Pro Labs in Sydney or Newcastle and Mat cutters

[pippin88]

Looking around for a pro lab that is closer to home than Photo King in Randwick (which does a nice job for a not bad price). I live in Newcastle during the week and Lilyfield some weekends, so anything more local would be great.

Going to get a fair number of prints made up to sell.

I'm also going to mount these prints so need to invest in a mat cutter. Looking at around ~150ish.
What do I need? Obviously one with a long ruler, that the cutter attaches to, angled blade, maybe stops? What else?

A while ago some people posted some sites with what looked like good ones, but I place a fair important in personal recommendation so relating your experiences with particular cutters would be appreciated. (Though I would appreciate info on where to buy.)

Cheers,
Nick

[Nnnnsic]

You could use The Lab in Redfern / Waterloo area... but they use PhotoKing themselves.

[sheepie]

http://www.frameco.com.au/

Really good gear, and at a reasonable price - and they're Australian.
Best recommendation is to try and get to a craft show somewhere when they have a stand - their specials there, and the demonstration, are well worth it

Start off with the starter pack http://www.clubframeco.com/mat_cutters.html#mm660, which is something like $115. Depending on what size you want to do, things get progressively more expensive from there

[shutterbug]

Hi Pippin88,

Try Visiongraphis & Pixelperfect.

Why not invest in one of those pro epson printers?

ps. My Brother was just taking about you yesterday I just checked out your gallery, looks great

[radar]

Hi Nick,

Have a look at the Fletchers shop in Adamstown. They are across the RSL.

Adamstown Plaza, 289 Brunker Rd, Adamstown
(02) 4956 3716

All the large format prints, they do on their printers. They don't send it out. His prices are pretty good as well. I'll be printing a few big prints there. I know the owner, was a pro photog where I used to work. If you stop in there, his name is David.

Reply to this thread with your findings. I'll update as well when I get some printed.

Cheers,

radar

[pippin88]

Andre, any idea what system they use? Ie are the large prints done on inkjet or something else? Local would be very handy.

The ones I've had done at photoking don't look like inkjet prints, rather they look like large normal photo prints, but I'm not sure what technology they are using.

I'm probably looking to do prints at around 18x12"

[radar]

Hi,

Andre, any idea what system they use? Ie are the large prints done on inkjet or something else? Local would be very handy.

For their large ones, they use the Epson Pro large format printers. Not sure which model, either 7xxx or 9xxx series.
http://www.epson.com.au/products/largeformat/

I'm probably looking to do prints at around 18x12"

They did these, from memory at a good price too. I saw a poster size one, came out really nice.

Just sent him an email to ask about prices and printer.

Cheers,

André

[Sheetshooter]

Pippin,

As far as the prints go I would suggest that Pixel Perfect are as good as any and better than most. They print using the Durst Lambda and are noted for using the Kodak papers with a reflective layer which adds subtle brilliance to the highlights and opens the shadows a tad. If you are looking at mounting, matting and framing the prints for subsequent sale you owe it to yourself to opt for the best quality - and they will deliver it in spades.

90 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale — 02 9319 0455 or 02 9310 7560

As for a mat cutter - try Vanbar in Camperdown and look at the ALTOS system. They have a model which fits your budgetary expectations and they are simple, safe and effective in use.

Unit 1 2 Gordon Street Camperdown — 02 9550 5833

It's a shame you didn't ask earlier - I just flogged an unused Altos for a hundred smackeroonies when I was preparing to move.

Cheers,

[pippin88]

Sheetshooter: Thanks for the input.

I can't see an ALTOS cutter priced around $150 on the Vanbar site? Will have to look more carefully I suppose.

[Sheetshooter]

Oooh, sorry, I see what you mean. I should have checked before I let my own one sell so cheap. They've gone up a lot in a few years!

Still, they are an economical solution. I have friends with bigger more elaborate units but they start at over two grand.

If you knew what you were doing in this presentation area you could possibly just buy the handle and blades and rig your own alignment jig with steel rulers or some strips of aluminium extrusion and a clamp or two. Equally effective or even moreso but not as facile.

Cheers,

[rokkstar]

Nick,

Sheetshooters suggestion is this I think
http://secure.eburg.com/cgi-bin/altosmat/matstore/commerce.cgi?product=MAT
Looks quite cool, might get one myself

[pippin88]

Andre, get a reply?

[radar]

Hi Nick,

Andre, get a reply?

Sorry, didn't get a chance to post, thanks for reminding me

8x10 and 8x12 are $4.95
11x14 16.95
12x18 19.95
16x20 34.95
20x24 54.95
20x30 80.95

The 8x10, 8x12 are on Fuji paper printed on-site. 11x14 and 12x18 are printed on the Fuji paper as per the smaller sizes, only we send it to a larger machine so it takes a few days. The larger prints are done on an Epson Pro7600 on their premium lustre paper. These are done on site.

I had a couple of 8x12 printed. You can have them gloss or matte. The paper is Fuji Crystal Archive. They came out very nice, a couple of my Africa shots. I'll print my Bogey hole shot on a large print next.

Cheers,

André

[owen]

Hey guys. I just had some shots printed by http://www.rgbdigital.com.au and they came up terrific. $17.50 for a 20 x 30 inch photo printed on fuji crystal archive paper. I wasn't expecting it to look very good because when viewing on the PC at 100% there was a fair bit of noise in the sky and it was a bit soft due to the immense upsizing, but the print looks absolutely fabulous even up close.

I also had a 16x20, 3 12 x 18's, and 9 12 x 8's... total price including postage was $84.50.

I sent a CD by mail on Friday and got the prints today, that's a 4 business day turn-around so nothing to complain about there.

I'd very much recommend them to others. I have given up saving for an Epson A3 printer, I'm just going to get them printed at this place from now on.

One thing to note is that you have to upsize yourself (not a problem if you've got photoshop) and also have them in folders corresponding to print size so that they can print the images quickly.

[pippin88]

I've heard of them before Owen but it was ages ago and had forgotten. Probably give them a try - $9 for a 18x12 is cheap and you think the quality is good?

[owen]

Yeah mate, the quality is terrific. They use fuji printers and you can download the profiles from their website. Best to do that as my colours were a little bit off, but they still look great.

You have to have a minimum order of $30 + $10 postage, so best get a few pics you want to get printed and get a bulk order.

Cheers.
Owen.

[pippin88]

Alright, cheers.

Was planning to get about 10, so order would come to near $100.

My monitor is calibrated using a spider, so I don't think I need those profiles?

[MCWB]

With the profiles you can soft-proof in PS Nick.

[owen]

From what I understand:

- a proper calibrated monitor will display how the image exactly is
- printers don't understand sRGB, which is why you need to use their profiles (you will notice a slight change in colours/tonality when converting to the printer profile)
- but because you have a properly calibrated monitor you can make adjustments and be certain that what you see on your screen is how your print will come out.

Does this make sense? I'm not very good at explaining it.

[pippin88]

Ah ok, will have a play soon.

Looks like they only accept jpg Might shoot them an email.

[owen]

I was turned off by that too, but if you do all your work on NEF/TIF and at the end save it as the highest quality jpeg you should be right. (Keep a TIF copy too).

[pippin88]

Just shot Frameco an email about shipping prices and payment options, but before I order: anywhere in Syd that sells this sort of gear?