This page covers the differences between the different kinds of prints I sell. If you want to see some information on the mechanics (how to order, how they're shipped) check out the prints page.
First
off, I'm often going to lump "handmade prints" together. If you don't
know what a cyanotype or platinum print looks like, I'd suggest at least a skim
of the alternative process prints page.
Lab prints are made from digital files sent to my lab. They are printed on Kodak Professional Supra Endura paper via a chemical process (Update: In April 08 the lab switched to the new Supra Endura VC. It's supposed to be a bit better with certain reds and yellows). They have a 'lustre' finish is which basically a semigloss with a bit of texture to it. It's a color paper even if you get a black and white print. It's your basic photograph, it's just made with more care and better materials than you would get at a local place.
Handmade prints are made by me at home via a traditional wet process - they are made by various historic printing methods. They are each unique. Platinum/palladium prints are generally considered the highest quality photographs you can get - pretty much across the board they have tons of advantages over silver, even fiber prints. Platinum is unfortunately now 85 times more expensive than silver (palladium only 25 times, whoo hoo!) and not that many people make them anymore. Cyanotypes are very dear to me - on a really contrasty image they're spectacular. They are also highly archival.
Ordering time - Lab prints take a couple of business days to get back from the lab. Handmade prints might take a week or two - there are several long drying stages. If you don't want to wait, you can see what I have in stock on eBay.
Finish - The handmade prints are matte. The lab prints have a 'lustre' finish which is quite nice.
Longetivity - See Wilhelm Imaging Research for more on this, but as good as they are these days, color photographs are simply not as archival as traditional prints. Platinum and cyanotype prints are more archival than even traditional black and white silver prints.
Print to print variation - Lab prints are the same every time. The lab does an awesome job of keeping their machines calibrated. Handmade prints vary quite a bit in their borders. There's always some variation in the image are as well. Each one is unique.
Borders - For an 8x10 image, the lab print will be on 8x10 paper, and the handmade print on 11x14 paper. The lab prints are printed flush to the edge except by special arrangement. The handmade prints usually have brush marks and such in the area between the image and the edge of the paper - you can just frame it and leave it, you can mat over the border, there's a lot of flexibility there. Usually people want to show off that it's handmade so they leave it.
Heft - I mean the weight of the paper, here. Lab prints I don't have a weight for, but they're heavy for "regular photographs" but not super thick. The handmade prints are on COT320 which is extremely thick and hefty - not surprisingly it's 320 gsm.