Online photo printing labs

[Nancy S]

I'm looking for suggestions for a good online photo printing lab - just to print larger sized prints for my own use now, but maybe for a business in the future. Are there any labs you have used and could recommend?
Thanks,
Nancy S

[RTaylor]

www.colorenlargements.com

I know a number of people who use them and like them.
I won a POTM and POTQ and part of my prize was prints from them.
I have yet to decide which I want to print at 16x23 or larger

[Buddy4344]

For my canvas images, I use www.updone.com You can't beat their prices, but quality is so so. They actually do the printing in China, which is why cost is low. (turn around is quick).

I have used Adorama's photo enlargements, they are cheap and you get what you pay for.

Many pro's recommend mPix.com - I used them once and quality was excellent.

For my books, I HIGHLY recommend www.Blurb.com - get the largest size and use the full bleed pages, If your images are of good resolution, you'll love the results. I did a 100 page book on Botswana and a 40 page book on Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico.

Hope that helps a little.

[RTaylor]

Good info Buddy.

I used AdoramaPix for my personal Christmas cards back in 2004 and I wasn't impressed. All they did is print a 4x6 print and taped it onto a 5x7 card.
Even the border cut of the print was not even all around.
The text inside the card eventually stuck and you saw a mirror image of the text on the top inside of the card.

I only had them print 3 actual 11x14 prints in the past. It wasn't bad, but I could have done the same at a local camera shop for not much difference in price.

I haven't tried outside vendors yet for canvas prints.

Nancy, you might want to find an online printer closer to where you live unless you have free shipping of course.

[Sambo]

Hmmm...I am very intersted in this thread as well as Nancy. I am often frustrated by the inability to print large (11"X14"and higher) and have been looking into online processors. I can get big prints at a local Wolf Camera (aka Ritz), but I always thought that the price is high compared to the quality. I have bought lenses from Adorama and I think thier camera gear and service is excellent. I'm rather dissapointed that the quality of the prints is substandard. Any other recommendations?

Sam

[RTaylor]

Hi Sam,
I heard that Smug Mug partnered for their printing services with Bay Photo
http://www.bayphoto.com/


They look very similar in options to MPix

http://www.mpix.com/

If I think of anymore I've heard people use, I'll pass it along.

[Buddy4344]

One other option: I have used Snapfish to print their Premium Calendar. The quality was VERY GOOD. I have not had them do enlargements, but Snapfish is owned by HP, so you would expect them to do good printing.

........and, yes, Sam, I also use Adorama as a main mailorder location for memory, lenses, etc. They are great on that stuff, but not as impressive on the printing.

One other comment to anyone printing, I have found it critical that you have your histogram right before sending for prints, or you will be disappointed .... and you will have no one to blame. I've messed up and gotten dark images back, only to see I was too eager to upload without really setting my white and black points correctly.

Buddy

[Nancy S]

Thanks for all your replies! I'm going to try a 20 x 30 at colorenlargement.com, and I'll update here after I've received it.

I have tried Shutterfly.com for a larger print. It was ok but not great, but then again I think the photo I used was not the best it could have been. The price was close to colorenlargement.com.

If anyone tries one of the other sites suggested, it would be great if you'd post your opinion.

Another question I forgot to add the first time - what is your experience with canvas prints? Are they wiorth the extra money? The ones I've seen look a little faded in color to me.

Thanks again for your help,
Nancy

[skeuos]

Hmm - I'll put a vote for Adorama's printing, but perhaps I'm just not as discerning as others?

Snapfish isn't bad - they use fuji archival for basic prints - but I did think Adorama was better when I compared the two.

For those of you guys who had less than stellar results from Adorama - what was it that didn't work for you? I'd like to know so I can check for later.

steve

[Buddy4344]

Steve, I must confess adorama turned it around fast, but my colors seemed flat on one and on another, the image didn't seem sharp. The latter was a pretty large print, but I viewed at 200% of actual on monitor before uploading and it seemed sharp on my screen.

Nancy, As noted, updone was pretty reasonably priced. I buy unstretched and stretch to frame myself. There are several good tutorials on youtube.

Considering canvas does not need matting or glass - and often a simpler frame. I think it is as cheap as prints on 16x20 or larger. I do punch the saturation and contrast a little to overcome any dullness in the print, but not much. You will be surprised how impressive your images look when printed on canvas at 30 inches or larger! I am a big fan and think this may be my selling niche as I go forward.

[RTaylor]

RE:
Considering canvas does not need matting or glass - and often a simpler frame. I think it is as cheap as prints on 16x20 or larger.


Well sort of
Canvas is more expensive and I think might take more ink when printed.
The cost of the stretcher bars is probably a bit more expensive than what I pay for my matting and backing board.

Anything I myself have printed on canvas, or had a pro lab print on canvas, I used a clear protection that I brushed on the print with at least 3 coats letting each one dry sufficiently.
I forget the name of the stuff, will have to go find it in my basement

Also, your rabet (sp?) width for the frame needs to be deeper to be able to attach the stretched canvas print correctly.

You could also just do a gallery wrap and not use a frame at all. It just depends on what effect you or the buyer is looking to create.

[RTaylor]

Steve, the only problem I had was the cards back in 2004. They may do them different now, dont really know since I now print my own for resale on my 4880.

The actual 11x14 prints were fine, the colors came out good so they obviously do some sort of color correction. Two of the 4 prints I hung in my house, the other 2 I gave out to each of the 2 owners of the farms I took a nice picture.

I too use Adorama for my camera supplies since I owned my first DSLR.

[Ellen]

I've never been disappointed with Mpix. Excellent work!