Photo Printing Service Providers & Some Tips to Use Them

Because of the high cost of ink and the slowness of some printers in dealing with photo quality prints, many people are turning to photo printing service providers to get the copies of their digital pictures. If you’re one of them or have thought about becoming one of them, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Available Printing Service Providers

You may be surprised about how many options you have when it comes to photo printing service providers. There’s a good chance they are more conveniently located than you might have guessed. Here are a few.

• Costco.
• Target.
• Wal-mart/Sam’s Club.
• Pharmacy Photo Departments

Most of these options allow you to order prints through their online sites and have them delivered or prepared for in-store pick-up. Some of the stores, including Target, have kiosks that let your immediately make prints using your digital camera’s removable media. Prices vary but average between 8 and 20 cents per print.

Non-Digital Film Options

Although not as common as digital development these days, if you do need to have traditional film developed you’ll still be able to use most of the options above.

A better option can also be Snapfish.com. Through this service, you mail in your film through provided mailers. The shots are developed and mailed back to you, plus online copies are placed in an album for your viewing. The process takes about 11 to 17 days. However, the cost for film development is very reasonable. You can pay as little as 8 cents per print if you purchase development in advance.

Tips for Choosing a Printing Service Provider

You don’t want to trust your digital prints to just anyone, so choosing a printing service provider may require a bit of research. Here are a few tips on how to make the right decision for your needs.

Price. While a few cents won’t usually matter, if you’re doing a large print job you may want to shop around. Some providers offer great deals for new customers, such as 50 prints for free.

Convenience. Look for providers in your neighborhood. You’ll save on shipping costs and will be more likely to get those pictures printed in a timely fashion.

Software. Most of these service providers who allow orders via the Internet use some type of software or existing photo program for the management and submission of the files for printing. Make sure you like using that software before you make your choice.

Consider Alternatives

If you’re not happy with any of your printing service options, there are other alternatives to printing. You can create online albums and share them with friends and family that way. You can also save them on CD-Roms so you have a back-up copy.

About the Author:

This article is written by Brenda Stokes. A longer version of this article is at Inkjet Printer Cartridge Recycling Franchises and main source of this article is Discount Printer Ink Cartridges.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Photo Printing Service Providers & Some Tips to Use Them

Photo Printing, Printing Service, Photo Program