What is cheaper for photo prints: laser printers or photo labs?

neysavibau

How does photo printing on 8 colour laser printers (e.g. HP 26100) at 400 dpi (e.g. Printing-1) compare to the gelatin-silver process of photographic paper used by photo-labs (e.g. Bonusprint, FotoInsight, Photobox)? Which once give better colours? Which process is more durable? How do they compare cost-wise?

mttylad

Cannot make a comparison without knowing the quantity.

A photo lab will be far better unless your doing loads of pics, at which point you can compromise over quality for cost on quantity.

oneacourt

Laser printing is catching up. Some photo printing services like e.g. Printing-1 offer a range of options for photo print (like glossy or mat finish or silk coating).

santer_2

http://www.inspiring-photography.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37347

Have you already got the printer?

phototest

Producing and exposing photographic paper is a process which has over the past 100 years continuously been refined and improved. While colour laser printing is catching up, I feel that real photographic paper (e.g. FotoInsight) still outperforms on colours, sharpness and durability. As most photo labs have written off the cost of their processing machines nowadays, they can offer photographic paper prints at a low cost despite the superior quality.

aerostar

You do not get the contrast or quality on a colour laser printer as against a proper photolab print. Even a good quality inkjet print on real glossy paper is superior to colour laser.