Order poster-sized prints online with 10D

[sparty314]

I want to explore the possibilities of getting posters made of some of my favorite digital photos. I am wondering if anybody here has done so sucessfully and, if so, can offer some tips.

Because of where I live, I'd prefer an online service (or mail, I guess). I checked fujifilm.net's prices for posters:
11" x 14" $12.95
16" x 20" $14.95
18" x 24" $19.95
24" x 36" $24.95
36" x 48" $39.95

Can anybody recommend any place else?

The maximum upload to fujifilm.net is 3 MB. Doesn't this seem like it pretty much guarantees poor results?

Suppose I want to order an 11 x 14 poster. Should I resize it to those dimensions and resample in photoshop (actually, Elements 2.0) before sending or not?

I welcome any comments!

--Brian

[robertwgross]

Brian, first of all, you want to realize that "poster print" means that the print quality is not the same as a normal photo print. I believe that posters are printed with something like 150-200 dpi maximum, and good photos are done with 300 dpi or slightly more. In a way, that is OK, since poster prints are made to be viewed from five or ten feet away, at a minimum.

So for 3MB, you may get good poster results, but those would be poor photo results. It just depends on your intent.

A friend of mine has a killer scenery shot, and he knew that it was highly marketable, so he took a proof and a large format negative to some poster print shops. They did what he considered to be a terrible job. So he took it to a photo print shop that did large ones and they had to do it two or three times to get it to photo quality, so it cost more.

Of course, now that photo/poster is sold at the gift shop at one of our national parks.

---Bob Gross---

[boBquincy]

I ordered two poster size (20" x 30") prints from Shutterfly for about $22 each. In Photoshop, I cropped the prints to 20" x 30" x 300 dpi from D30 shots, and then converted them to jpg (@ highest quality) for uploading. The 12 MB files took awhile to upload but this was the minimum I felt was required for best quality.

Shutterfly mailed the prints quickly and I received them in less than a week. One had a slight defect and Shutterfly was very good about reprinting it.

Overall I am very pleased with the service and the quality! The prints are a bit soft (they look fine from 6' away) but you can't expect miracles from 3 MP! Now I need a 10D! ;)

boB

[danphoto1]

I have used the digiprint store at and had wonderfull results doing 20x30 poster from a D30 shot of a hockey action shot They are a little expensive but provide quality work check them out. I think tht they are www.digiprintstore.com.

[Vegas Poboy]

I have not used these guys yet but most of my insrtuctors here in school recommends this place here http://www.hhcolorlab.com/
I guess they're one of the best around for printing and might get you what you really want. Three megs is good for 8x10 and maybe a good 11x14.

[perfectpixel]

another choice for large prints is ofoto.com
I also used the technique bob mentioned above and am very pleased with the results.

[JABACo]

If you want to invest a little, buy the Epson Stylus 2200. It runs about $600.00 to $700.00 now. You can print up to 13x19 posters with a cost of about $4.50 using Epson's premium luster paper. Cost would be less for paper not as good.

I am an amatuer photographer but I paid for my camera and this printer by taking photo's of sporting events and selling the 13x19's for $25.00 to $35.00 a pop to the Parents, and they loved them.

Just an idea for you so could do your own and have it pay for itself. And, make a little extra.

As to the larger size, you'd need some sort of plotter.

Good luck

Bradley

[WSpruance]

Ditto on the Epson 2200!

Mail order here in South Florida we have:
http://www.dalelabs.com in Hollywood, FL
I have not used them but friends rant and rave about having color negatives converted to slides here.
Good Luck.

[rodbunn]

Bignose.com does good work for fair prices !

Good luck, Rod

[Derek Smith]

I work for a poster printing company in the UK, I can't give their name because that would be advertising and I believe that would be inappropriate.

We regularly print photographers images at sizes up to 1000mm x 2000mm. The file for such a print could be 100MB to 250MB depending on the overalll quantity of detail in the image.

The term 'Poster' is generally used in large format circles to refer to A2 and above. Below that size is generally refered to as a large print rather than a poster, although in photoghraphy parlance there is often overlap.

To get a quality worth looking at, go to a large format printer using at least 600dpi technology and then ask them to print in at least 8 pass multipass mode. This is slower than normal volume large format printing, but the interleaving gives the highest resolution. Using this technique, 3 point text should be clearly readable provided the image is printed out onto good quality semiphotobase paper.

We are now regularly printing out large images from 10D captured images. For very large images work over your image VERY carefully. You will be amazed at the number of faults and blemishes an image holds which become glaring faults when viewed 6 foot x 4 foot, and its too late after its printed. In particular, be careful not to over sharpen, halo edges turn into tram lines when blown up. Be prepared to selectively sharpen individual parts of your image to get the sharpness you need in the places you need it, rather than just banging on USM to the whole image.

Finally, be very careful about the life of your print. To keep your print in good colour for as long as possible make sure that you stipulate UV stabilised inks. UV from sunlight or striplights can fade unstabilised inks in a matter of months. You could also conside having your print pressure sealed with a thin satin film (laminate) to cut down UV degredation, glare effects and general wear and tear.

[robertwgross]

JABACo wrote:
I am an amatuer photographer but I paid for my camera and this printer by taking photo's of sporting events and selling the 13x19's for $25.00 to $35.00 a pop to the Parents, and they loved them.


Too cheap. If you mat and mount prints, then the 8x10 should cost a minimum of $25. The 11x14 ... $45. The 13x19 ... $60.

---Bob Gross---

[JABACo]

robertwgross wrote:
JABACo wrote:
I am an amatuer photographer but I paid for my camera and this printer by taking photo's of sporting events and selling the 13x19's for $25.00 to $35.00 a pop to the Parents, and they loved them.


Too cheap. If you mat and mount prints, then the 8x10 should cost a minimum of $25. The 11x14 ... $45. The 13x19 ... $60.

---Bob Gross---


Yes Bob, you're probably correct. However, all I did was produce the photo "as is". I left it up to the "buyer" to do the rest. As for my own 13x19's, my wife did the rest.

Bradley

[robertwgross]

Bradley, if that is the way that your customers like them, then OK. I mount mine on foamboard, stick a cheap mat on the front, and VOILA... it is ready for the customer's frame.

Think about what they will buy just prior to Christmas.

---Bob Gross---

[JABACo]

robertwgross wrote:
Bradley, if that is the way that your customers like them, then OK. I mount mine on foamboard, stick a cheap mat on the front, and VOILA... it is ready for the customer's frame.

Think about what they will buy just prior to Christmas.

---Bob Gross---

Ironically Bob, (no you're not ironic), I was originally using Elmer's & 3M Spray Adhesive (acid free) and applying to 1/8" foam board. Then, trimed with a sharp box blade using an carpenters "L" steal ruler as a guide. That's where I charge an extra $10.00 for about 2 minutes of work. And yes, Parents loved them.
BUT, I had a small problem with bubbling on some of the prints.

[JABACo]

robertwgross wrote:
Bradley, if that is the way that your customers like them, then OK. I mount mine on foamboard, stick a cheap mat on the front, and VOILA... it is ready for the customer's frame.

Think about what they will buy just prior to Christmas.

---Bob Gross---

Ironically Bob, (no you're not ironic), I was originally using Elmer's & 3M Spray Adhesive (acid free) and applying to 1/8" foam board. Then, trimed with a sharp box blade using an carpenters "L" steal ruler as a guide. That's where I charge an extra $10.00 for about 2 minutes of work. And yes, Parents loved them.
BUT, I had a small problem with bubbling on some of the prints.

[JABACo]

JABACo wrote:
robertwgross wrote:
Bradley, if that is the way that your customers like them, then OK. I mount mine on foamboard, stick a cheap mat on the front, and VOILA... it is ready for the customer's frame.

Think about what they will buy just prior to Christmas.

---Bob Gross---

Ironically Bob, (no you're not ironic), I was originally using Elmer's & 3M Spray Adhesive (acid free) and applying to 1/8" foam board. Then, trimed with a sharp box blade using an carpenters "L" steal ruler as a guide. That's where I charge an extra $10.00 for about 2 minutes of work. And yes, Parents loved them.
BUT, I had a small problem with bubbling on some of the prints.


The foam board was originally 32x44 sheets that I could buy here for $4.50 per sheet

[toddb]

The cheepest place I've ever seen larger prints have got to be Costco. Luckily I live pretty close to one.

4x6 $0.19
8x12 $1.99
11x14 $2.99

The 11x14 are not the greatest, but well worth $3! I mainly just have stuff printed out for family so the quality of the print isn't that important. I don't think they have an online service...not that I know of anyway.

[robertwgross]

JABACo wrote:
The foam board was originally 32x44 sheets that I could buy here for $4.50 per sheet

I was using the same Elmer's Spray adhesive. The foam board is 3/16" at 20"x30" for about $2.79 each.

I spray the Elmer's on the foam board, not on the print. Then I drop the print on it once it is tacky. Then I have a wooden press that sits on it hard for about 30 minutes. No bubbles.

Then I spray Elmer's on the back of the mat, let it get tacky, then drop it on the print front. Then into the press.

Hey, it isn't elegant, but it works.

---Bob Gross---