Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

Following is a list of digital lab print prices for the lab I normally use for prints in Lad Prao. They have a cheap paper which is even lower cost than the print prices listed below, but the following prices are based upon Fuji Professional or Kodak Royal paper. Print sizes are listed in inches:

4x6 = 2.5 Baht
5x7 = 4 Baht
6x8 = 6 Baht
6x9 = 8 Baht
8x10 = 10 Baht
8x12 = 13 Baht
10x12 = 15 Baht
10x15 = 18 Baht
11x14 = 25 Baht
12x18 = 30 Baht
13x20 = 50 Baht (new size)
16x20 = 60 Baht
20x24 = 80 Baht
20x30 = 90 Baht
24x30 = 150 Baht
30x40 = 300 Baht
40x60 = 1,200 Baht

Since print cost is so low, I normally print the picture I want on a paper size that is one size up from the actual print size I am printing. This way I get a natural white border around the image which makes the prints easier to handle.

They offer both glossy and matt finish paper for the above cost. They also offer considerably larger sizes on their lower quality paper in case someone really needs large poster sized outputs for commercial usage and wants a chemical print instead of commercial inkjet.

When I make prints, I tell them not to color or exposure adjust anything, otherwise you run the risk of them making the pictures too bright or over exposed.  The key though is to increase the midtones on your final pictures at the end of your workflow by about 10% before you bring them to the lab. Otherwise, often the print output is too dark if they print according to your file and you have not compensated for their printers at all. 10% more midtones usually compensates for their machines being darker than your screen and sometimes you have to experiment a bit to get it right. Impossible to calibrate perfectly, but I am always pleased with the results and they are normally 85-100% of what I expected.

If you want to print B&W, I have had the best results from their big machine, which is on paper sizes of 16x20 or above. If the B&W picture you plan to print is smaller you can always layout 3 or 4 pictures for example onto a 16x20 300DPI white background in Photoshop. This way you can economize your print costs on smaller sized B&W prints.

Information about the lab I use is listed here:

http://www.photographythailand.com/Forum/index.php?topic=803.0

[Don]

Iv'e just seen Marc's lab price list, I know it's 18months old but Iv'e a feeling we are being ripped off here in Chiangmai, the lowest price I can find is 40baht for 8" x 12", and only  mat paper available, which compares to 13 baht  in Marc's list, mat or gloss, or have prices actually risen by that much ? or is there such a lab in Chiangmai ?

[Paul Whitehead]

I dont think prices have risen at all - an 8 x 12 at my local lab in Thonburi is 12 Baht. A 20 x 30 is 80 baht.

[bkkdave]

Thanks to Marc's information I use Chakraval Photo Digital all the time now. I think they had a slight price increase last year but nothing at all significant.
I am still trying to get the prints to look like they do on my computer (mac) screen and have dropped the brightness level on the screen four stops but sometimes the prints are still too dark. I always, as Marc suggested; ask them not to change the file or do any corrections to my files.

I am trying to learn about profiles that will match the digital out put with the printer. I hope to figure it out one day. For my needs though I think Chakraval Photo Digital is a great value. I have also seen people who own photo shops that I used to use in Chakraval Photo Digital  too; which leads me to believe they outsource their work to them and mark it up from there.

[Marc Schultz]

Just a quick update on this. I have gone back to using Master Lab again at the opposite end of the digital print lab district there on Phaholyothin Road because, basically, Chakraval stopped offering glossy paper in the larger print sizes. Normally these days I print everything at around 20" x 30" and I like to use the Fuji Glossy paper.

Prices may vary a bit based upon brand of paper. Most of the labs are either offering Fuji (at a slightly higher price) or something they call "Super", which I think is some sort of Chinese import and it is a bit cheaper.

Either way, prices don't really change much over time. They may go up and down 10 Baht here or there based on promotions, the price of paper in the market, and demand, but pretty much they stay around the prices I have given.

I hope that helps.

[Marc Schultz]

Thanks to Marc's information I use Chakraval Photo Digital all the time now. I think they had a slight price increase last year but nothing at all significant.
I am still trying to get the prints to look like they do on my computer (mac) screen and have dropped the brightness level on the screen four stops but sometimes the prints are still too dark. I always, as Marc suggested; ask them not to change the file or do any corrections to my files.

I am trying to learn about profiles that will match the digital out put with the printer. I hope to figure it out one day. For my needs though I think Chakraval Photo Digital is a great value. I have also seen people who own photo shops that I used to use in Chakraval Photo Digital  too; which leads me to believe they outsource their work to them and mark it up from there.

I just wanted to add that I think it is best to stick with the sRGB color space because that is what they all print with. What I normally do is process my images on my screen first for colors and levels that match to my screen, then, at the end of the workflow, knowing that prints often come back from the lab much darker than they are on my screen, I pump up the midtones in levels by about 7-10 points and normally that is enough to get a fairly accurate print in terms of brightness at least. Given the prices they print at (which are some of the lowest in the world) one can't really complain if they get it right by about 80%. Afterall, they are not catering to the professional market, but the high volume consumer market.

If you want something more spot on you could go to IQ Lab and pay 10 times the price for the same thing, but at least they would give you a test print and adjust colors, brightness, and contrast first if you wanted it. To me, it is not worth the extra money though.

David - I realize what I wrote here goes beyond your comments above, but I am trying to give a slightly wider overview for others here who might be interested as well.

[bkkdave]

"I think it is best to stick with the sRGB color space because that is what they all print with. What I normally do is process my images on my screen first for colors and levels that match to my screen, then, at the end of the workflow, knowing that prints often come back from the lab much darker than they are on my screen, I pump up the midtones in levels by about 7-10 points and normally that is enough to get a fairly accurate print in terms of brightness at least."

Marc,
 Thanks again for this information. I have been learning how to create actions and experimenting with different Noise Reduction and Sharpening techniques for portraits.
The missing 'key' to part of the equation was what 'color profile' to use and how to increase the mid-tones at the end of the work flow.

[Loso]

Marc,

What are the directions to Master Lab and Chakraval?  Close to any particular BTS or MRT station?

Thanks.

[Marc Schultz]

Yes, take the MRT to Phaholyothin station. Go out through Exit #4 of the station. When you come out of the station and onto the street, turn right and Chakraval will be the first lab you see. Walk about 3 block lengths straight past Chakraval and Master Lab will be the last lab at the end of stretch of labs. Hope that helps...

[David Salmanowitz]

Is everyone taking their images to be printed due to the cost of purchasing a high quality printer? Also, I understand using sRGB if that is the only color space they know how to deal with (but I only use it for web images), but when working on images or printing them I use ProPhoto as it has such a wider gamut.

[Paul Whitehead]

"Is everyone taking their images to be printed due to the cost of purchasing a high quality printer?"

That's my reason David - I wanted an Epson Photo printer but it was silly money in Thailand.

[David Salmanowitz]

Paul--I guess I will get a shock when I price one. Just have been traveling too much with work, ... to look at getting a new one. I bring over camera gear for me and others here from the USA when I am back there, have to see about a printer though it weighs a bit more than a camera body. :-) I always loved the irony of how Nikon cameras that are made in Thailand are cheaper in the USA. Was pricing a lens the other day and I think it was $600 more than in USA, then they might want 3% to use a credit card--and if it was most USA credit cards it would be another 3%. Ouch.

[Marc Schultz]

Is everyone taking their images to be printed due to the cost of purchasing a high quality printer?

I think it is not just the cost of the printer, but the paper and inks. Hard to print yourself and compete against those prices in Lad Prao. And often it takes a while to get a printer calibrated and by then you have burned through a lot of paper and ink needlessly.

[bkkdave]

David- When I looked at printers in the US they were not dual voltage, has that changed? It's been a few years. Not to change the subject but hard drives are also less expensive in the US. Last fall when I was in the US I bought a Canon 85 f/1.2 from BH Photo and I think they are some $300 more here.

[David Salmanowitz]

Dave--they are dual voltage, 110-240. I got hard drive sticker shock the other day here in BKK. Had bought another traveling HD in USA back in February, a  500 GB and it was about US $140 US (4900 baht). Saw it the other day and it was 19,600 baht or thereabouts. I might be off a tad but I do remember it was over 4 times as much.