COSTCOS PRINTING

[Tusker]

Anyone tried this venue?? I have heard good things, some from 'experts', but have NO IDEA how big I should expect to get a good print from my D 80-- JPEG?? Any hints would help. THANKS!!!

[IanW]

I use Costco in the UK for any prints I want bigger than 10 by 8.

They have better equipment than I can afford, and for most of us amateurs they are a far more cost effective option than buying the large printer.

[Freezframe_2]

I imagine that will also very from location to location.Spend a few dollars ,get an enlargement ,and judge for yourself.....

Thant's my 2 cents:Brady

[Lee4145]

I've had some fantastic prints made at 8x12 from a 6mp DSLR and could easily have gone larger I think. The website will warn you when you're getting into a size where they'll no longer guarantee the results based on the file you submit. You can also download paper profiles for specific stores if you're printing close to home. You can have them printed with the profile you embed or let them do the color correction in the lab with the click of a button. It's worth a try. I've been very happy.

[actaylor]

I've used them a lot to just print 4x6's right out off the Compactflash card with excellent results. Last week, I modified a shot with Photoshop Elements, saved it to a CD as a JPEG and took it to my local Costco for an 8x10 print. I loved the results. Like a previous poster said, their stuff is better than anything I can afford. I've also seen some of the B&W that I thought was nice. It's not a custom printer, but I think the results are fantastic for the price.

[blumesan]

Absolutely terrific results from my local Costco. Use their profile to soft proof. From my D200 images I have gone to 12"x18" with just wonderful color fidelity.

[dougsmit]

My long answer to this disappeared from this thread so I must have offended someone?
Short version:
I love Costco. Process your images on your computer, crop to proper proportions for the size you will order (out of camera works for 4x6, 8x12 and 12x18 - others need cropping). Calibrate your monitor so you know what you see is correct. When you go to Costco, specify "No Corrections" so they won't recorrect what you already did 'your way' on the computer (this is very important for some shots including those with black backgrounds). Talk to the photo manager there for help getting the most from the 'No Corrections' option.

[Lee4145]

Doug, just to test their lab I edited a portrait on a calibrated monitor and used Lee Varis' skin tone numbers to correct the tone and then had them print two versions. One with the correction on and one with it off. The two prints were identical to my eye.

If you wanted a different effect you wouldn't want them messing with it but otherwise the lab correction seems good.

[drkranger]

I use Costco all the time for even my 4x6" prints. Their prices in my area can't be beat. Their quality is exceptional and their customer service is also top notch. I ordered a bunch of family photos through the web and had them sent to an out of town location. Upon picking up the photos, one was creased. I can understand how those things can slip through since they do a lot of photo printing and may not look. I looked at them and told the guy about it. He reprinted it right then (which also came out creased...lead to an equipment troubleshoot for them) and gave me all the copies. I just can't see going anywhere else.

As for size, I've printed an 11x14" photo collage and it came out fantastic. The client matted with a white mat and a black metal frame and it looked incredible. I saw another photographer there with a great black and white portrait of a preschooler that was out of sight.

I'd highly recommend Costco, but again, each location might be a bit different so it's worth checking in to.

[dougsmit]

Originally Posted by Lee4145

Doug, just to test their lab I edited a portrait on a calibrated monitor and used Lee Varis' skin tone numbers to correct the tone and then had them print two versions. One with the correction on and one with it off. The two prints were identical to my eye.

If you wanted a different effect you wouldn't want them messing with it but otherwise the lab correction seems good.

The problems I had was with images when the center and edges were very different in tone or color. Examples:



In both cases the 'auto' print (NNNN NN on the back) came out considerably lighter than the 'No Corrections' print (NNNN --- on back) which matched the file). It did not seem to matter whether the darker part was central or edge and no print that 'failed' on 'auto' was too dark. Both the examples were images from 2004 when I first started using Costco. I have not tried prints with 'corrections' since I found out about the issue. Possibly they have worked out the bugs and it is not the issue it once was but I'm getting what I like as it is and hope nothing changes.

There is a moral to the story: Make friends with the people who do your prints. All the lab workers at Costco recognize me and treat me like a king. I'm personally of the opinion they treat everyone that way but that does not keep me from feeling special.

My these old images are embarrassing. They both come from the early days while I was trying to learn my first DSLR and still shot JPG.

[Lee4145]

Embarrassing? I love that orangutan!

[drkranger]

Originally Posted by dougsmit

There is a moral to the story: Make friends with the people who do your prints. All the lab workers at Costco recognize me and treat me like a king. I'm personally of the opinion they treat everyone that way but that does not keep me from feeling special.

I'm with you on this one. I swear they recognize my name when I order and when I come in. If they're not busy, they'll talk shop, give honest opinions on some shots, and make me feel special too.

[andykho]

I've done many 12x18s with a 6mp Nikon D50 which came out great. Different costcos have different printers. I've printed at one Costco that just didn't come out right (which came out fine at another Costco), and I was able to return the bad pictures for a full refund. Just make sure you turn off autocorrection and I always brighten up the pictures a bit because the prints seem to come out underexposed otherwise.

[blumesan]

Andykho,

I see that this is your first post in this forum. Let me extend a hearty WELCOME TO THE CAMEL.

[rossb]

The local CostCo in my area makes prints up to 12x18 at the store. I take my images to the store in a jpeg format and I use a USB memory stick to upload to there machine. A typical image would be 12x18 at 300dpi on the memory stick. It costs about $4.00 for the print. When I order prints on line I prefer Mpix.com because they have better paper than CostCo. CostCo has a lot of money, they maintain their machines, offer a good product and have no problem with returns. They are a union store if that matters to you.

[UBSeng]

Originally Posted by rossb

The local CostCo in my area makes prints up to 12x18 at the store. I take my images to the store in a jpeg format and I use a USB memory stick to upload to there machine.

Just wondering: is there any particular reason why you don't upload the pics at home from your computer?

[dougsmit]

I'm not the one you asked but I have an answer. Uploading from home takes time. I have to go pick them up anyway so I prefer to take them in and kill an hour (usually less) looking at other things in the store or eating a $1.50 hot dog and soda at the food facility. I'd rather walk around Costco and eat hot dog than sit at my computer uploading.

I did have a problem last week. I made a composite image that ended up being 7885x5265 pixels and 8MB in size after compression. Their system rejected it. I reduced it to 5400x3600 and it went through. I do not know what the limit is but there is one.

[UBSeng]

Originally Posted by dougsmit

I'm not the one you asked but I have an answer. Uploading from home takes time. I have to go pick them up anyway so I prefer to take them in and kill an hour (usually less) looking at other things in the store or eating a $1.50 hot dog and soda at the food facility. I'd rather walk around Costco and eat hot dog than sit at my computer uploading.

I did have a problem last week. I made a composite image that ended up being 7885x5265 pixels and 8MB in size after compression. Their system rejected it. I reduced it to 5400x3600 and it went through. I do not know what the limit is but there is one.

I have 3 Costcos within a 15 minutes drive and none of them gets prints done under 2 hours, summertime and after holidays is even worse. Even I can't shop there for that long

[edleg]

As I said in another thread I use Costco for almost all of my 4x6 proofs (weddings, etc.) and some 5x7 prints with occasional 8x10 & 11x14 prints. Almost always luster finish.

I also do printing inhouse up to 11x14 (Epson R1800 and R800) and I send larger stuff out to a lab that a friend of mine owns/runs (and is printed on an Epson 4800 or 9600). I only print on luster paper at my home studio, so if I get a request for 5x7, 8x10 or 11x14 on glossy then they, too, go to Costco.

I have no problems with the quality at the local Costco. I use their "auto correction" most of the time just fine. I have a dsl line and uploads are quick. I generally pick up later in the same day or next day. The people there know me by first name and business name and are very friendly and cooperative. I am sure if I needed something reprinted they would do it without a problem (never had to do it).

For 4x6 uncropped wedding proofs included in a package you cannot beat the price of $0.17 each. That price lets me build and sell very competive packages which include "old fashioned" 4x6 proof albums at a decent price and still make a good profit.

[dougsmit]

I am not familiar with the Epsom models you have but assume you are of the opinion that they make better prints than Costco. Again I assume that you are spending more on paper and ink than the Costco price. Locally we get 15 cent 4x6 and $2.99 12x18 but I see not all Costco locations have the same price schedule. How are the Epsom prints better? Are they waterproof?