This Bodes Bad Things For Film & Papers

[MattKing]

....we're still in the analog place.....

While this is certainly true, the reference to inkjet printers helps provide context and makes it clear that the factors that are behind the rise in price for darkroom paper aren't exclusive to the darkroom paper market.

 

[mshchem]

While this is certainly true, the reference to inkjet printers helps provide context and makes it clear that the factors that are behind the rise in price for darkroom paper aren't exclusive to the darkroom paper market.

I suspect that the costs of producing cut sheets of inkjet paper is expensive too. Not like a light sensitive photo paper. Still important to remember that converting the big rolls into perfect lovely sheets is a chore.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I suspect the profit margin on both inkjet paper and the inks themselves is rather obscene. It's basically just specially sized paper - no silver, no gelatin. I once saw the distribution cost of inks for high volume machines. They were marked up about a thousand percent by the time these the hit retail pricing. What they almost give away are the printing machines themselves. Once you've got that, you're hooked into refilling it over and over again. RA4 color printing is more economical.

Of course, even raw book paper has gone up quite a bit in the past several years.

 

[koraks]

Of course, even raw book paper has gone up quite a bit in the past several years.

This is a large part of the issue; paper has just gotten very expensive. A large part of the reason is that it's an energy-intensive product to manufacture. Energy ain't cheap no more.