Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Ernst Dinkla <edinkla@...> wrote:

> Mark,
> 
> The dry minilabs will set the "photo lab quality" standard soon enough 
> and it looks like they all will be inkjet dye based. HP's version with 
> the Vivera pigment does not get a wide spread.
> 
> While it would be nice to see Vivera dye tested on fade properties I 
> think a test of the latest dry minilab output is as important.

As you probably are aware, I tested the inkjet minlab output in 2008 for lightfastness.  I don't think it has changed much since then. The Fuji and Noritsu machines compromised fine dot structure for speed and went with a "Claria type" CMYK-only dye set. No light cyan or magenta, so courser microstructure.  Meanwhile, the wireless all-in-ones have arrived and for the most part match or exceed the quality set by the inkjet drylabs. The major OEMs have also provided apps for iphones and ipads to print to these units, so the wireless "all-in-ones' may very well end up being the last man standing in the "traditional photofinishing" sector.  This sector is under tremendous pressure as most consumers seem to be perfectly happy sharing their photos in cyberspace.  Printing is optional.  My best guess is that whatever finally remains of the traditional 4x6 photofinishing experience will be online or on the home "all-in-one".  That said, there are some systems I'd like to add to the mix in light fade testing including Kodak's pigment photo inkjet printers and HP's pigmented offerings in the Kiosk "minilab" retail sector.