Where do you have your images printed???

[pauly99]

I understand that it is quite nice and convenient to print
images on your home printer especially if you have the likes
of the Epson 2200 or similar highly regarded printers.

For the rest of us (I have a Lexmark Z43) who have so so printers at the moment and are looking at spending the next $500-$1000 on a lens rather than a printer, what recommendations can be made for professional quality lab prints?

I mean sending a disk (CD) off to a lab or going to the local store that makes the best prints. I only ask because the local Target can only print 4x6 digital prints (they do an excellent job with the 4x6's) and otherwise the machine they allow customers to make 5x7 or 8x10 digital prints leaves a lot to be desired. I am finding the same with Wolf Camera as well.

So, any recommendations out there? Prices? Turnaround time?
I ask this question for those in the U.S. but also open it up to everyone and anyone that might recommend being able to send images in some manner over the internet to companies that would then send the prints by mail.

[Swampy]

At your Wolf camera, are they using a Frontier system to print your large prints? The frontier system is about 8-10 feet wide/long with a PC hooked up to it. I've had some 8x10's done on one at Ritz (same as Wolf) and they came out real good.

[pauly99]

Swampy, I'll check the local one in the area but many Wolf/Ritz (I work in Chicago,IL but live 50 miles from the city) only print out 4x6 digital prints and offer an 8x6 print where customers can use the touch screen to make there own prints. I find that these prints are often bettered by my cheapy Lexmark printer.

My idea is to find a cost effective manner (and time effective) to produce prints for parents of their kids playing hockey, baseball, football, basketball and such at the jr. high and high school levels.

[Swampy]

yeah, I've seen the touch screen systems at Wolf/Ritz. Wasn't happy with them at all in my tests (they let me print about 2 dozen shots for free for testing). The Frontier system - they won't let me touch that, someone behind the counter has to do that one. :) It's a big machine. Never tried ordering over the web or anything like that from anyone.

It's nice being in a big busy city sometimes....

[pauly99]

Found out that Walmart (out by me anyway) actually uses a Frontier system and will allow the customer to make certain
changes (ie cropping and brightness) before the final print.
You insert a CD or your CF card and set it up to print... but rather than the cheapie customer touch machines that make the printout right out of the machine in front of you, this particular machine sends your images to the Frontier system behind the counter. Will give it a whirl and let you know the outcome.

[S_Leeper]

Not sure if it's the level you want, but ofoto.com seems to do a nice job. It was highly rated by the Wall Street Journal (not especially known for it's photo expertise) for price, service & general quality.

[okidoki]

Try Costco.
Cheap, fast and looks awsome.
I think its about $3 for a 12x18

Timo

[Linda G]

I just joined this forum, so am answering this thread a few days )weeks) late.

I am very lucky because I work in a pro lab that uses the Fuji Frontier. All manipulations are done by me for my final output and I, of course, couldn't be happier with the finished product.

What I really wanted to say was, the Frontier is a wonderful peice of equipment but there are so many versions of it, I can't comment on each one. If you get a combination great software setup and terrific people operating it, you'll be more than happy.

Limitations are in the naming protocol and file types ( no cmyk, layers or channels) and the limitation in size. 10 x 15 is the largest prints you can get at this time. (we're all hoping they'll jump one inch to allow 11 x 14.

At home, I use an Epson 1270 on heavyweight matte paper. I've tried the other papers and will use the watercolor paper for special images ( I 'paint' in Painter and those images look better on a canvas type finish)

So many prints, so little wall space.

Linda

[pvalerio]

I recomend you use PhotoBox in the UK. They use the Fuji Frontier system.

You can order the prints online and they come with great qualioty. Also they provide you with a ICC profile and test print to adjust your monitor.


Http://www.photobox.ie

[mmchenry68]

I tried a new online service Fromex Lab. It's at www.fromex.com. They have a really convenient upload utility and they except tif or jpeg files. I was really happy with the 8X10 matte prints I had printed there. I also had some 4X6 prints made.

Good quality and fast turnaround. Received prints back in about 5 days. I like the convenience of just uploading the files online.

They do package printing too but it isn't available on their online service but I make my package sheets in adobe anyway so it works out.

They are located in Long Beach, CA.