Making Photo Prints (OT)

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Hoots

climber
Tacoma, Toyota
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 30, 2009 - 10:00am PT
OK, so I am sure this info is out there somewhere, but with the wealth of knowledge in here I figured I would aim high.
I am looking to give a number of my personal photographs (now only in digital form) as gifts (printed and matted).
I want them to look good and crisp. I don't own a printer, so that option is out. Would a local place be able to do it or would you recommend sending them somewhere to be printed...(I remember a while back people sending slides to India...?)
Thanks for any input- I just don't want to botch it up and give my friends and family something that I'm not proud of.
Hoots

climber
Tacoma, Toyota
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 30, 2009 - 10:03am PT
And to be clear, I am looking for larger format than 3x5 or 4x6. Something 8x11 or slightly larger would be cool.
Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Jul 30, 2009 - 10:46am PT
It is going to depend on what quality your digital files are in. If they are stupendous ordinary local printing services will be okay. Matting and maybe framing of course will be a separate business that frames.

You will have also the issue of archival quality printing, paper, and mounting to consider. Fading and other defects will develop rather quickly if you use ordinary methods and materials of production.

If your digitized images are limited in size and resolution and if there are issues with the images having defects in them (not just dust, scratches, but exposure, graininess, brightness, tone, color balance etc) you are going to need the service to push your files up a bunch so it is suitable to spend real money printing from them.

Go find a "mortar-and-brick" local service and talk to them; they will be able to give you all the info you need to decide if and how to engage them or where else to go. Using Goat's service downthread here could be just fine--- they can provide lab service. If you have the original negatives or slides, it actually is better to submit that instead of a digital file unless those files were done professionally.
goatboy smellz

climber
लघिमा, co
Jul 30, 2009 - 10:53am PT
I've been very happy with the results from printroom and their pricing is better than what I can get locally....YMMV

http://www.printroom.com/info/Prints.asp?
piquaclimber

Trad climber
Durango
Jul 30, 2009 - 11:32am PT
I could handle that for you. (as could others on this forum)
I run a large format, custom print shop in Durango.
8x10s from me are $10.50
Larger prings are $15/sq. ft.
Everything I print on and with is archival.

Note: You can probably beat my price somewhere.

Cheers,
Brad
Hoots

climber
Tacoma, Toyota
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 30, 2009 - 02:40pm PT
Thanks Brad, and others.
I will get the pics that I want compiled and send em over to you after I get back from a trip- I would rather deal with someone off Supertopo that has the know-how and capability than go though an online place. Talk to you soon.
RYan
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
Fresno
Jul 30, 2009 - 02:47pm PT
"Note: You can probably beat my price somewhere. "

Not bein' rude, just curious, Brad... You get people actually payin' those prices? Really? An 8x10 for $10.50? I'm in the wrong business.
steelmnkey

climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
Jul 30, 2009 - 03:19pm PT
If you're around a pretty good sized city that has a CostCo, you can get pretty decent prints at pretty decent prices there. Think they'll go up to 12"x18" in house (very quick turn-around), and way bigger (poster sizes) ones that take a bit of time to get back. You just upload your file to their site, then go back and pick it up. They'll notify you when it's ready.
Karl Baba

Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
Jul 30, 2009 - 04:30pm PT
Sometimes I use Printroom and they work well.

You can get much cheaper prices from artscow.com if you don't mind waiting for shipping. Send me an email and I'll refer you and you'll get extra swag.

It's amazing how good these services can be these days. Gear is good.

If you don't have too many, just go to the local Rite-Aid or drug store. The stuff that comes out of their machines is often just fine.

The matting element is where the real extra money comes in. I like to send things to mattes and more

http://www.mattesandmore.com/

or I send them the specs and they send me the mattes.

Peace

Karl
piquaclimber

Trad climber
Durango
Jul 31, 2009 - 12:28pm PT
Randy,

Yes people pay that price. Perhaps not on the east/west coasts, but here in Colorado, that is not out of the ordinary for high-end, custom printing.

Most of the people I print for are artists or pro shooters who are selling these giclee prints for significantly more than $10.50. More like $150 after being matted. (no frame) They pay it because they get to come in to sit with me and tweak color and/or discuss papers or canvasses or basically anything that pertains to their work. They like the personal touch.

The other side of the company I work for makes normal color prints on a Noritsu and I think they charge $5 for an 8x10. That is where most of the recreational shooters end up.

What is a normal price for a 16x24 from a high-end print shop where you live? (where you get to sit with the printer and adjust color/density etc?) I charge $39.99.

Cheers,
Brad
Nefarius

Big Wall climber
Fresno
Jul 31, 2009 - 01:25pm PT
"They pay it because they get to come in to sit with me and tweak color and/or discuss papers or canvasses or basically anything that pertains to their work. They like the personal touch. "

I take that back... I'm in the wrong location, rather than the wrong business. :) Not a lot of personal touch happening out here. lol

For fine art stuff and sales, I am either sending to the east coast or to a friend who does giclee prints. I've been kicking around the idea of buying an Epson printer, but am not sure. My long term contract position, along with two businesses, keeps me pretty busy, as is. So, do I really need a $2500 investment that doesn't get used much, due to lack of time? Currently I am spending $40 on 20x30" giclee prints.

For run of the mill, regular print stuff, I am either using a local outfit or a particular Costco (depending on size). I know, I know... Costco. They are using the latest Noritsu printer however, and use color profiling. Their printer is calibrated monthly, as well. The guy works with me as much as I need on anything and doesn't charge me for things I am unhappy with while we work towards making me happy. I have yet to find another place who does any better work than my Costco for run of the mill prints. I have also compared them to all of the online places. Just not any better. 8x10's start at $1.49 and 16x24" prints are something like $2.99. Hard to beat.
Jerry Dodrill

climber
Sebastopol, CA
Jul 31, 2009 - 07:16pm PT
Hey Brad, your prices seem very reasonable for custom printing. I worked at ColorFolio (.com) for years and we charged a lot more, but this is a game where you get what you pay for. Most people don't need that level of service and wouldn't know the difference unless they saw a comparison. You make money on most jobs and lose on the time consuming ones, but it works out in the end.

For the past few years I've been sending pre-flighted prints to a local lab with a Chromira machine, but the owner retired today and I'll have to see if the new owners can match the quality and price.
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