Is it that hard for minilabs to handle XP2?

[cmedin]

I've tried four local minilabs, and have had four disappointments. The film's developed just fine, but the prints are consistently overexposed and the scans are horrible. Is it due to XP2 not having the orange mask and confusing matters? Does Kodak's C41 with the mask scan better?

I can scan the negs fine at home, but it would be nice to have some quick scans for web publishing for a couple bucks with development.

 

[Solinar]

The problem most mini-labs using color RA4 paper will have is getting the filter pack correct. It is odd that not many operators will try to look up the correct profile for XP2. I guess it boils down to setting up the machine for normal color film and hope it automatically adjusts the filter pack on its own for an odd ball C41 film like XP2.

 

[cmedin]

When you say filter pack, are you talking about on the print side or on the scan side? My problem is that both the scans and the prints are terrible, while the same labs do just fine with standard color film in both cases. Was wondering if the scanner (the Frontier scans and then prints from the digital version right, or does it do normal optical prints?) just had a preset default for C41 color and the lack of mask screws it up. I know near nothing about how the minilabs work as you can tell. 🙂

 

[Nikon Bob]

I have had trouble with getting satisfactory prints from mini labs when they process either XP2 or Kodak BWCN. I lucked out and found one that does a decent job so it can be done. If the scans are bad the prints will be too because, and I'm guessing here, that they use the scans to do the prints. That is probably why you are getting good scans at home. The type of paper used for printing has something to with it also.

Bob

 

[cmedin]

Ah well, I usually only shoot XP2 when I get a new camera (so that if there are issues I can generally rule out my own film handling/development), but sometimes that first roll through some new gear yields some stuff I really enjoy and then I have to sit and suffer through scanning it myself. 🙂

 

[Solinar]

I'm referring to the print, which is usually printed on RA-4 paper. RA-4 paper relies on combinations of yellow, magenta and cyan light to produce various colors to include black and gray.

Yellow + Magenta = Red
Yellow + Cyan = Green
Magenta + Cyan = Blue

The Frontier is electronically/digitally controlled by which ever profile is ideal for both the brand of film and RA-4 paper. To get proper greys and blacks - the filtration settings for each of the CMY complimentary colors most be spot on to produce neutral grays and blacks. If the settings or more accurately the profile is off by a bit and a goofy color cast results.