Printing B/W with Lambda on Fuji DP II

[marameo]

Hi, I have been considering making some large laser prints from b/w film scans. I have found a lab which runs a lambda 130 laser printer yet they only use Fuji DP II glossy paper which is a good for color. How b/w prints are going to look on a non b/w paper like that? Thanks

 

[shortstop]

It sounds strange. Lambda is made to print in true BW paper. Any color minilab could print your BW file on a color paper. In UK (also overseas) Ilford prints from negatives or from files on true BW paper. Don't know if uses Lambda or another analogue laser enlarger.
The result on a colour paper is not a pure black and white, but a monochromatic print with some dominance.

 

[DominikDUK]

As shortstop said Lambda can print on real B/W paper even Fiber based ones. If the lab doesn't print on real B/W paper go to another lab. You will get a small amount of color shift on color paper and it will look different than real B/W.

 

[marameo]

The guy at the lab said that durst sent new laser to update their lambda 130 and now the lab is not able to print on regular b/w paper anymore.

 

[bjmc]

Digital BW prints on RA4 colour paper are very hard or impossible to calibrate correctly, and as a result tend to look very "muddy". A lab I use advises people against trying this route, and I would venture the same.

I think it's much more worth your time to seek out a darkroom with the kit to print large (how large do you want to go?) This will also let you use a variety of FB papers that are normally unavailable to use in a RA4 machine.

 

[DominikDUK]

"The guy at the lab said that durst sent new laser to update their lambda 130 and now the lab is not able to print on regular b/w paper anymore."

B.S. to that Ilford makes a FB B/W just for the Lambda and other Laser exposure systems. He just doesn't want to buy new paper. Even Whitewall is able to make FB B/W prints from digital files.

 

[grdglass]

I agree with what others have said. Printing B+W on color paper will give you varying metamerism depending on the light source.

 

[raindog61]

I often print BW on a Lambda with colour material. Either, Kodak N surface or onto Kodak Metallic. Black and white looks ok on colour material depending on the subject and quality of the file.

The main problem I have with printing bw on the Lambda is keeping the bw image neutral. A fluctation in RA4 chemistry temperature will produce a colour cast. Another factor is time between running a control strip and running the final output. Some labs may run a control strip a few time during a printing shift. Others may run their strip at the beginning of the shift and not run another on for the rest of the day or until the roll of paper is changed.

That being said, if you choose to go this route, tell the lab you expect neutral prints.

_harry.

 

[DominikDUK]

Since you state the eternal city as your location Speed color in Rome seems to print on real B/W at least I guess that what silver means http://www.speedcolor.it/stampa-lambda/

and whitewall italy https://it.whitewall.com/

good luck

 

[shortstop]

If you want a true BW print must have it on true BW paper. Forget colur paper. Where do you live. Here in Europe we have Ilford as I said in a previous post, but think Ilford gives the same service also in USA.

 

[marameo]

Since you state the eternal city as your location Speed color in Rome seems to print on real B/W at least I guess that what silver means http://www.speedcolor.it/stampa-lambda/

and whitewall italy https://it.whitewall.com/

good luck

Well, Whitewall Europe seems to be the best choice because they print with LightJet at true 300dpi on Ilford b/w paper for digital exposure : http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=72&t=Photographic+Papers+Digital

However, they are in beautifull Dusseldorf!

 

[shortstop]

Well, Whitewall Europe seems to be the best choice because they print with LightJet at true 300dpi on Ilford b/w paper for digital exposure : http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=72&t=Photographic+Papers+Digital However, they are in beautifull Dusseldorf!

I've seen prices; examples:
FB paper:
10x10 cm = 9,90€
20x30 cm = 27,95
30x40 cm = 36,95
...
Too expensive. Isn't it?

 

[marameo]

...
Too expensive. Isn't it?

For the baryta? maybe. Yet, the ilford b/w paper for 30x40 is around 18 EURs. I think it's a decent price for a LightJet print.

 

[shortstop]

For the baryta? maybe. Yet, the ilford b/w paper for 30x40 is around 18 EURs. I think it's a decent price for a LightJet print.

Well, printing by myself is much cheaper. I didn't understand what exactly means LightJet; it is the same technology of Durst Lambda?

 

[shortstop]

From Ilford. Prices are cheaper than whitewall. Is there anybquality difference?
http://www.ilfordlab.com/images/PDF/WEB REPRINT.pdf

 

[marameo]

Well, printing by myself is much cheaper. I didn't understand what exactly means LightJet; it is the same technology of Durst Lambda?

Yes, http://www.cymbolic.com/lightjet500XL.html

 

[marameo]

How about a toned b/w on Fuji Crystal Archive?