Photographic Process

For the past few years, I have been using a professional digital photographic lab to create photographic prints. Digital files in the sRGB color space are transferred to the lab over the Internet. There, a Chromira printer reads the files to control red, green, and blue LEDs, exposing Fuji Crystal Archive paper. The exposed paper is then developed using old-fashioned photo chemistry.

The results have been outstanding, both from scanned slides as well as digitally captured images. The largest print I have created to date is about 26x40 inches. The clarity and sharpness are unbelievable when working with a good image to begin with.

Test Prints

I have used an older Epson Stylus Photo 2200 inkjet printer to create test prints up to its maximum print size of 13" by 19". The P2200 ordinarily does a fine job of accurately reproducing the image colors I see on my calibrated LCD monitor.

Many photographers would agree the Epson Stylus Photo technology creates fine art prints that are “suitable for framing”, and I have used my P2200 to this end. Many people are surprised to learn that a framed photograph hanging in my office was produced by an inkjet printer.

That having been said, I enjoy prints larger than the P2200 can produce and I find the results from the lab are more consistent.