New colour services

Press, 15 July 1987, Page 25

New colour services

The photography revolution is not only confined to the camera industry. Processing labs, too, are changing rapidly. Recent years saw the introduction of the onehour colour laboratory. Now, some of the laboratories are moving into other areas. One new innovation is the colour copiers that have now been introduced to at least two colour laboratories in Christchurch. The colour copier is, in effect, a copier machine mounted onto a mini colour laboratory. One of these machines, manufactured by Konica, has recently been installed at Hanafins Photograpics.

Mr Ross Sheppard, the general manager of Hannafins Photographies, says that when people from his firm saw a demonstration of the copier, one was ordered immediately. “We were so impressed by the results that we made the decision even though we did not know the market potential,” he says. The copier works on a

print to print, or a print to transparency basis. This means that it is ideal for producing overhead projector transparencies from colour prints. The quality of the colour copies are of a very high standard as one would expect from a photographic process. In fact, it is difficult to tell the copy from the original.

Mr Sheppard says that because it is a photographic process, it is necessary to have had some experience in colour printing before the best results are obtained from the copier. The copies are made on document-weight paper which is lighter than the usual photographic paper. “The copies are ideal for such things as a thesis and they can be photocopied onto the reverse through a normal copier,” he says.

Mr Sheppard says that the copier is proving to be another use for photography. It can reduce or enlarge up to 50 per cent from the original. Another new innovation

being introduced to some photo laboratories is the film-to-video service. This service is also being provided by Hannafins. Old Bmm movie film, or slides, can now easily be transferred to video tape.

This service is ideal for someone with old movies, especially if the projector broke down some years ago and the screen was lost under a pile of rubbish in the garage.

Hanafins have the facilities to add sound to the video and titles can be added. Hanafins staff will advise on the best way to prepare films or slides before making the transfer.

Mr Sheppard says that these new services are useful additions to the traditional services provided by Hanafins. Another new service which is about to be introduced is an E 6 process for slide films.

"We can provide all the photographic services that an amateur photographer will require, as well as many services for the professional,” he says.