile printing and a
28 Photography News | Issue 85
photographynews.co.uk
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