Digital BW, The Print

I'm not sure what my opinion is worth, but I'd have to say that I  
agree with the quality control aspect.  There's nothing more  
aggravating than sending in a file, paying a modestly hefty price,  
only to get a print one day to five days later (that's the turnaround  
available to me in the area), and find that the sharpening is  
slightly off, or the deepest shadows have been clipped and so on due  
to "expected" tolerances.  I'd rather succeed or blow it on my own.

Also, financially speaking, the cheapest I can get a 23" x 34.5" BW  
print done (Piezography) in the area (Northern Bay Area, CA) is  
$110.  That's for a preflighted file.  Granted, I could possibly  
locate a printer who would do it for less outside of my area, but  
then would have to add the cost and waiting that comes with  
shipping.  So, Let's say I need to get 2 prints of each of 12 images,  
for two galleries, and go ahead and have my local printer do them for  
me, that comes to $2,640.  I have just purchased a used Epson 7600  
and after also ordering ink and paper I will still have spent  
$200-300 less than the cost of those prints.  And, in addition to  
being able to produce 24 prints on my own, according to my own  
standards, I will still have the printer, ink and paper, ie: the  
capability to produce more sans additional cost.  I also think this  
argument holds up for anyone who is going to be producing a large  
number of prints, even if the cost is considerably less than what's  
available to me.

So, combine the control/quality issue and the financial/production  
capability considerations and in my opinion, it seems home printing  
wins vs pro printers.

Regards,

Eric
www.ericashworth.net