jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Well, unless one of you can help me, I am giving up on using my local Costco or Walmart as a cost saving alternative to my local custom LightJet printer for b&w prints. Costco, who uses a Frontier and prints on Fuji Crystal Archive lustre paper, gets very nice neutral midtones but, after several attempts with my step charts, is unable to achieve anything darker than a reflection density (RD) of 1.75 to 1.80. This results in muddy shadow areas with little detail.

Walmart, who also uses a Frontier but a different lustre paper, achieves very deep blacks with an RD of up to 2.3, but the midtones are very warm, meaning to me that they don’t keep the printer in good calibration.

Fortunately, some UHHer put me on to WHCC, who provides great neutral tones AND deep blacks. And their prices are a little higher than Costco, but still very reasonable compared to the $15+ each my custom printer charges for 11x14s.

There are a lot of very knowledgeable UHHers out there. If any of you have any suggestions I can make to Costco regarding how to get deeper blacks, please let me know. I’ve discussed this problem with the manager but he doesn’t seem to be very concerned about it.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Costcos use several different processors all around the country. Mine uses the Noritsu 3411 for Lustre and a Noritsu 3111 for Gloss and B&W, prints come out great. Sounds like you have a processor you cannot match at yours. Walmart out here uses nothing but HP Inkjets, no more processing at all. We have one Walgreens that still has a wetlab, but they have a sign up that they will be closing that lab this summer sometime. That will leave us with Costco as the ONLY lab in town to process 35mm film, but they are keeping the lab as they say their business is increasing rapidly for film. Sounds like it is making a comeback, I for one encourage it.
Another good lab is the one I use for my 120 roll film, its The Darkroom in San Clemente, CA.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Thanks MT. Both my local Costco and Walmart offer inkjet in addition to standard prints. Might give them a try just for grins, but I prefer real photo paper. Hopefully, WHCC won't give up on wet processing for a while. My custom printer has hinted he may be retiring the LightJet before long...bummer.

I'm still developing 120 and 4x5 b&w film, but since I'm scanning rather than enlarging, I'd prefer to be shooting and scanning color. A friend is doing C41 at home, says it's not that difficult to do. Might give it a try.

Croce Loc: Earth

If you go to the DryCreek photo site there is a tab for COSTCO. It lists each location and tells you what equipment and paper they use for each type of print and will then give you a profile for it. You will not get optimum results from COSTCO without doing so. Also mark your order ticket to not automatically adjust your image.

bfphoto Loc: Houston, TX

Second this!

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Thanks Croce. I have been giving them neutral step chart RGB files that include 100% black. Shouldn't that print at max black regardless of profiles? It does for Walmart,
WHCC, and my custom printer. Why not for Costco?

I honestly do not understand why profiles will have any effect on B&W images. I fully understand that profiles may affect how similar the final print is to the monitor, but I consider that irrelevant because I am interested only in how the final print agrees with the printed step chart for any given printer.

I do always switch off the auto color correct functions.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

My WALLY WORLD told me they adjust their printer once a week. They only give you muddy prints, Ha. My old printer co. used to calibrate their printer twice a day. We used them for wedding photos up to 8x10s.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I didn't ask my Walmart, but weekly calibration is what my Costco is doing also. I don't know if frequency is based on the number of prints, time only, or something else altogether.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I just got home from picking up prints at Costco and I asked the manager about calibration. She told me they calibrate each and every processor (4) every morning before opening to the public. This may not be true with all Costcos, but its so nice to know mine cares about their quality of service. I have not had a problem with their service or prints in the 6 years I have been using them exclusively. Add to that their prices that no one else anywhere can match and its a no brainer to me. Granted their services may be limited in some areas, but 90% of what I do is through them.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

MT; you're fortunate to have an inexpensive printer who appears to give a s**t. I'm fortunate to learn about WHCC from a UHHer.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Sorry, ....What is WHCC ?? - Thanks !

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

White House Custom Color, a pro printing lab

http://www.whcc.com/

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

And not quite as inexpensive as Costco, but, at least in my case, much better quality.

Thanks.

pjreed Loc: Tonopah, Arizona

Have you tried your local high school. If it has a graphic arts class you may be able to have them do your work. The seniors at our high school do a good job. We pay for the cost of the materials and they get experience on running a business, from planning through finished product. Just an idea :D

Croce Loc: Earth

Sounds like a pretty progressive HS PJ. What district are your Tonopah schools in?