Where to Get Prints

[mitchgreene]

First off I'll start by apologizing for what I know must be an oft-asked question. I did search to find it, but couldn't find what I was looking for. I appreciate direction to those threads or answers here.

So the question is: To whom do you entrust your prints? I'm about to do my first paid gig, and I want to make sure that the prints I sell my first client are high quality, true representations of my work. I've been using Ritz with whom I haven't been completely satisfied (too much red in my bw prints). Oh, and I do LOTS of bw.

I look forward to your replies.

[BCampbell]

I've used a few online print options with good results, but I don't like paying for shipping and waiting to get my photos.

I recently tried a local photo lab and the results are excellent, they have a huge variety of services, turnaround is fast, and I can walk from work on a break to pick the photos up. Prices are a little higher, but I'm not paying for shipping and I have real people I can call or walk in and talk to.

Since you're in a metro area, you should have plenty of options, I would guess. Search around ofr print labs; try to use a service that prints in-house, as opposed to sending your files away.

[mitchgreene]

Thanks! I'll definitely look into it. Anyone in the DC area have any suggestions?

[dcclark]

Personally, I use mpix and adoramapix -- both are great. You do have to pay for shipping, but I have never had trouble with the quality. If your monitor is color-corrected, then everything should look perfect too.

[Daoust]

How does one colour correct their monitor?

[dcclark]

You can buy something like a Sypder Express, which is a monitor calibration system (warning: I haven't used this. I've just heard about it as a commonly used one). It's basically a little device which you place on your monitor, and it reads off colors from a test pattern. Then it compares that to what colors were intended, and creates a "profile" for how your monitor displays colors. Then, using that profile, you can ensure that what you see is indeed what you get.

[Daoust]

sounds complicated.

[BCampbell]

If only producing great results was uncomplicated...