For the photographers

A survey carried out by PC Pro magazine looked at which of 100 home photo printers offered a better deal than handing your snaps to a photo lab ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4092653.stm

So how do you print your memories?  I've been using Photobox.  What about you?

I use Jessops to make prints I want to give, or frame,, but to be honest, since going digital, mostly I email pics to others, so I rarely print off photos at all. Just if I want a particular one for a frame. Which has only been about twice, LOL. 

Am going to give Photobox a go next time tho, always good to try something new

I just heard about Photobox last week (AFTER paying 85p each at Snappy Snaps for some prints!) - I plan to give them a try next time - are the prints good quality Cait?

Can't complain, Liz.  The photos are rated for 150 years and some have come out stunning (the others that weren't so stunning didn't have anything to do with them -- more like the photographer).  The trick is to calibrate your monitor to the samples they give you so that you get what you see on screen.

As long as you have a decent broadband connection, it's much easier to upload to them than go out and fetch your own pictures!

Speaking of monitors,, I had heard that LCD monitors give less distortion and better color quality for editing photos,, have any of you heard that before? I want a good excuse to get one 

I used to have a rather high-end 19" CRT (went to hubby) and then upgraded to a 17" TFT.  I've noticed that the colours on the TFT seem to be much brighter and vibrant.  Until my husband upgraded to a TFT we used to have the CRT and TFT side-by-side; the difference in images was pretty noticeable.

Also, the TFT has 'colour spots'.  For instance, if I have a picture in a corner of the screen, it is darker and more muted in colour.  Put it dead center, the image brightens.  Move your body from dead center (even if the image is centered) and the image colours, brightness and contrast will change too.

I miss space the most.  With my CRT, I was able to run at 1600x1200, rather than the 1280x1024 that I run at on the TFT.  I haven't found any TFTs that will go above 1280x1024.  With all of Photoshop's palettes and the image size, I'm sure you can appreciate the need for extra screen real estate.

Hubby would rather get me a 21 inch crt,, but they are like massively huge, and I want something that won't break my desk in half,,lol.  Cait, do you prefer to work from the CRT versus the TFT?  I guess what I wondering is,, will I get a false impression of a photo using the TFT, if I have them printed off? 

Well, as with any monitor, you can calibrate the TFT.  I have a sample image that was sent to me by Photobox.  The same image is online too.  Just before I prepare images for print, I check the online image to the printed image and calibrate if necessary.

On the whole, I prefer the TFT (colour vibrance, brightness, and most importantly, desk space).  The only strike against the TFT is that it won't go to 1600x1200, which for me is a big strike.

Just popping in another plug for Photobox (no, I don't get anything for this).  I uploaded my holiday snaps on Boxing Day, Photobox opened for business yesterday and the prints were in my hands today.

They are absolutely stunning!

This is the first batch of piccies I've sent off for print since getting the Nikon D70.  It was also the first time that I've been able to work with RAW (NEF) files since I've finally upgraded to Photoshop CS.  Every single picture is properly exposed and sharpened -- not a duff one in the bunch!

Can you tell I'm tickled pink?   

ok, i'm def going to use them!  i have a bunch i need printed from wedding, honeymoon, trips etc. 

Cool, I just joined to get some prints done for my parents as they have been hassling me for photos of Ethan to send all the rellies. Wow that's great they do them so fast.

Who's everyone's favorite photographer? I'd have to go with Ansel Adams.

Me!   

I like Me too! And my friend Cornelius who took the photo of me that's my avatar.

No, I think Lee Miller is my favourite.

 

My fav?  That's hard.  I do like Annie Leibowitz a lot.