You do not need to scan slides to get prints done, that sounds like a daft idea to me :thumbsdown:
In my day with slides I used to get
Cibachrome prints - and they are FAB
Here's a Google comment on them...
Cibachrome - The Colour Print
Cibachrome prints are created from colour transparencies (slides) by a system that is completely different from regular colour prints (like your one-hour snap-shots). The sharpness, colour intensity, clean whites, and critical accuracy to the original slide are stunning. Cibachrome prints are made on a dimensionally stable tri-acetate polyester base (i.e. plastic, not paper). In plain English, that means that your print will not fade, discolour or deteriorate for a very long time.
Wild Daisies at Lynde Shores, Whitby, Ontario The Cibachrome process was developed by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation of Switzerland in the 1960s. The process was subsequently purchased by Ilford, now part of International Paper, and renamed Ilfochrome - but almost everyone still refers to it as Cibachrome or even Ciba.
The Cibachrome process is completely different from the other methods of printing from slides, such as the "Type R" processes offered by Kodak, Fuji and others. In these other processes, the chemistry contains colour dyes that interact with the developer to place the colours onto the paper.
Simcoe County Fall Splender The reverse is true of Cibachrome in that the dyes are imbedded in the paper, and are selectively bleached out during processing. The dyes used are called Azo-dyes, which are known for their exceptional stability and colour purity. Cibachrome prints are known among artists, curators and art collectors for both their archival qualities (best of any common colour printing material) and their rich, saturated colours. When you compare them to other prints, they are also noticeably sharper - this is a direct result of the dyes being in the paper, not in the chemistry. Because the dyes are in the papers emulsion, they act as an anti-light scattering layer. This keeps the projected image from spreading out as it penetrates and exposes the emulsion.
Cibachromes are also more environmentally friendly. Other processes release greater quantities of toxic dyes into the environment. With Cibachromes, since most of the dye stays in the paper, there are less dyes in the waste chemistry. Its nice to find something thats both better for the environment and more pleasing to the eye.
Finally, Cibachrome prints are archival. Museums and art collectors insist on Cibachrome prints because they dont fade in normal light. Unlike regular colour prints, which fade even when stored in a dark closet, Cibachromes will last a lifetime. That means that your investment will be around for a long time to come.
DD