Online Photo Shops

This post is simply a collection of data freely available from the web. It is current as of yesterday. One of the things that I am going to take a look at in the later post is does it make sense to print some small proofs.

I am going to start printing images again, so I decided to do some research on online photo printers. I am only interested in certain sizes, 4x6, 8x10, 16x20, 20x30 and roll printing where one is charged by the square foot. Given the camera sensor size, that prints are made at 300 dpi (one can also do 200dpi) the normal size for my setup is about an 8x10. There are several problems that are being solved with printing. The first is that monitors don't have enough pixels to display any more then say 25 or 33% of the pixels of an image. When dealing with panoramics it is closer to 8% or less. By putting the image on paper you can pull the details out.

I am using Picasa to store many of my images so I decided to start there.

Photoworks
Can be used from Picasa website
Respects copyright (cites law)
50 free 3.5x5 or 4x6 – “welcome50”
Size Price
4x6 $0.09 -$0.15 ($0.15 when I tried to order)
8x10 $2.99
16x20 $17.95
20x30 $23.95

Shutterfly
Can be used from Picasa website
Size Print prices
4x6 $0.15
8x10 $3.99
16x20 $17.99
20x30 $22.99

W photo – Walgreens
Can be used from Picasa website
Mail Delivery
4x6 print $0.12
8x10 print $2.99

Snap fish
Can be used from Picasa website
50 free images
4x6 print(s) 9¢
8x10 print(s) $2.99

It looks like Snapfish is the cheapest for 4x6 and 8x10. They are run by HP who appears to be selling the equipment to most of the manufactures so that makes sense. This is a good start. Lets branch out and see what else one can get from major retailers.

Walmart
Don’t like the website
4x6 $0.09
8x10 $2.84

Ritz
Don’t like the website
4x6 $0.15
8x10 $3.99
20x30 $29.99

King Sooper
Free 4x6s by shopping there
4 x 6 Glossy Or Matte 1-49 Prints $0.20 each.
8 x 10 Glossy $1.99

Walmart is pretty cheap on the 4x6s also. King Sooper is crazy high on 4x6, but they give those to me free for shopping there... so free is pretty good, and they have the best price on 8x10s. I know that the ritz shop in Roseville used to be nationally one of the better places to have prints made. I had a few 8x10s done there and they were very good. Now for a place that I know of their quality. This also is the only professional print house that I know of. If any of my few readers know of any others please comment on the thread.

White House Custom Color (WHCC)
Professional print house
Pricing for Lustre/Glossy, Metallic is about 20% more
4x6 $0.73
8x10 $2.20
16x20 $14.50
20x30 $27.50
larger $5.75/sq ft

Woah! Look at that 4x6 price. You don't go to this place to get 4x6s. They are doing professional prints where 8x10 is considered small. When one starts getting to the bigger sizes WHCC is doing very well on price (significantly lower) and I know that their quality is *very* good.