Does your print lab "adjust" your prints?

[Curtis N]

I'm trying to find the right vendor to print my digital files. I have tried some of the big chains geared to the consumer market, like Walgreens and Wal*Mart, as well as a few local shops that charge more but claim to do a better job. I have gone so far as to have different labs print the same files so I could compare. I haven't tried any of the online vendors because I tend to get impatient and want the instant gratification of the 1-hour service. Price is generally not an important criteria. I don't mind paying a little more if that's what it takes to get the highest quality.

The issue I'm really struggling with is the idea of the print lab "adjusting" certain parameters of the file to "improve" the output. As the rep. at one lab explained it to me, they adjust individual colors (cyan, magenta, yellow) as well as the overall density. She even showed me the code numbers on the back of the print which indicate if and how it was adjusted.

I shoot RAW and work hard to tweak things in the conversion process. I give the files to the lab only after I'm convinced they are "right." I really don't want the lab to be messing with them, for two reasons:
1) I want the print to reflect MY work, not theirs. If I'm a little off with the exposure, white balance or whatever, I want the print to show it, so I can learn from my mistakes.
2) I don't know how the lab tech can determine what's "right," especially with regard to color. How does he know what color a person's skin really is? Or fabrics or anything else, for that matter. How does he know if I was trying to expose for the flowers in the foreground or the mountains in the background?

I know they get a lot of people who bring in their memory cards right out of the camera to order prints. Some of the files are going to be way off, and if they can make better prints for these people, they can justify their higher price and generate repeat business. But that's not what I want.

Any of the local labs will print the files "as is" if I ask them to. But then I wonder if I'm getting anything for the extra investment.

How do you folks choose your print lab, and how do you deal with these issues?

[d'homme]

The cheap photo places probably auto correct everything, since they are driven by consumers who don't know much about fixing/manipulating a photo.

So just like with film, you might need to go to a lab whose dealing is more photogs to get the minute control you seek. I also took my film to a custom lab, and told them what to expose for. I paid more, but was happy with the results.

With digital, I use KodakGalllery online and am happy with their work.

[gpocock]

If you live in the UK try Photobox. I get excellent results from them

Geoffrey Pocock

[Curtis N]

If you live in the UK try Photobox. I get excellent results from them
I'm on the other side of the pond (US), but thanks, anyway.:)

[cmM]

yea, the cheaper places usually do. You can use one of the online places to print, many have the photo enhancing stuff optional or non existent (which is good!).
You can try mpix.com, or whcc

[PhotosGuy]

This has been my experience with "store prints":
Some Walgreens use the Fuji Frontier 350(?) printer. Many do not. Some are getting upgraded printers. You'll have to ask, or look here.
Digital Minilabs - Extensive list (Noritsu, Fuji Frontier)
http://isolation.net/photo/dmini/
A local Walmart is using the Frontier 370, applies no corrections, & the prints from there are clean. For larger prints I go to a local custom lab.
I've had very different color tints at different Walgreens. Make a test print that has an actual white & see what it prints like. You might download one of these:
http://www.inkjetart.com/custom/
Use JPGs @ 150+ ppi. RGB, not CMYK.

Note: If you order Wallmart prints online, they are actually passed through a Fuji website & my results have not been good. I screwed up the first time & only ordered one print when I wanted 5. So I placed a 2nd order within about 10 minutes. One print from the same file was WAY too dark. The other 4 were too light with a LOT of contrast. Remember, this was from the SAME FILE?

Here's the email I got from them:
"We apologize for your difficulties in having your photo printed
correctly in one hour photo. It appears that our processing center
received a corrupt data transfer at the time of these orders. The photo
should be printed as you see it on the website if you would like to
again try to re-place the order. If you continue having this
difficulty on this or any other photo order, please contact us again so
that we can further review the issue."

So I'm going to try the online ordering one more time &, if it's screwed up again, I'll stick to taking my card to the store & order prints with the Fuji "processing" out of the workflow. As I said before, "A local Walmart is using the Frontier 370, applies no corrections, & the prints from there are clean." I've been very happy with their in-store processing. Maybe you will, too.

[aam1234]

I go to a regular shop (not a chain) and ask them not to do anything w/ the photos, which they don't. I can verify by looking at the back of the photos...I get three zeros & a "1" like this "0001". However I don't live in the UK nor the US, so it might be different in different places.

Btw, I got the hint (to ask the shop not to adjust anything) from Scottes and PJ (thank you guys).

[R1 Kid]

I love using MPIX.com They are real easy to talk to also from what I hear. I've never had to call them. Lots of others on here has and they've been pleased. But I've been so impressed with their work. They have an option on their web site to adjust or correct the photo. It defaults to be unchecked so a good question would be to call them up and simply ask them if they do any kind of auto adjusting to the photos.

[slin100]

Any of the local labs will print the files "as is" if I ask them to. But then I wonder if I'm getting anything for the extra investment.

Yes, I believe it makes a difference if you insist. I get pretty reasonable results with CostCo.

[Nightcrawler]

I love using MPIX.com They are real easy to talk to also from what I hear. I've never had to call them. Lots of others on here has and they've been pleased. But I've been so impressed with their work. They have an option on their web site to adjust or correct the photo. It defaults to be unchecked so a good question would be to call them up and simply ask them if they do any kind of auto adjusting to the photos.

That is what I liked about MPIX. I can have faith that what I send them is what I am going to get back. I was impressed by the quality of the prints when I got them back.

[Curtis N]

Thanks, Photosguy, for the insights and the links.

It should be noted that the quality of the personnel (and hence the quality of the output) varies greatly from store to store, whether it's Wal*Mart or any other chain.

The Wal*Mart photo center near my home is well-managed with a good staff. I have been pleased with their service and their prints. At another Wal*Mart near where I work, I once watched an employee drag a strip of negatives on the floor and accidently step on them. When he realized what he had done, he just hung up the strip and walked away as if nothing had happened.

Incidents like this make me glad I shoot digital.

[Titus213]

I've used Costco with much success. I plan on checking into their 'pro' service and see what it buys me. Colors are very good.

[Mudflap66]

Any of you every tried Mystic Labs. I used to use them all the time when I was shooting film. They always did a great job for me. Since I went digital I print my own.

[22littlereasons]

I've used costco in a variety of cities with great results. If you go the to costco website you can source a list of the specific processor from each store, and download the colour space. Very handy. Very cool.

[colliewalker1]

I live in the UK and have been very pleased with Ofoto - now renamed Kodak Easyshare :
they don't adjust the images in any way

This facility will be available in the US.

[EOSAddict]

If you live in the UK try Photobox. I get excellent results from them

Geoffrey Pocock

I have used both fotoinside and Pixdiscount - very good results at up to 6x8 and v reasonably priced.

[gmaize]

Try reading through this thread. Along with others. I discussed my current lab of choice. 30 min photo (online service) allows you to order corrected or uncorrected, all you have to do is write them instructions in the box provided on the form. Try them out, I like them a lot.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=68980

--gmaize

[markubig]

I live in the UK and have been very pleased with Ofoto - now renamed Kodak Easyshare :
they don't adjust the images in any way

This facility will be available in the US.actually, they've had them here in the US for quite some time, as I've been ordering and prints from them for a few years . . . they DO have a processing filter called "Kodak Perfect Touch" that they are adding to pictures that you order. It applies sharpening to my photos, which are already sharpened by me; thus they become oversharpened. If you order here, you just have to choose not to have the "Kodak Perfect Touch" applied to the photo. If you do that, the pictures from Kodak Gallery Easyshare (formerly ofoto) are excellent . . . colors are vibrant and sharp.

[UncleDoug]

I've been following this thread and I'm becoming rather ammused. :D

Seems like the same issues with getting good/quality(subjective) development and film prints made are now in the realm of digital.
Some "labs" have it down, others do not.;)

Goes back to the same old human-to-human stone-age communication if you want some controll of the process.

[photofinish]

Believe it or not, CVS CAN actually print a decent photo when you tell them NOT to "color manage" or "resize". This assumes that if you are submitting, for example, a set of 4x6's that you labored over in PS, that you have already resized correctly for what you ask for.