Ordering Prints?

[Trickyb107]

How do you manage ordering prints as a photographer? Who do you use for printing services? 

[AlanKlein]

For small 4x6 or 5x7 prints of family shots, I use Walgreens.  Recently, I made a photo book with Blurb.  

[WJT]

Hello, i have used several different companies, all with great results. Two come to mind:

Bayphoto.com

TheSlidePrinter.com

 

[glen_h]

I believe Walgreens now uses dye sublimation printers.  Actually, they are fine printers.

 

Sometimes I use Shutterfly, which (last I knew) still prints on light sensitive paper.

That is, scanning laser beams onto Fuji Crystal Archive.  If you look at the data sheet,

they give reciprocity values between microseconds and minutes.  That is,

they look like enlarger made prints!

 

Shutterfly also has "design your own" cards, which really means prints

of 4x8 or 5x7 inches.  Much cheaper (in larger quantity) than ordering

as prints. (And you get envelopes, too!)

 

Both Walgreens and Shutterfly, and I suspect others, have sales often. 

I have seen 4x6 prints down to $0.10, though maybe with a minimum order.

When I first got into photography over 50 years ago, 3x5 color prints were $0.22,

and black and white for $0.07.  That is what got me interested in darkroom work.

 

Now, adjust for inflation and see how cheap they are now!

[Trickyb107]

On 1/17/2023 at 10:07 AM, WJT said:

Hello, i have used several different companies, all with great results. Two come to mind:

Bayphoto.com

TheSlidePrinter.com

 

Thanks for the feedback. Do you find theslideprinter.com to be user friendly? Have you experienced any issues with their site? I'm not the most tech savvy. 

[Trickyb107]

On 1/17/2023 at 6:03 PM, glen_h said:

I believe Walgreens now uses dye sublimation printers.  Actually, they are fine printers.

 

Sometimes I use Shutterfly, which (last I knew) still prints on light sensitive paper.

That is, scanning laser beams onto Fuji Crystal Archive.  If you look at the data sheet,

they give reciprocity values between microseconds and minutes.  That is,

they look like enlarger made prints!

 

Shutterfly also has "design your own" cards, which really means prints

of 4x8 or 5x7 inches.  Much cheaper (in larger quantity) than ordering

as prints. (And you get envelopes, too!)

 

Both Walgreens and Shutterfly, and I suspect others, have sales often. 

I have seen 4x6 prints down to $0.10, though maybe with a minimum order.

When I first got into photography over 50 years ago, 3x5 color prints were $0.22,

and black and white for $0.07.  That is what got me interested in darkroom work.

 

Now, adjust for inflation and see how cheap they are now!

I appreciate the feedback. I will have to check out the sales with Shutterfly. I have not used them yet. Is Shutterfly generally your preferred route? 

[Trickyb107]

On 1/16/2023 at 7:28 PM, AlanKlein said:

For small 4x6 or 5x7 prints of family shots, I use Walgreens.  Recently, I made a photo book with Blurb.  

I will have to check out Blurb. I am in the market for a nice photo book. Thanks for the feedback. 

[glen_h]

26 minutes ago, Trickyb107 said:

I appreciate the feedback. I will have to check out the sales with Shutterfly. I have not used them yet. Is Shutterfly generally your preferred route? 

I have used Shutterfly, Printerpix, and Snapfish when they have a sale that I like.

I think it was mugs from Snapfish. 

Once in a while, Shutterfly has a free 16x20, just pay shipping ($6.99)

(That sale never comes for 11x14, maybe for 8x10.)

The 16x20 don't say Fuji  Crystal Archive on the back, but smaller prints do.

There are also sales for mugs, calendars, and just about everything you could

put a picture on.  (I never got bottle opener or shot glass.)

 

I like to get Christmas cards on photo paper, as it reminds me of actual photo prints

from years past, but this year my daughter designed a non-photo paper card.

It has gold metallic lettering on it, which you can't do with photo paper.

They are halftone prints, so the resolution is worse.

 

Most of the time I am not in a rush, and can wait for a sale.

[Bettendorf]

I've used The Darkroom for C-41 several times.  Process, scans, and prints for a total of $20.00 per 36 exposure roll.  Very reasonable! and excellent quality too. Plus they still use wet-process Fuji paper.

Here is what they have on their site for just printing your uploaded digital files:

"Just upload your digital images and select your size.
Color Prints from .35¢ each ~ Silver Gelatin B&W Prints from $1.99 each

                                                             Color files are printed on traditional wet-process FujiFilm Supreme silver halide color paper.

                           B&W digital files are printed on genuine ILFORD Black and White Silver Gelatin Photographic Paper which gives you a true B&W  image and not just a black and white image on color paper."

 

Besides the quality, they are fast and a pleasure to deal with.

 

Edited January 20, 2023 by Bettendorf

[WJT]

I, too, have used The Darkroom and have also found them to be very good. They are one of the few that will develop and print B&W Infrared.