I need to start off by saying that it is a HUGE pet peeve of mine to see people taking pictures of printed pictures and posting them on their Facebook page. However, for this particular reason I am going to break my rules only to make a visual point perfectly clear.
I also realize that these pictures are in no way compared to actually physically seeing the pictures to make an exact comparison.
Twelve images taken by me, Lindsay Foster Photography, were randomly chosen to be printed as a comparison print for my clients to have a visual when they come see me. They spend a lot of money for their sessions and all I want for them are the best quality prints. However, most times I get the big Question.......Where should I get them printed? Well, my first answer is: "Through my gallery lab"of course.
I understand that the digital images are theirs and they can print them where and when they wish, but what if they could see what kind of quality they are actually paying for before they make that choice?
There are 4 very common places to get your images developed here in Kingston, Ontario
I compared images printed from these places with my own chosen gallery Lab. All images can be ordered directly from the online gallery upon viewing. It's quick & easy and they deliver right to your door.
Let's stop reading and take a look at a few comparisons shall we??........
Now for my Critique: (everyone is different, to each their own)
LFP Lab: (matte)
*Ordered online through my gallery - quick and easy
*Delivered directly to my door within a week
*Quality: Most exact likeness to digitals and very consistent- Excellent
Expense for 12 images 5x7: $37.20 CAD
(to me the cost is worth knowing I will get the best quality)
Shoppers: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website
Shoppers: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website
*upload time was average and fairly straight forward
*Picked up at local store when they arrived one week later
(they do have 1 hour printing if you go to the store to order from their system)
*Quality: Okay, I found the it was lacking some magenta, a little under saturated in colour
Expense for 12 images 5x7: $11.88 CAD
Walmart: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website
*Ordered online through their website
*Upload time was average and fairy straight forward
*Ready in one hour option
*Ready in one hour option
*Picked up at store in Kingston (not local to me)
*Quality: Poor. These prints in no way compare to the digitals given on gallery
*Expense for 12 images 5x7: $23.64 CAD WHAT!!!????
Costco: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website
*Upload time took a long time, glitchy and can be quite complicated for some
*When ordering online you have to watch the
small print instructions. Make sure to select do NOT compress my files.
*Quality: Pretty good actually ;) Some tones are a little off. Kind of purple.
However, I find them to be the closest comparison to my Lab prints.
Expense for 12 images 5x7: $3.48
Must be a Costco Member
Must be a Costco Member
Blacks: (matte)
*Ordered online through their website
*Upload time took a while, but the site was fairy straight forward
*1 hour pickup. Picked up in store in Mall. Not local to me.
*Quality: Full of contrast and very sharp images. Definitely NOT
a true likeness to the digital edits.
Expense for 12 images 5x7: $6.10
I thought for sure that Blacks was going to be the best for prints other than using my online gallery lab. I was shocked to see how far off they were compared to my digital images.
So, in the end I would have to say that my professional lab service is the most reliable for getting the most exact likeness to the digitals you get from me. I would highly suggest using me for your large size prints for wall mounting.
I will now make to sure to have these comparison prints out and available for all my clients to see.
Cheers!
Lindsay
Interesting...Can you go into a bit more detail about the gallery lab that you use? Are they processed by hand or machine? Where is it located? Would you suggest using this (through you) for printing any enlarged photos (regardless if you are the photographer or not)? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGillian,
ReplyDeleteThe Lab I use is located in Winnepeg and was the first facility in Canada to offer Digital Photographic Prints printed on award-winning Chromira LED printers. The Chromira’s incredible resolution is achieved through it’s unique diamond-shaped pixels and the optical blending that occurs when they overlap. Our printers are ICC profiled for Kodak Ultra papers resulting in optimum colour on final output. Shadow and highlight detail are superb; text looks sharp and overall tonality is great. The Chromira also renders beautiful flesh tones and neutral grays. Chromira digital prints are true photographic prints, exposed with LED light. We can print an image area of 30” by any length with immaculate fidelity, resolution and sharpness – ideal for large display and banner applications. This printer makes the combination of text and imagery a breeze.
I would highly recommend using this through me.
Because I use this particular lab, and because it's a business where my clients can order directly from their online gallery I produce for them, there are always cost prices and retail prices to which I prefer not to say the name of this lab. I'm sure it wouldn't hard to figure out though if you looked into it ;)