Costco Consistency test results

I have done a simple and cheap test. I've tested how consistent my costco printer is. It's a toronto costco on billy bishop way and most of my printing has been done there.

All 5 pictures have been have been printed within one week with an interval from 1 to two days.

None of them were adjusted by costco. All of them are shown as NNNN on the back.

Then I laid out the 5 prints and took a pic of them at f/11 to minimize vignetting. They key is to look at consistency and ignore white balance.

In real life they don't look as drastically different as they do here, but there are still very noticeable tints when you look at them side to side like that.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions:

Very interesting. I get my prints there. They do a decent job. $.99 for an 8x10. Really great price. But the test is interesting because I don't let them process my work either and didn't even think to test, but really, not too surprising. Thanks for the hard work, Doc.

That's interesting. I did something similar when I 1st started using them using the same test prints & I didn't see those differences.

Were they uploaded online or done in the store?

I've don't remember ever having them done in the store. I can't speak to their mail options, but if I upload pic files at 1AM, I can pick up the prints at the local store in the morning.
I like the "Edit Options" for back printing. There's plenty of room for © 2005 XXXX XXXXX.

Definitely wouldn't want to use them for a client.

carsanbballs wrote in post #3084242
Were they uploaded online or done in the store?

All online. I really saw no reason to actually go there to submit stuff.

None of them are color adjusted. All have NNNN on the backs.

Wow, yeah! From left to right, they look like four completely different kids . . .

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #3084874
All online. I really saw no reason to actually go there to submit stuff.

None of them are color adjusted. All have NNNN on the backs.

The reason I asked is that I've seen a differance between in store and online
when printing the same photo on the same day. I have idea why since the both
were printed on the same printer.

carsanbballs wrote in post #3089262
The reason I asked is that I've seen a differance between in store and online
when printing the same photo on the same day. I have idea why since the both
were printed on the same printer.

Probably for the same reason why I've seen a difference when printing online the same photo on the same day.

My local Costco sucks..... big time. Tried to use them again the other day, the print turned out terrible. Proofed with their profile, un-check their color corection box........did everything I could and the print wasn't even close. In photoshop I tried to figure out just how far it was off. Closest I came to matching it on my monitor was -37 Saturation, -17 lightness, -10 contrast. So just for the hell of it I printed the same file on my Epson 2400........nailed it the first time. I don't know way I keep trying them

I should do the same testing, cause my Costco is only a year old and so is their photolab equipment. So far they seem to be pretty consistent.

I buy "stuff" at Costco, but I have my prints processed at a pro lab. Unless these are pictures that you plan to keep yourself, in a draw then use a pro lab.

Miller's, CPQ, Natural Color and about a hundred other labs that have been catering to the professional photographer,for decades, don't sell batteries or underwear! I hope you are not using Costco to give to your client!

Imagine your client bumping into you at Costco, while you pick up their 8x10's! Use a pro lab guys!

For film, I've used a pro lab for decades. Now, they won't provide a printer profile, take 2-days to normal process, and charge at least 10X as much. As long as Costco keeps delivering what I expect, I'm sticking with them.

I am sorry that some of you haven't had good results with the one in your area.

Are you using the Costco printer profile for your store? I wouldn't let them process and mail me the results because I'm not sure where they would be printed. Our local Costco gives quite consistent results when you use their profile.