Photo printing

[mutt k]

Had a search to see if this has been asked before, but couldn't find it, so apologies if I am covering old ground.

Too many of my family related pics are backing up on the computer or on memory cards, and Mrs K wants them for her photo albums. An old fashioned concept I know, but there you go. What is the best way of getting quality pictures that will last for this purpose? Taking the memory cards down to Boots or the like, although I suspect their printing would be no better than the way they usually murder 35mm films, or a printer dock? If the latter, what is recommended? I don't particularly want to go down the route of buying another printer for the computer at the moment though.

All advice appreciated as ever.

M

[pmanson]

Upload them to www.digi-prints.co.uk

Excellent service. Order in the morning and they arrive my lunchtime the next day.

[simpo two]

A lot of people including myself use PhotoBox. There are cheaper places but I was very impressed at the quality and use them for my exhibtiion prints.

[_dobbo_]

simpo two said:

A lot of people including myself use PhotoBox. There are cheaper places but I was very impressed at the quality and use them for my exhibtiion prints.

I would second this. There are cheaper available such as pixaco, but they take longer to come and I think the photobox quality is slightly better. that's worth a bit more money for me. all IMO of course.

[rude girl]

Mr R and I went through this a few months ago. So we decided on a range of about 20 images typical of what we normally do, sent them off to a few of the places often recommended on here, and one of the high street stores and compared results.

Photobox came out tops for us (not surprisingly since it's the one most recommended by the PH photography cognoscenti). And the service is incredible. I placed an order this morning at 11.30, and got the 'your order has been dispatched' email at 1201!!

[mutt k]

Right, thanks all, it sounds like Photobox will be getting a trial. What about the little docking station type printers? Are any of those any good? Would I be right in suspecting they are ok for occasional use, but expensive in terms of consumables?

[chris.mapey]

mutt k said:

Right, thanks all, it sounds like Photobox will be getting a trial. What about the little docking station type printers? Are any of those any good? Would I be right in suspecting they are ok for occasional use, but expensive in terms of consumables?

Use Photobox.

Buy print credits up from & you pay 7p per print (IIRC) - delivery is £1.50 irrespective of the order size.

If you buy one of the little photo printers, you have to buy the thing (c. £100) and then 20+p per print, that invariably have been cropped, as they all seems to be unable to print the image in its entirety...

Your choice, but I use Photobox every time. Excellent service & great prints.

I ordered my last batch of prints (460 of them) at 5.30pm on a Sunday & they were in my hand (signed for delivery at no extra cost...) on Tuesday morning.

Can't beat them...

My 2p worth.

Chris

[simpo two]

mutt k said:

Right, thanks all, it sounds like Photobox will be getting a trial. What about the little docking station type printers? Are any of those any good? Would I be right in suspecting they are ok for occasional use, but expensive in terms of consumables?

My 4p - expensive toys. You may as well use your normal inkjet, assuming it has a 'photo' setting, and put photo paper in. You'll get 4 x 6x4 prints (well almost) from one sheet of A4.
Unless you're using special ink (Epson make one), consider fading too.