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What are your hours?
Alan's is open 8:00am to 4pm Pacific Time Monday-Friday.
Closed Saturday and Sunday.
What is the difference between RC and FIBER BASED printing paper?
RC means Resin Coated or for an
easier term it is plastic paper with emulsion on it for printing.
This makes it extremely fast print processing times. RC paper can be
printed, developed, fixed and washed all in 4 minutes. The draw
back is, it is not permanent and will last only 10 to 15 years.
Fiber-based paper is emulsion placed on real
paper. The developer, fixer and wash water actually permeates the
paper. This will make for a lasting bond between paper and
emulsion. The prints will last a life-time and more.
Fiber-based papers have more silver halide in the emulsion, therefore,
giving more depth and richness in the blacks and whites.
Both RC and Fiber-based papers are very good
and will give you excellent prints. It is a decision based on
permanence and tonal depth.
What is Full Frame or Full Neg?
Full Frame or Full Neg are terms we when the the entire
negative area is to be printed and not cropped. For instance, from a
35mm negative
wallet size (2½x3½), 3 ½ x 5 and 5x7 prints will print nearly the
entire negative area. However, 8x10, 11x14 and 16x20 will crop or
leave out about ¼" of the actual negative area (either top, bottom
or both). The proportions of a 35mm negative are longer and thinner in
width than 8x10, 11x14 and 16x20 proportions.
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Why do I have to pay extra for no proofs?
There several answers to this question.
Many times customers order the incorrect frame number. With a proof or
print of the frame needed, we are able to match the correct negative to
the proof or print placed with the order.
The other part is,
customers are paying for our time to produce your print. It takes
more time to check if we made the correct print from the correct
negative without a proof sheet or proof print.. Why do I have to pay extra for prints from TCN or XP2 negatives?
Prints from B&W
negatives are printed on multi-graded papers that use multi-grade
filters to control the contrast (how black the blacks are and
how white the whites are) on the final print. These filters are reddish
in color. Black and white films have a bluish base, so the red filters will
not conflict with the film. Because the filters are of a different
color than the film they will have an
effect on the contrast of the prints.
TCN and XP2 films have a reddish color to their film base. The red
filters are in direct conflict with the film because they are both
red. Due to this conflict the red filters have little effect on a red film base. Consequently, when we
make prints from TCN and XP2 films the contrast level becomes very flat in
contrast (more grays than blacks and whites). It is extremely
difficult to produce any higher contrast levels from TCN and XP2 films.
These C-41 processed films were designed for printing on color papers.
Our recommendation is to use
Black & White films whenever possible. If you do want to use the
C-41 processed films, then the best film to use is XP2. Its' film
base is not a red as the TCN film. In addition, XP2 is a variable
speed film. That is, you may shoot XP2 at ASA 50 up to ASA 1600
all on the same roll of film. Sounds strange, but it's true.
Check it out. It will also give you better Black and White prints
on regular Black and White paper.
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