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(meteorobs) How to find a good 1 hr lab

The following article is NOT mine.  It appeared in APML in response to a
question there.  Please note that every response there emphasized the
importance of establishing a relationship with the person doing your
processing and to ask for his services.  (There should be no extra
charge).  It has been the general experience that the younger operators
are more entusiastic and more likely to accomodate you.  Also suggested
was showing him prints where the operator was very successful and
leaving him a copy.

The APML text follows:

Re: [APML]: Color Prints (How do you get photos developed/printed
correctly)?
Frank J. Sperl (astro@magicnetdot net)
Wed, 07 Aug 1996 23:35:13 -0400

Here is a reply I sent to Brad Barton just the other day regarding
One-Hour 
Processing.  Hopefully it will answer many of your questions.  Maybe one
of these days 
I'll do something like a FAQ re: One-Hour Labs. If you have any specific
questions don't hesitate to ask.  

In regards to color balance that was mentioned in a reply to you; it
does 
matter.   In fact it matters to the point that the latest One-Hour
machines from Gretag Imaging will instruct the operator to repeat the
printer test untill the machine is within acceptable limits.  If the
previous posts to Brad are still around in cyberspace you might want to
take a look at them.

	Clear Skies and Cool Nights
		Frank

My opinions in no way represent the opinions of my employer, they
haven't in the past,
they don't now, and I doubt that they will in the future.

Senior Imaging Tech. State of Florida
Qualex - OSP (On Site Processing)
Div. of Eastman Kodak
Proud Sponsers of the Olympic Games


               
                        ONE HOUR PHOTO LAB HINTS AND TIPS

  Although I maintain machines primarily manufactured by Gretag Imaging,
the following
should apply to most labs. I am by no means an "expert" and offer my
input for its worth and consideration by anyone seeking the best Quality
prints. With that said, here goes.

        There are Questions that you can ask to determine if the
operator is
proffiecentsp in the operation of their lab, and if they are using
Quality materials.

1. Is your lab operating with any actions or controls in regards to your
chemistry?   ( Most labs are required to check chemistry of the machine
using control
strips and comparing the strips using spectral photometry to established
references,
this check is usually performed every day.)

2. Have you performed a printer test and is your print within acceptable
limits?

3. Have you performed a master color balance within the last 2 - 4
weeks?

4. Is your machine color balanced for the paper you are using?

5. Is your Densitometer calibrated?

6. Is your developer within the "use before date"?  ( Kodak C41 and RA-4
developers have a shelf life of 4 weeks to 6 weeks from the date it was
mixed.)

7. Are you using advanced technology print paper?  ( The latest and most
advanced color print paper from Kodak is Edge 5 paper, and has several
significant
improvments over the previous Edge 2 paper.  It was developed to
compliment the APS
technology and offers improved contrast and color definition as well as
longer life
under normal room light levels used for viewing.

8. Can you adjust the print density untill a satisfactory print is
produced?
( Most Astrophotos require several steps of density increase to produce
an acceptable
dark sky background to produce better defined stars, however, some faint
objects may be lost if they are "soft" in a normal or standard print.)

9. Has the printer lamp been changed recently?  In a high volume lab the
lamp
should be changed often enough to prevent spectrum roll-off. (i.e. when
the lamp ages
and produces less light in one portion of the spectrum, usually
rolls-off in red first)

There are somethings you can do to help the lab operator.

1. Always shoot a reference frame at the begining, middle and end of
your roll
of film.  A reference frame is a shot of a daylight picture or
illuminated flat or
flashlight, whatever is necessary to produce a defined edge for the
machine to reference from.  Most rolls of astrophotos look like exposed
film with no picture content, and are difficult to index properly.

2. Request that your negatives be returned uncut and unsleeved in the
plastic
container.  ( Very handy if all of a sudden you want a 8 x 10 of the
trifid neb. and the lab operator has cut off the reference frame.)


And last item, when you find that lab operator that "knows their stuff"
has the
answers, make friends with them. Don't be afraid to request a certain
operator to handle your film.

I hope this helps, there are quite a few lab operators that really know
what
they are doing, and unfortunately a few that don't.

End of APML message ----------

I'm still looking for the reference on how todescribe what you want on
your first order!

Regards,
John

--
John Ohrt,  Regina, SK, Canada
johrt@ibmdot net