how to go about making prints..

couldn't find a general topic forum so I posted here. was just wondering if there was a difference in the process of making prints for the following scenarios..

regular prints for a scrapbook
prints for framing (desktop (small) or wall frame (large))
prints to matte for an art show

In other words, if you go to CVS, would you have them create prints the same way for all 3 scenarios?

There's an online sale going on now at Nations Photo Lab for smaller prints up to 8 x 10. They have great prices and with the sale it's even better. Good luck!

Slipperman said:

couldn't find a general topic forum so I posted here. was just wondering if there was a difference in the process of making prints for the following scenarios..

regular prints for a scrapbook
prints for framing (desktop (small) or wall frame (large))
prints to matte for an art show

In other words, if you go to CVS, would you have them create prints the same way for all 3 scenarios?

Click to expand...

Sure, same process. There could be choices of glossy or matte paper, which is a personal choice. Some photofinishers do offer a choice about if they correct color on the prints, or if they stay out of it, and just print what you have prepared, as is, your way.

The important thing is to have enough pixels. A good guide is 300 pixels per inch of print, that is, an 8x10 inch print should have around 2400x3000 pixels. This is just a ballpark, 10% or 15% more or less won't matter, but too tiny does matter.

I've been ordering from Nations Photo lab for the past few months. Their quality of the prints is outstanding and the prices are very reasonable.

I've been using my local Costco for ages. I don't know if their prices are good or not (8" x 10" color prints are $1.50 each and 12" x 18" color prints are $3 each) and you do have to watch out and make sure you clear the "Auto Correct?" box before checking out, but they're amazingly good prints and I can pick them up on my way home from work same day, which is nice.

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I aim for the best quality of print no matter what they will be used for or what size i decide to have them printed at. I use to take pics to Sams

Club to get enlargements beyond my 13x19 print size but in the last 2 years i have decided to limit my prints to sizes i can print myself. Why? Because I am a total control freak and need to make every single decision about my prints myself. I pick the color management, I pick the paper, I make all decisions about the edit and I mat and frame them all myself. But, heh, that's just me. Perhaps at some point I will need a larger print and I will have to submit to the tender mercies of some pro lab, but not so far.

RON said:

I aim for the best quality of print no matter what they will be used for or what size i decide to have them printed at. I use to take pics to Sams

Club to get enlargements beyond my 13x19 print size but in the last 2 years i have decided to limit my prints to sizes i can print myself. Why? Because I am a total control freak and need to make every single decision about my prints myself. I pick the color management, I pick the paper, I make all decisions about the edit and I mat and frame them all myself. But, heh, that's just me. Perhaps at some point I will need a larger print and I will have to submit to the tender mercies of some pro lab, but not so far.

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this brings up another question - if you decide to print your prints yourself, what's the best printer to use? i know 2 guys who have printers that have at least 6 color cartridges (including black) whereas my printer has 1 color cartridge and 1 black cartridge. is the multi-cartridge printer that much better as long as you use the right paper?
and what's the right paper?

Slipperman said:

this brings up another question - if you decide to print your prints yourself, what's the best printer to use? i know 2 guys who have printers that have at least 6 color cartridges (including black) whereas my printer has 1 color cartridge and 1 black cartridge. is the multi-cartridge printer that much better as long as you use the right paper?
and what's the right paper?

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There's no single, correct answer for this... Some printers work better with some inks, and some inks work better on one paper than they do another and so on and so forth. Generally speaking a really good paper for inkjet printing, though, is Epson Ultra Premium (at about $ .60 a sheet). My absolute faaaaavorite paper is made by Mitsubishi Paper Mills but I can't find anyone that carries it these days so I've been using the pricey Epson paper. A few months ago, though, I found that Costco carries Kirkland Professional Glossy photo paper and it's soooooo similar to the Epson I often wonder if it's not simply re-branded Epson Ultra Premium. I'm about out of Epson paper and thinking I may switch over to the Kirkland. It doesn't hurt the Kirkland Professional is about one-fourth the cost of the Epson-branded Ultra Premium.

Amazon carries it as well. If you don't know what paper to try, try this...

As for printers, the Canon PIXMA Pro 100 is outstanding but there are several outstanding inkjets out these days. A lot depends on your budget. As you had probably already guessed.

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I use a Canon Pro 9500 Mark II which is a ten ink printer but Canon has a Pro I. printer that you can get for about $100 after rebate. It is an 8 ink printer. Check Adorama web site for it. I use Ilford Gold Fibre paper but understand that that is coming to an end as their inkjet division is bankrupt. Will have to seek out a new paper supplier. Canon Luster is not too bad but I dislike the other Canon papers.

I've found printing to be very expensive at home and I have not been able to match the quality of Nations. I order non-color corrected so i control the look.

Rick M said:

I've found printing to be very expensive at home and I have not been able to match the quality of Nations. I order non-color corrected so i control the look.

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Expensive, you say. You just ain't whistling Dixie. I ask myself why I spend the money every day but then go into my photo gallery and I know why. Of course, many people do not display their prints the same way I do. And so they have different criteria. I thought of one of those digital photo frames but they are all too small. I need a way to convert a small flat a screen t.v. into a constant photo display with about a 21" screen. That would be way cool.