If you take digital prints but want to do paper scrapbooking, you need some way to "get there from here" - that is, some way to process your photos. In the next three lessons, I'll explain three options: online photo processing, kiosk processing, and home printing.
There is a growing number of websites devoted to making tangible prints of digital photos. Each has its own fee schedule, size requirements, limits on disk space, and product offerings. Some offer additional services beyond simple photo prints, such as custom-printed calendars, coffee mugs, Tshirts, and more.
I considered creating a comparative list of each store's costs, products, etc. but in the cut-throat and fast-paced world of e-commerce, the information would probably be obsolete almost before I published it. Instead, I will simply provide a synopsis of things to watch for, and follow that with a list of online photo processors.
Cost Per Print
Digital photography is cheaper than film photography because you can get prints only of those photos that are "winners," and you don't have to buy film over and over again. Even so, the cost
of digital prints can quickly add up if you, like me, typically order hundreds of prints at a time. I've seen prices range from $0.11 per print to $0.39 per print. Some processors offer
limited time-only specials you can take advantage of, and many offer discounts if you prepay for a large block of prints.
Shipping Cost
A low-cost photo processor might not be the best option for you if that savings is lost in an exhorbitant shipping schedule. Check out a potential processor's shipping rates and policies
before you invest your time putting through an order with them.
Quality of Prints
Unfortunately, you won't really know until you order from a processor what the quality of their work is like. If you are lucky enough to have an assortment of local friends who all use a
different processor, you can compare their prints to see which ones you like. Otherwise, you might just have to bite the bullet and order once from each of the processors you're considering
to see how good their prints are.
Product Offerings
Perhaps you want more than just the standard 4x6 color print. Several of the digital processors listed below have more to offer than just that, including options for color (black-and-white,
sepia, or full-color), size (range from locket-sized to poster), feathered edges, and more. Some photo processors also offer products that incorporate your pictures - greeting cards, calendars,
tote bags, mousepads, and more can all be ordered with the photographs you've taken printed right on them.
Choices for Finishes
When I first began scrapbooking, I wanted all of my photos to be glossy. More recently, I've become a bigger fan of matte finish. Some photo processors only offer glossy prints, so you'll
want to see if a processor has the finish you want before you spend hours and hours of your time uploading your pictures to their site.
Turnaround Time
In a hurry? Have a class coming soon and need prints of your digital photos right away? Make sure the processor offers a turnaround time that you're comfortable with.
Storage Space Limitations
I have printed hundreds - maybe thousands - of digital pictures, and all of those pictures were uploaded through the internet to my photo processor's website. And they're all still there,
just in case I want to reprint some of them down the road. This is important to me, since I don't want to have to spend lots of precious time re-uploading photos that I've already uploaded
in the past. Some processors limit the storage space that you can use, and will delete older pictures to make room for the new pictures. This might be a problem for you, so check out the
processor's terms.
Shareability
If you upload all 236 pictures of little Jessica's third birthday party, you might want to let friends and family browse through them, too. More and more online photo processors are adding
the capability for you to share your digital prints through their website. This is an especially useful service for both you and the processor, since it means you don't have to pay for prints
to send to your second-cousin-thrice-removed, but she has a way of ordering those prints herself if she likes.
Now that you know what to look for, here are some of the better-known digital processors in the market:
If you take digital photos and have not yet settled on a digital processor, investigate those listed above, comparing them on the basis of the preceding criteria. Find one that works for your needs.
** This content was previously published at www.Scrap-Poodle.com . It is presented here for the convenience of former members of that site, and scrapbookers and stampers at large. Please do not reproduce this information in any format (except for printing a copy for personal use) without permission of Dana Jones, original publisher of this information. **