Anyone else find Zenfolio/Mpix print size options lacking?

Anyone else find Zenfolio/Mpix print size options lacking?

For example, I have several panorama photos at a 3:1 ratio, and the only print size option at 3:1 is 5"x15".

I e-mailed Mpix about 12"x36" options and their answer was that I should expand the canvas to 24"x36" and add a note in the white space for them to trim it down. That's ok if I send a photo myself, but doesn't sound realistic when selling through a place like Zenfolio.

Maybe it's me, but I see no reason why they can't offer sizes such as 6"x18", 10"x30", 12"x36", etc., if they have printers and papers up to 36" wide.

(Varying ratios, i.e. 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, etc., would be nice, also.)

I ran into the same issue a few weeks ago when i wanted to print a pano. Adorama and Mpix are my normal printers but they didnt offer the 12 by 36 size i was looking for. Looked around the web and found:
http://ezprints.com/Pr​ints/panoramas/default​.aspx

The print came back really nice and very similar to what I expect from my normal printers. Colors were exactly what my calibrated monitor showed and thats really all I can ask for.

I've run into this before as well and ended up doing as suggested... ordered a larger print and trimmed it down myself.

I went thru different printing shops before I settled on Bay Photo as the provider for most of my prints. I changed because they offer more sizes than other vendors I was used to (AdoramaPix is local to me).

drvnbysound wrote in post #16323826
I've run into this before as well and ended up doing as suggested... ordered a larger print and trimmed it down myself.

If I were ordering for myself, or if I were self-fulfilling orders, I would be fine with this. Shoot, I've even "doubled up" and put two 12x36 panos on the same image and had them print a 24x36, and I trimmed that myself.

I'm just not sure how to do this when people order from the site and I'm not involved in the printing process.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #16324291
If I were ordering for myself, or if I were self-fulfilling orders, I would be fine with this. Shoot, I've even "doubled up" and put two 12x36 panos on the same image and had them print a 24x36, and I trimmed that myself.

I'm just not sure how to do this when people order from the site and I'm not involved in the printing process.

Why couldn't you have the item shipped to you for trimming, and you ship it to the client? Just build the additional shipping cost into the product price.

Personally, I will always see all prints before they are ever delivered to a customer, as I want to personally guarantee the quality of work that my name is associated with.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #16323401
Anyone else find Zenfolio/Mpix print size options lacking?

For example, I have several panorama photos at a 3:1 ratio, and the only print size option at 3:1 is 5"x15".

I e-mailed Mpix about 12"x36" options and their answer was that I should expand the canvas to 24"x36" and add a note in the white space for them to trim it down. That's ok if I send a photo myself, but doesn't sound realistic when selling through a place like Zenfolio.

Maybe it's me, but I see no reason why they can't offer sizes such as 6"x18", 10"x30", 12"x36", etc., if they have printers and papers up to 36" wide.

(Varying ratios, i.e. 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, etc., would be nice, also.)

Check out whitewall.com....I use them as opposed to mpix for my wall hangars...

I had used Miller's own (pay as you order) ordering site for many years before Miller's decided to migrate all of their accounts to ZenFolio and require the most expensive subscription. So I looked for other options.

I am now hosted by ShootProof (http://www.shootproof.​com/) which I found through Black River.

ShootProof has a small free account and several subscriptions based on the number of images hosted. I pay only $40 per year for mine (order.myrsphoto.com). I can have automatic lab fulfillment from Black River, Bay Photo, or ProDPI. I can sell digital downloads in several different sizes or self fulfill in anyway I like (including Miller's or my own printer). If I have an odd size that I know where to get but none of the ShootProof labs provides, I just self-fulfill.

ShootProof does not take a commission. They only charge my yearly fee, any lab fees, and credit card processing fees. It's the best deal I've seen. ZenFolio and SmugMug may look good but they charge their commission on top of the yearly subscription. And any subscription plan worth using in 2 or 3 times more than I pay.

I use Zenfolio/Mpix for standard sizes & self-fulfill odd sizes, canvas, deluxe albums. This way I don't have to be involved most of the time but gives me flexibility to provide products they don't have (or products at a better price than them).

syclarac wrote in post #16331298
I use Zenfolio/Mpix for standard sizes & self-fulfill odd sizes, canvas, deluxe albums. This way I don't have to be involved most of the time but gives me flexibility to provide products they don't have (or products at a better price than them).

I would be fine with this. I don't mind self-fulfilling canvas, metallic, etc. But it still seems odd to me that they only offer one option (5"x15") at a 3:1 ratio when they obviously print up to 36" wide at other ratios.