Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I have someone local wanting to sell some of my prints. Where is a good place to get inexpensive printing done. Not high quality like I normally do so need to keep the cost down.
Low cost printing
- Thread starter Don Kuykendall_RIP
- Start date
Fred Kingston_RIP
Senior Member
Some Sam's Clubs, and almost all Costcos... I'm shocked you don't print your own.
RocketCowboy
Senior Member
I've not heard good things about Sam's/Walmart printing, but have heard good things about Costco. Or do something like Millers/Mpix or Nations ... if ordering several prints at once the shipping will balance out.
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I was in Photo Processing for many years on a grand scale. Printing my own now cost me a lot more than having it done. I end up working to color balance the paper and prints over and over till I get it like I want. Not cost effective.
I've heard good things about Costco but haven't yet tried them. I use Walmart for 11x14 and 20x30 but seldom anything smaller. If I remember correctly, the smaller prints weren't glossy which is what I wanted. I wasn't impressed with the smaller paper--it was some type of blah matte. But for the larger sizes I mentioned, they've been great. For the larger sizes, they use an Epson printer...I believe it's the same printer as my local camera store uses. For the smaller photos, they use a different printer although I don't know if it is Epson or something else. The other printer can't print the large posters sizes.
Be sure to inquire about types of paper used no matter where you go.
I tried Walgreens once...it was much better than Walmart for smaller prints. However, the problem I experienced is one side of my prints was cut off by a small amount. It happened to cut off the number on a building which was important. The number was close to the edge, but there was still room that it printed fine on my printer at home. They had no idea why because the entire image was visible on their computer screen.
Be sure to inquire about types of paper used no matter where you go.
I tried Walgreens once...it was much better than Walmart for smaller prints. However, the problem I experienced is one side of my prints was cut off by a small amount. It happened to cut off the number on a building which was important. The number was close to the edge, but there was still room that it printed fine on my printer at home. They had no idea why because the entire image was visible on their computer screen.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
My Costco does an outstanding job. You can download the printer profile for your local Costco from Dry Creek Photo which means soft-proofing that is spot-on. Learning to use that printer profile was a game-changer for me... No more guesswork and fantastic results.
Don Kuykendall_RIP
RIP :(
I think I will just keep by goto.
I have had great luck with them in the past and their basic prints are very reasonable.
I have had great luck with them in the past and their basic prints are very reasonable.I agree 100%. When I sell prints, I use a quality supplier.
I only use Costco, Walgreens, etc, when I need quick prints for my kids (school project, etc) or for family members when giving them 4x6 or 5x7 prints from familiy things. Paying customers should get a higher quality which will last longer.
I am not a businessman, I am a microbiologist, but even for me it just makes the best business sense to provide you customers with the highest quality product for reasonable prices. I do not have nearly as much overhead as many professional photographers, though I bet I have way much more cameras and lenses (
) than most, but if something costs me $1, I sell it for $4. People are not dumb, if you sell something for $3 that everyone is selling for $7, people will begin to wonder why. Anything over and above what covers your costs compared to others is just "economic rent".
BackdoorArts
Senior Member
A vote for Costco. I do my own smalls (less than 13x19) more out of convenience, but if I was to start printing in numbers I'd probably just go 100% Costco.
As I mentioned previously, I haven't used Costco myself but recently saw canvas and an acrylic prints from there that blew me away. They definitely looked professionally printed.
In fact, I took out a Costco membership last year for this very reason but haven't yet printed anything. As I also mentioned, I've used WalMart for 20x30" posters. About 18 months ago, WalMart's machine was down. In the past I used Staples but wasn't happy with their paper - very thin poster paper compared to WalMart's paper which is similar to oaktag.
So I opted to go to Allen's Camera which I *think* also uses an Epson printer similar to WalMart's. The difference was Allen's used Luster paper (I think there was a choice of 2 different types of paper) - and the Luster paper yielded the most spectacular posters I've ever had printed. But the difference in cost is diverse. I think Costco is $10 for a 20x30" poster. WalMart is $20. And Allen's was at least $35.
In fact, I took out a Costco membership last year for this very reason but haven't yet printed anything. As I also mentioned, I've used WalMart for 20x30" posters. About 18 months ago, WalMart's machine was down. In the past I used Staples but wasn't happy with their paper - very thin poster paper compared to WalMart's paper which is similar to oaktag.
So I opted to go to Allen's Camera which I *think* also uses an Epson printer similar to WalMart's. The difference was Allen's used Luster paper (I think there was a choice of 2 different types of paper) - and the Luster paper yielded the most spectacular posters I've ever had printed. But the difference in cost is diverse. I think Costco is $10 for a 20x30" poster. WalMart is $20. And Allen's was at least $35.
DrFrankenstein
Banned
I saw a guy on another photographer forum, who noticed 3D printers in this sense. Can it really help photographer? I really don't know, but I'm thinking about buying one next month. One of my friends even picked up one for me. Some kind of French 3D printer named matériaux impression 3D. I saw some videos with this printer and what is he capable of. Awesome thing. But does a photographer really need it? Or I will buy it just for fun? This is an important question, because I don't have free money right now. Hope someone will tell me.
