New Digital Lab Need Suggestion

Hi all,

 

I am planning to open up a medim size commercial digital darkroom,

and was wondering what equipments have good price/quality ratio.

 

I was thinking to keep startup cost lower, I could use a few good

A4/letter size printers and for larger format using something like HP

Designjet, instaed of investing $100K+ in Durst Epsilon.

 

Any suggestion greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Well, what kind of market are you oriented to? Catering to the needs of professional photographers kinda demands different equipment than mass-printing 4x6s from 2-megapixel digicams...

Our location is very close to 2 universities, and 2 malls. So our main market would be mass production. I am considering Kodak ML500 (thermal printer) for this.

 

We are also working closely with people in promotion business, which mean we also would be doing advertisements, posters and other lager formats prints. I was thinking something like HP Designjet 5500.

 

I am not sure if there are many professional photograpers around our area, but I would like to be able to provide services for them too.

 

What would you suggest?

Thanks for your reply.

I am no expert in this, but I would suggest that you do a market survey in your area. Visit the potential clients and ask of their requirements - only they can answer those questions. You may find that they don't require your services at all, but you'd want to know that before investing, rather than later.

 

Regards,

Graeme

Yes Sir,

 

I have done a survey, a digital printing outlet is required in our area. Most require day-to-day digital printing, little of professional nature, but mostly are general printing that do not need specialised editing and/or high quality output. Although we will have people doing general Photoshop editing too.

 

Our local digital printers, one is using Durst Lamda, another is using Durst Epsilon. They have 2-3 days back orders for digital printing. But mostly for general purpose prints. I was thinking if investing in Durst for general purpose printing would mean a high startup capital, is there any better option?

 

Thanks again.

The HP DesignJet is not in the same market as the Durst and LightJet printers, which are pure photographic printers that perfrom dual rolls for advertising if you have a RIP engine on the front of them. The HP is more for temporary advertising displays and murals.

 

To be honest, given the low quality expectations of bulk color printing, I'd look at a Xerox or higher end laser to keep cost per copy prices down.

 

Otherwise, having just been sent samples from the new Epson 9000 series I'll be using THAT lab for high end work considering the larger format Epsons can now compete head on with the true photographic paper writers like the Durst, and the start-up cost is a fraction the investment. HP is still in Epson's wake in terms of photographic quality. Why not kill two birds with one rock???