Cheerz Photo Book Test: Nice rendition of the French Lab

gq9afDecember 26, 2022

0 1 2 minutes read

Very sharp contrasts

For our two books, we therefore decided to finish on matte paper. The first is made using silver printing, the second contains printed photos. In both cases, the photos are inserted well and there are no major problems. Without stains, they are very clear, with bright colors and a dip at the meeting point.

Silver print

In the case of printed photos, printer screen marks are still detected by scanning them. It is particularly visible on large colored surfaces, but it is difficult to see with the naked eye. The silver print is very remarkable, with a high level of sharpness, which is not always the case with silver and in the case of strong contrasts.

Excellent colorimetry

digital printing

Silver print

In addition, both books offer excellent colorimetry. The average Delta E values recorded by our probe are among the best in our comparison. Thus, we record a Delta E of 5.5 on the silver prints. Green shades, as well as blue, are particularly well represented. The digital print fares even better, with an average Delta E of 4.4, very close to the expected value of 3. Several shades are below the 3 mark, while others are close to it. Very good performance.

digital printing

Silver print

Digital or silver printing, what to choose?

If the quality of the image depends on the laboratory, the technology or the chosen paper, we can still define certain main features that distinguish digital printing from silver print. The first is made with a printer, while the second is obtained by laser exposure of photo paper and chemical development.

Digital printing generally allows for slightly more faithful colors, greater precision or a sense of sharpness, and offers a wider variety of papers. In general, it is also cheaper. On the other hand, color transitions can be less precise, the screen can be visible, and sometimes there are defects related to printing, such as the presence of scratches.

Silver print is more luxurious most of the time. The gradations are better managed, the display seems more natural, and the visible absence of screens or defects associated with digital printing are its great advantages. On the other hand, the silver print often loses its sharpness, while the weaker overall appearance will be less flattering to the eye of the neophyte. In addition, silver printing is often more expensive.