Getting Digital Prints made.

[Tom_1569]

I've just got a DSLR, and interested in getting some of the photos turned into large prints so I get an idea of how they are turning out, also hang some on the wall when I get the perfect shot.

Wondering how everyone else goes about printing there digital images. Im more interested in Large prints and canvas prints, who they use, sizes, quality and cost.

So far I've found "snapfish" by HP to be the cheapest, but have no idea on there quality.

There prices are for gloss or matte:
50x60 cms $24.95
50x75 cms $39.95

and canvas:
50x75 cms $149.95
75x100 cms $199.95

Does that seem reasonable, as I have no idea as this is my first time getting prints made, despite crappy 6 X4" prints.

Any advice is much appreciated

[DARK SIDE]

Hey mate I have had the largest poster size printed at snapfish before and the quality is really good. if you want to go really big I printed out a massive poster at office works cost $90 including getting it laminated. not sure what size it is but its about 2.5 meters by 1.5.

[minux]

What paper do they use? What guarantee do they give on fading etc?

I use a service that costs me a bit to use, but provide exquisite prints. Few members on here will vouch for their quality.

Personally, I would not use a system that takes one sized image and interpolates it to whatever size.

Just a tip, Harvey Norman actually do some good prints, not gallery style stuff but great for around the home(I'd never sell anything printed there).

If you want any info, shoot me a pm, happy to help out.

This is the latest piece(which a JC member bought) it is printed in metallic kodak, on a durst theta50(deliberately over exposed on flash hotspot to highlight metallic effect).

[Zuicider]

:P mine mine mine

[Rufus®]

I've just got a DSLR, and interested in getting some of the photos turned into large prints so I get an idea of how they are turning out, also hang some on the wall when I get the perfect shot.

Wondering how everyone else goes about printing there digital images. Im more interested in Large prints and canvas prints, who they use, sizes, quality and cost.

So far I've found "snapfish" by HP to be the cheapest, but have no idea on there quality.

There prices are for gloss or matte:
50x60 cms $24.95
50x75 cms $39.95

and canvas:
50x75 cms $149.95
75x100 cms $199.95

Does that seem reasonable, as I have no idea as this is my first time getting prints made, despite crappy 6 X4" prints.

Any advice is much appreciated

Those paper prices are pretty good, but cannot vouch for the quality of the prints. As for the Canvas prints, they seem a little excessive.

How are the canvas prints supplied back to you? stretched on a frame or just rolled up?

If they are on roll, I'm sure I can get you something a little cheaper.

[Tom_1569]

Hey mate I have had the largest poster size printed at snapfish before and the quality is really good. if you want to go really big I printed out a massive poster at office works cost $90 including getting it laminated. not sure what size it is but its about 2.5 meters by 1.5.

Thanks for that, I might just order a print to get an idea, its only 40 bux anyway. I dont think I need it 2.5 X 1.5 though lol, I just want a big print so I can get an idea of what Im photographing and the attention to detail that is needed at a large size.

What paper do they use? What guarantee do they give on fading etc?

I use a service that costs me a bit to use, but provide exquisite prints. Few members on here will vouch for their quality.

Personally, I would not use a system that takes one sized image and interpolates it to whatever size.

Just a tip, Harvey Norman actually do some good prints, not gallery style stuff but great for around the home(I'd never sell anything printed there).

If you want any info, shoot me a pm, happy to help out.

This is the latest piece(which a JC member bought) it is printed in metallic kodak, on a durst theta50(deliberately over exposed on flash hotspot to highlight metallic effect).

I've just sent them an email asking about paper quality, and warranty, also if they make the photo fit the paper, or cut the paper to suit the photo, but from there description it sounds like they make the photo fit the paper
Ill keep Harvery Norman in mind, just had a look at there prices, and they are about on par with the local Camera shop.

No doubt Ill send you a PM when I get more into it, at the moment Im a total noob just trying out how it all works.

That print looks awesome as, I love it

Those paper prices are pretty good, but cannot vouch for the quality of the prints. As for the Canvas prints, they seem a little excessive.

How are the canvas prints supplied back to you? stretched on a frame or just rolled up?

If they are on roll, I'm sure I can get you something a little cheaper.

Thanks, Im assuming the canvas prints are just rolled up, but it doesnt say.
What sort of prices could you get, just for comparison.

[minux]

Tom, you will find you may have to do larger format prints with "blank spaces" to get the entire image on without cropping, any decent framer will trim to frame anyway, so dont be too worried about that.

[Tom_1569]

Tom, you will find you may have to do larger format prints with "blank spaces" to get the entire image on without cropping, any decent framer will trim to frame anyway, so dont be too worried about that.

Oh, thats alright, aslong as they dont just stretch the crap out of it to make it fit the paper, then I dont mind.
I got a response from Snapfish, the paper used is Silver Halide Paper, is that any good? lol I have no idea about Papers, I only want it for a test to see what my photo's turn out when massive so I can get an idea of what Im doing.

Thanks.

[Rufus®]

Oh, thats alright, aslong as they dont just stretch the crap out of it to make it fit the paper, then I dont mind.
I got a response from Snapfish, the paper used is Silver Halide Paper, is that any good? lol I have no idea about Papers, I only want it for a test to see what my photo's turn out when massive so I can get an idea of what Im doing.

Thanks.

Basically all they are saying is that they use colour neg paper, you really want to know the brand, ie Kodak, Ilford, Agfa.....

As for cropping, you should specify full frame or standard crop. easier just to get full frame, so you don't lose any image.

I can do your canvas prints for $150/SQM. So for a 20"x30" you're looking at about $55

[Tom_1569]

Basically all they are saying is that they use colour neg paper, you really want to know the brand, ie Kodak, Ilford, Agfa.....

As for cropping, you should specify full frame or standard crop. easier just to get full frame, so you don't lose any image.

I can do your canvas prints for $150/SQM. So for a 20"x30" you're looking at about $55

Ahh ok, Im guessing it will be HP paper, as Snapfish is a part of HP.

There was no option of full frame or standard crop, Ill wait and see how it turns out.

I ordered a 75 X 100 print from Snapfish last night, so I can see the quality, and get an idea of how my photos turn out at such size.

Ill keep you in mind when I take a photo worthy of going to Canvas lol, I definitly want to get one canvas print done soon for curiosity sake, Thanks.

[alien]

Down at the Dick Smith Powerhouses you can see the sort of quality you'll get from prints. Anything larger than 8x12" is sent up to Fuji in Sydney and the process the big jobs there (including canvas prints).

As for warranty i'm not sure on that, you'd have to ask the salesperson at the counter, however ask them to find out how much it is to extend the warranty, can be covered by Dick Smith Warranty.

And the usual, you get your care instructions on how to look after canvas prints, e.g. using a vacuum instead of liquids (common sense)

[minux]

Basically all they are saying is that they use colour neg paper, you really want to know the brand, ie Kodak, Ilford, Agfa.....

As for cropping, you should specify full frame or standard crop. easier just to get full frame, so you don't lose any image.

I can do your canvas prints for $150/SQM. So for a 20"x30" you're looking at about $55

Can i ask who you print with to supply at this price? Is it stretched, if so what profile etc? Do you guarantee work in the sense if i am dissatisfied with the quality i can have my money back? How many years protection is the canvas covered for etc? What colour profile you use? i could list loads more but wont waste your time too much lol.

[Rufus®]

Can i ask who you print with to supply at this price? Is it stretched, if so what profile etc? Do you guarantee work in the sense if i am dissatisfied with the quality i can have my money back? How many years protection is the canvas covered for etc? What colour profile you use? i could list loads more but wont waste your time too much lol.

I print all my work myself, through my employer. While we do more corporate, display and point of sale work, we can also do one off's. We're not setup as a lab as such, and usually everything that is supplied has come from a designer. Rarely do we have to worry about input profiles and colour correction. For my own work I use SRGB, and only have to usually do minor corrections (unless it's skin tones).

I'm not sure what you mean by stretched? If you mean the stretching the image to fit a particular size, then no. It would be easier to supply the image already cropped to the size you wish, or it will be printed full frame.

I have no idea what the warranty on the canvas is, I can tell you for any of the vinyl's we stock though. Having said that I have canvas images that were printed about 3 years ago hanging on my walls that haven't faded or have any signs of fading.

We have 2 inkjet printers capable of printing on canvas, a Vutek QS2000- 1080 DPI and a Roland ecosolvent- 720 DPI

If you're not happy with the quality of the work, then it will usually be reprinted, if you whinge enough then you'll get your money back.

feel free to ask any other questions.

[Tom_1569]

Well my print turned up on monday. Im pretty happy with it, its definitly not professional quality print, but neither was the photo But for a first photoshoot and print Im pretty happy with it.
Now I got to capture some photos that are actually print worthy lol.


Thats the photo I got made into a 100 X 75cm print.