How do I get quality prints from my digital images
 

On my weekly walks through my local town I have started dragging my camera along and I have put together some decent shots that I may want to put into a three ring binder just to show off to my friends and family.

I saw something on one of the picture threads where someone recomended a method to get good 8 X 10 prints with digital files. I know I could probably go to one of the one hour places in the mall and get it done but I'm not sure of what kind of quality I would get.

Have any of you done something similar and could you give me some recommendations?

TIA

Scott

There are plenty of places to take your photos and get them printed. Most shops that do tradition developing also offer digital printing. You can even do it online.

I purchased an HP 8450 printer and have been very please. Amazing quality. Ink is expensive, but thats true of all inkjets. Only complaint is their software, which is kind of a pig. If you have an older system it could bog things down.

The online thing is what I was interested in, I presume you upload your files to their site and they ship the prints out to you for a fee.

Anyone got a link?

If I were to get a better printer I would have to get a better computer to go with it ;) can't really afford that right now, too many other toys to buy.

COSTCO. Upload to their site, pick them up in the photo bin the next day. It's awesome.

costco, walmart, almost any drug store, like walgreens. They are all probably using the same Fuji printer/lab setup. If you want to really maximize the quality of your prints go and talk to several of the labs. Find one person that regularly works there and befriend him- let him know he does good work and you appreciate it. I will promise you no one else tells him that. He/she can make or break your prints appearence. Try a couple of different labs in your area, they will vary. In my area our walgreens does a much better job than walmart or costco- but that will not be true everywhere. You can either email your prints, or just take the card in and load it there.
Enjoy
gary

For home prints, I have a Sony dye Sublimation printer which is NOT an inkjet. It uses ribbon cartridges and special print paper, which is sealed / coated, and very durable. See this one on ebay: 7567092130

Somewhat expensive, but good for immediate prints. It can print a 4*6 postcard easily, for around 35 cents when you buy in quantity.

-DMA

David, thanks for the link. How hard are replacement ribbons/paper to find?

Hmmm Christmas present for Dad and I could use it too ;)

I got a CD rom of my photos from a DE and sent a couple along to Kodak Easy Share Gallery. It let me crop them in an 8x10 format very easily. I think 3 photos ended up being ~$12, which was way cheaper than the photographer at the track.

Hi Scott

I bought a lot of 10 on ebay once, it worked out to around 22.5 cents per. It's as easy as pie, and dye sub is what professional labs use for some of the processes. The DPI is much larger than an inkhet (300dpi versus the crazy 2000DPI of some inkjets) but the pics are rugged and the colors are very clear.