More Photog Q's

[Pez7378]

Does anyone print and frame their photos? I was thinking of going to the local photo store, and having some of my favorite pics enlarged, printed and framed. Are you all doing it yourself at home? If so, I'd like some advice on decent printers for the job. Otherwise, if you take it to the local photostore, where do you go?

[John Rawlings]

For professional quality prints, I take my business to Ivey photo-finishing in Seattle. It's just off HWY 99 East of the Seattle Center. http://iveyphoto.com/

Over the years I found that "local photo stores" quite often do not use fresh chemicals and the colors in the final print don't come out as rich and vibrant as they were on the original slide or file. I have learned that it's best to go to a professional lab with a reputation to uphold....they will not scrimp on you.

For matting and framing, I go to the Ben Franklin in Monroe. They have a huge selection of pre-made frame and pre-cut matts so that you can mix and match and compare how the different colored ones look with each individual photo. Doing that part of it yourself will save you a LOT compared to having the frames and matts made for you in a framing shop.

- John

[dwashbur]

Do you use film or digital?

[Tom Nic]

Costco prints are nothing to kick at, and quite reasonably priced. They seem to be better quality than some of your other typical big box print-em-quick retailers.

[nice-diver]

I use my epson R320, with epson paper and ink. I can print matt...glossey...4x6....8x10....i just have to take the time to do it, I am so far behind. I like to be self suffecient.

[airsix]

I have learned that it's best to go to a professional lab with a reputation to uphold....they will not scrimp on you.

I don't know anything about photography, but I can share an experience. Years ago my father (who is quite a good photographer) shot some pictures of grazing mountain sheep. He was very excited to get the pictures back, but when he did they were so disappointing he threw them in the junk pile. He wasn't even going to keep the negatives, but my mother grabbed them. She took them to a pro lab and the prints that came back were absolutely spectacular. They were so good that enlargements were ordered, framed, and hung on the wall at his firm for years. In this case the quality of processing made all the difference in the world.

-Ben

[John Rawlings]

I have learned that it's best to go to a professional lab with a reputation to uphold....they will not scrimp on you.

I don't know anything about photography, but I can share an experience. Years ago my father (who is quite a good photographer) shot some pictures of grazing mountain sheep. He was very excited to get the pictures back, but when he did they were so disappointing he threw them in the junk pile. He wasn't even going to keep the negatives, but my mother grabbed them. She took them to a pro lab and the prints that came back were absolutely spectacular. They were so good that enlargements were ordered, framed, and hung on the wall at his firm for years. In this case the quality of processing made all the difference in the world.

-Ben

HEAR HEAR!!!!

[enchantmentdivi]

Costco prints are nothing to kick at, and quite reasonably priced. They seem to be better quality than some of your other typical big box print-em-quick retailers.

Yes, they are a bargain. BUT, unless your camera is purposely set at the correct ratio (which of course I can't remember right now what exactly that is...), all prints from Costo (and some of the other online places) will be cropped. I ran into this last year when I decided to splurge and print about thirty 8x10's. When I picked them up, I was really upset when I noticed this...on some photos, it just doesn't matter. On others, it can make all the difference in the world. When using Costo, once your photo is in the shopping cart, under the photo, click on "preview/crop". There will be a green box around the photo at each of the size choices. This is how your photo will be cropped....it's not a suggestion of how to crop it...it will happen. You only have to choice to move the box either side/side or up/down depending on the size choice.

Luckily, Costco has a great return policy. They gave me my money back for almost half of the enlargements that I couldn't use.

[Tom Nic]

If you're got those once in a life-time shots that you will proudly display for decades, all the above comments about professionally getting them done are definitely the way to go.

My thoughts about Costco are just me simply reresentin' for the Po' Folk amongst us that may not have the coin but still want to hang a cool lookin' photo!

[dwashbur]

We tried Costco but that cropping thing already mentioned was a nuisance. We had a few printed at one of the office supply stores, I forget whether it was Max or Depot, and the colors came out way dark. So these days we just use our Epson inkjet with the photo-quality paper. I usually print from Photoshop so I have almost total control over the finished product. The printer we're using at the moment is the Stylus CX3810 multifunction machine, but most any of the medium to high-end Epsons will do a great job.

[Diver_C]

Luckily, I discovered the Costco cropping issue before I ordered my prints. It was a non-issue after resizing the pictures before ordering them. The two prints I had done came out great! I would use Costco again. Pretty easy ordering online too.

Rich

[Fishstiq]

For matting and framing, I go to the Ben Franklin in Monroe.

Hey Chris, don't you have an "in" there?

[Sounder]

For matting and framing, I go to the Ben Franklin in Monroe.

Hey Chris, don't you have an "in" there?

Spill the beans, Joe!!

[Pez7378]

For matting and framing, I go to the Ben Franklin in Monroe.

Hey Chris, don't you have an "in" there?

I'll kill you!

[Pez7378]

For matting and framing, I go to the Ben Franklin in Monroe.

Hey Chris, don't you have an "in" there?

Spill the beans, Joe!!

Pursue this and I'll kill you too!

[Pez7378]

kidding of course.

[Sounder]

For matting and framing, I go to the Ben Franklin in Monroe.

Hey Chris, don't you have an "in" there?

Spill the beans, Joe!!

Pursue this and I'll kill you too!

Joe - I've got more weapons than Pez can dream of!! Come over - I've got a growler of Mac's in the fridge and a 1988 Macanudo Vintage Reserve cigar (Churchill size of course!) waiting for you!! :occasion5:

Oh geez... with a response like that, now I HAVE to make a trip up there. I'm sure the girls working the registers will know a thing or two!!

Come on Pez, just spill the beans... sounds like a story!!

kidding of course.

You're only saying that because you HAVE to say that!!

But hey - Joe, he's only kidding!! See, even Pez says it's totally fine to spill the beans!!

[Sounder]

So... what's she doing this Saturday between 9am and 4pm?!