Need HELP -- photo developing question & where do you print pictures?

[Grumpy's Gal]

If anyone can help me -- I know you guys can!

I want to scrap pictures that are going to last a long time so future generations can enjoy the scrapbooks we are making.

It seems every place prints the photos differently. Here's my question:
I'm trying to figure out what exactly the process is they use at Target to make their 1-hour prints. The people who run the machines (that DH talked to) don't actually know what the process is, they just know there's some ribbon that has to get changed when it runs out.

We often get pix printed at Walgreens. Their process projects the image onto reactive photo paper and makes an actual photo of the same type you would get from a negative (or so the said - anyone know?)

Does anyone know what Target is doing, and the shelf life of the pictures we got printed (they were free with last week's coupon). Can U use them for scrapbooking? will the colors last more than a few years?

Thanks for any info anyone wants to volunteer...

and where do you get your pictures printed?

 

[heathrow42]

The Target process you describe sounds like dye sub- but I don't have any info on the process they use. I have found Targets quality to be terrible. A couple of years ago I printed the same photo at Target, CVS and Costco. The Costco version turned out the best- the colors were the best, the image was the least cropped (well, it was cropped the way I had set it to be - they warn you that your image will be cropped and let you choose how it will be cropped) The Target image was *blurry* - I couldn't believe it. I wasn't happy with the quality at CVS either.. but it was more of a consistency problem. My MIL uses them all the time, sometimes the pics are fine, other times the colors come out wonky, or they are blurry. For the volume of pics I print, I couldn't deal with roulette game of how they would turn out at CVS.

Costco is pretty well regarded - just about everytime I have seen "where do you get your prints" come up - Costco bubbles to the top.. They are cheap, easy, very good quality, consistent and the folks who work there are willing to help if you have a problem or question. You can go through the extra step of calibrating to your monitor online to them, as well. I've had pics printed at Costco for years (atleast 5) they are fine, I scrap with them. I'm not sure if anything that comes out of a digital camera will last 100 years. You might want to be thinking a lot about how to store them digitally as well.. I still haven't solved this for our pics.

Geeks talk about where to get prints made.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/...shdot-best-option-for-printing-digital-photos

--Heather

 

[LindaBabe]

I get prints made at Walgreens - they're everywhere.

The quality of the print sometimes varies with the "freshness" of whatever product whomever you use is using to print - case in point. I accidently printed the same photos twice, seperated by a few days - the first set at a new Walgreens in Florida the second set here. The two sets were clearly different - one being MUCH higher quality than the other.

I also think the care taken by the operator makes a difference in the end product.

 

[pg0314]

I print my own. I have a Canon PIXMA printer (which I can not reccoment enough ... they're awesome) and I only use premium phot paper. I don't know how the cost compares to having the printing done elsewhere but the picture quality is stunning and I have total control over cropping, etc. So for me, it's worth the added expense.

 

[mom2rtk]

Another vote for printing your own. It's more expensive, but you can print what you want in the size you want......... at any time of the day or night. Or you can reprint them if you change your mind. You can also put together a photo collage and print it for a great starting point for a hybrid page.

 

[Tiger926]

Here in Canada, Costco uses Fuji Crystal Archive paper, and Nortisu printers, which is a fabulous combination. Prints if stored correctly, are rated to last well over 100 years.

There are several processes such as: silver halide, pigment ink, etc.

Printing from a digital, as mentioned above, has nothing to do with how long a print will last. The archival properties of prints has to do with the paper and ink used. If you use OEM (same paper and ink as printer), then those prints will last the longest. If you use cheaper ink or the non-OEM paper (eg. Canon paper in an HP printer), the archival properties of the prints will be less.

The longest archival prints for consumers (home printing) are from Epson printers, but Canon and HP are catching up.

Check out www.wilhelmimaging.com for all you want to know about printers, inks and paper combinations from both professional (eg. Costo or Target), as well as home printers, including refillable cartridges.

I used to print my own on Epson Picturemate and Rx595, which are both pigment based inks, which last the longest. I mostly now print at Costco (silver halide), as the prints come out excellent, and have excellent archival properties for scrapbooking.

Hope this helps, Tiger

 

[laura&fam]

I also have used Costco for years and have been very pleased. Recently I discovered the "true digital" size that isn't quite 4x6 and I really wish Costco printed those. That is the only down side for me is that you have to crop all your photos, but you do get to choose how they are cropped.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I see mpix.com recommended a lot on a local message board, even by the serious amateur photographers. (ie by one of my friends who sells her images)

 

[lovingthemouse]

Agree with Linda - I always use Walgreens. I find their quality to be very good and the prices are great when they offer their weekly specials. I upload my pix to their site and wait til they have a good sale to have them printed.

 

[clh2]

I see mpix.com recommended a lot on a local message board, even by the serious amateur photographers. (ie by one of my friends who sells her images)

Mpix does a great job - and I really like their cropping functions.

 

[Reddy]

does any of these place do the 3.5x5 pics?? I really love that size for scrapbooks - they seem to fit on the pages better to me

 

[cluvsdisney]

does any of these place do the 3.5x5 pics?? I really love that size for scrapbooks - they seem to fit on the pages better to me

I think mpix does and persnickety prints had that size along with many others.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

When I tons of photos to print (DIsney trips sometimes are 3,000) I print from Snapfish and Winkflash.

When I'm working on something that I want to do NOW I go to Walgreens, which is 3 towns away. If I need something even quicker I go to CVS, which is a the beginning of the next town over.

I haven't had a problem with Walgreens or CVS.

I also keep every photo I take on a disc so they can always be printed "better" later. There will always be something new or better that comes out later in life.

 

[dogcarbon]

I too like costco

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

we picked out 5 pictures that we recently took over the last month.

We had the same five printed at:

Walgreens
Walmart
CVS
Snapfish
MPIX
MPIX (with correction)

I marked a tiny mark on the back of each indicating where they were printed. Shuffled and

Then we laid them all out on the diningroom table -- so we could compare.

AMAZING! (I highly recommend you do this sometime)

Unfortunately, there wasn't one best place. The "best" outside picture was from one place, the best indoor picture was from a different place, the best picture that had the most green was from a third place, same with blue, red etc.

Snapfish placed a blue blob on a person's face in one picture but a few of their other pictures were good!

I don't have a costco but I'm going to locate one. I'd like to try them as well. IO'm looking for someplace that CONSISTENTLY prints great and out local Walgreens isn't it. (Bummer because they are close.)

 

[mybestieismickey]

Reddy:
Costco will print 3.5 x 5 pics, but you have to take the media (CD, jump drive, media card from camera) in and specifically ask for it. Mine tells me to order them on the computer that's there, then let them know immediately that you want that size. When I do it I always ask first so they know its coming. They also did some 5x5s for me once too. The only thing about it is, you don't know exactly where they will crop your image to make it 3x5

 

[Reddy]

Reddy:
Costco will print 3.5 x 5 pics, but you have to take the media (CD, jump drive, media card from camera) in and specifically ask for it. Mine tells me to order them on the computer that's there, then let them know immediately that you want that size. When I do it I always ask first so they know its coming. They also did some 5x5s for me once too. The only thing about it is, you don't know exactly where they will crop your image to make it 3x5

hmm so they print it at 4x6 then chop - I could see the prints losing heads

 

[laura&fam]

The thing I love about the 3 x 5.3 size is that nothing needs cropped. It is exactly how it looked when you took it. The Costco by me doesn't print that size and they told me you can't even order them online.

 

[Reddy]

that persnickety has them for 19cents each - 15 for over 100

 

[laura&fam]

The thing I love about the 3 x 5.3 size is that nothing needs cropped. It is exactly how it looked when you took it. The Costco by me doesn't print that size and they told me you can't even order them online.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Costco online doesn't have them. Other online companies do.