curious about the new Leica Monochrome print service

[kmallick]

Does anyone have any idea on Leica's new print service? This is what they say on their website:

".. digital images from the Leica M Monochrom can be printed on premium-quality baryte photographic papers. Thanks to development in the classical wet-chemical silver halide process, the prints are hardly distinguishable from their analogue counterparts printed from negatives."

Is this different from Salgado's technique of creating wet prints from digital file?

 

[celluloidprop]

Can't tell if they're talking about something like Digital Silver Imaging (LED enlarger prints on traditional fiber or RC paper, is processed per normal) or if they're just gussying up inkjet print terminology (baryta).

 

[kmallick]

or if they're just gussying up inkjet print terminology (baryta).

that would be shameful even by Leica standards. 😱

 

[---f]

inkjet

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/baryta.shtml

 

[DominikDUK]

"Thanks to development in the classical wet-chemical silver halide process, the prints are hardly distinguishable from their analogue counterparts printed from negatives." to me that statements clearly says true photographic baryta paper made for digital exposure.

Whitewall offers prints made with either a Durst Lambda or an Océ Lightjet both can use Ilford Gallery FBdigital baryta paper (created for digital laser exposure). I believe Salgado used negatives made from digital files and had them enlarged the classic way, different process.

Dominik

 

[kmallick]

"Thanks to development in the classical wet-chemical silver halide process, the prints are hardly distinguishable from their analogue counterparts printed from negatives." to me that statements clearly says true photographic baryta paper made for digital exposure.
Dominik

thats exactly what I thought.

Whitewall offers prints made with either a Durst Lambda or an Océ Lightjet both can use Ilford Gallery FBdigital baryta paper (created for digital laser exposure). I believe Salgado used negatives made from digital files and had them enlarged the classic way, different process.

Dominik

Thanks for that explanation. Do you know of anybody else in the US who provides that service? Is it expensive?

 

[celluloidprop]

Digital Silver Imaging in Massachusetts - I got their sample print deal ($30 for 2 8x10s, one RC one fiber, I believe).

It's not cheap, but the fiber prices really aren't bad for what you get (they go over the files to make sure they'll print well, etc.).
http://www.digitalsilverimaging.com/

Both prints came out quite nice even though it was a no-oversight sample (I'd make the fiber print slightly more contrasty for a 'real' print). I'll be using them again.

 

[whitecat]

Another that does this is Dalmation.

 

[celluloidprop]

http://www.digitalsilverimaging.com/printing

their prices for fiber with them looking at the files, etc. $150 for a 16x24 - seems high compared to other pro print shops doing B&W inkjet (West Coast Imaging is ~$85 IIRC), but you are getting a very large archival silver print.
And a 16x24 would have cost a whole lot more ten years ago, I believe.

 

[intheviewfinder]

FYI Digital Silver Imaging is not an LED print. They integrate photographic laser technology and classic black & white printing on traditional fiber or RC paper. They use a Durst Theta 51 photographic laser printer. Very cool stuff.

--Rich