Brittany
I sell my 35mm, holga, 120N black and white kodak developed myself prints digitally from scanned copies. No one ever asks me to buy the original.

Jane A
I'm not an expert on this. But I believe the answer lies in the paper he chooses! Get top grade pro paper. Perhaps, even silk paper. Check out professional artist papers. You won't be disappointed. I believe he will have just as much quality with the correct paper. NOTE: one of the best ways I have found to determine the quality of things before buying, is to research the item...then go to someplace like Amazon and read the reviews. Most people buying this type of paper will be from the art world. Sometimes it depends on what he's printing--portrait vs landscape--on which paper works the best. These people giving the reviews on this will already have some knowledge.

B.E.I.
The thing to look at is the final result. Can a $50 scanner and a $99 ink-jet "photo" printer give the same results as printing from a negative? Probably not. Print one his way and the same shot the traditional way from the negative (both the same size) and compare them. A lot of the [digital] images I get printed, I have them done in a chemical bath (the "traditional way"). I use a photo lab that has a digital (instead of a negative) enlarger, After that the process is the same.

Mere Mortal
Most advanced collectors and investors will be interested in handmade limited edition traditionally made photographs. If he does decide to digitally produce his images it is essential that he gets his negatives drum scanned to make the image files and he uses archival ink on the finest grade art paper available when he prints those files. Generally cotton such as Hahnemühle or Museo for example. Another alternative is to have the digital scanned files printed on traditional B&W paper. The best of both worlds. The advantages of digital control and the beauty of a real silver photograph.

Steve
Will he be selling his prints for $100 or $10,000. Therein lies your answer.

laburnic
I have been to many exhibits, as well as art shows and such. there are tons of people that just print up pictures and think they are pros and the work is good. The scary part is there are people that buy the junk. People blow up the pictures some digital and even some film too and print them at 8x10 or 11x14 and sell them and they look terrible. Lots of grain (noise) in the picture and its just yuck. If he wants to do art, he is best doing them I think in the dark room for now, until he can maybe get a gallery showing or such. Maybe then do some ink jet prints, like a special series. But don't make them big and let the grain get bad and stuff, unless that is the idea and mood behind the image to begin with. I asked a friend of mine that is a Pro, and he said that most people that are into the art want to know more about the image. What was it shot with, ie camera/format and film type. They want to know the medium its done on, is it a true photo paper or an inkjet paper. He said he knows some that only buy stuff that is actually exposed on real photopaper (fiber based only as its the only one that is fully archival). He does some B&W fiber prints, and they are great. I have one and its awesome. But its a lot of work too, as I took many photo classes in the past and I know how much of a pain fiber paper is to work with. I still shoot a little film, but mostly digital, as its easier for me, esp being a single daddy now, and most of what I shoot is landscapes and my son and family stuff. Have you thought about selling it online. I have seen a few good online sites, and even ordered from a few. Been really happy with what I have gotten so far. And that way it gets out to the masses better. If you do sell it online I would like to know where, so I can see it. Thanks and have a good day.

thimbil
I've been and amo and pro photog since I was 14. I won't give my opion on your question directly...the subject is just too subjective. What I will do is suggest that husband make some prints both ways and price the one's he thinks are better a little (or a lot, as he wills) higher and watch what happens. Or, you might mix different type prints at different prices. I suspect he may just want to avoid the extra work in the darkroom, but wouldn't the experiment be fun? If you do sell both I hope you will let us know how it went, won't you?

unbelied
It really varies. Each has its own market. First off, are we talking Medium Format or just 35mm? That has a lot to do with it to begin with! Also it will affect the quality and size that can be reproduced in general, either in a wetlab or digital. And the smart buyer knows the difference and most will buy Medium Format, like 4x5 or such long before they buy a 35mm print. Print on Photo Paper, really means sending it to a Lab and having them do it, not inkjet print. There is a big difference, and a big difference in price as well. You can do an Inkjet print on photo printer paper, but its not really photo paper. If you send a digital image to a good lab, like Bay Photo, they actually print it on either Kodak or Fuji photo paper, just like the old days. This holds true for Color and B&W. There are the purists that only want stuff printed (developed) on actual photo paper and not using an inkjet printer. Then there are the people that are buying the image for the image, and most dont care, but they do know that the inkjet prints are cheaper than developed prints. I will warn you, in todays market, its harder than it was say 2 yrs ago or even 5 yrs ago. I know many professionals that are specialized and do well, but in the last year have taken a 30-50% hit because of the economy. Over 50% of them do all B&W prints by hand themselves in the darkroom. And because of the sad state of our economy, the buyers are not buying. Even those that do very specialized processes and are published, like Kerik Koukolis, are seeing a slow down on sales and or orders. I have noticed a decrease on my Automotive art sales as well as the orders for custom work. Disposable income is what people spend on art, and when its a slow economy they dont by as much. Also a lot of people see an image and think, " I can do that" and wont buy. That is partly to the age of digital, but also to the ignorance of what it really takes to take a good photograph. And the work done in the set up, lighting, and the eye behind the image to see it before hand. A lot of my clients have $ and are in Calif, Florida, Las Vegas, NJ, AZ, etc, with the classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, exotics and such. But even they are not spending the $ like they use to. Even the dealerships I work with are seeing a slow down as well, and thus are not buying as much from me. This includes the B&W art (including Infra Red) I do, and hang in local galleries. Luckily the Alaska pictures help keep some $ flowing as they are cheaper for the consumer to buy, and appeal to more people and are also good gift items. He will get more $ for them if he goes into the darkroom and hand prints each one. Does all the dodging and burning and such. And then Mats each one and such. But unless he can get a place to display them, how does he plan to sell them? The market is much flatter and a lot of the artsy areas have a lot of artists that are starving, or at least a lot thinner... Those that are very well established names are still fine and hanging in the fancy galleries, but otherwise this market is not friendly right now. I hope this helps. Dont want to be a downer, but just want you to be aware of the market. Good Luck and happy shooting...