The quest for good-looking, long-lasting prints

Our last readers' survey showed 94% of Photo Review's readers print their photographs, with 51% of them printing at home. Of these, 62% plan to produce large prints this year and most use specialised printing media. Of those who resort to outsourcing, the majority use professional labs, the next most popular option is a regular photolab and only 15% use an online service.

While serious enthusiasts usually know how to find reliable information on printing equipment and techniques, for a hobbyist, choosing the best combinations of printer and media can be tricky. Setting up a 'digital darkroom' at home can be costly and will require space and time to devote to image editing and printing. Outsourced printing can be a hit or miss affair.

So we felt it was time to look at printing technologies, the factors that affect print