Blah! +Adoramapix won’t let me order photos without enabling javascript for ad networks. Looking for alternative print shops. Suggestions?

Context: I’m trying to buy some sample medium-size (8x12”) prints on different papers as research toward ordering a large (24x36” or larger, I think) print for framing, so this isn’t a candidate for home printing even on a high-quality printer. I’d like to see whether it would look good on metallic paper.

Michael K Johnson December 12, 2014 07:44

+Mpix​ won’t print metallic finish larger than 20x30” I presume because they use Fuji instead of Kodak paper.

Michael K Johnson December 12, 2014 09:15

Any experience with +Nations Photo Lab?

They use Kodak Endura metallic paper and can print 24x36” (and larger, up to 30x45”), and (bonus!) will mount on gatorboard, which I think is both acid-free and stable.

Michael K Johnson December 15, 2014 20:05

Found a local lab that will print up to 24x36” including on Endura metallic. Did test prints in 8x12” in both glossy and metallic. The metallic paper has substantially lower saturation. Having trouble deciding whether I like the pearlescent effect (in which case, I need to boost the saturation substantially and re-develop) or if it’s just a gimmick that will distract from the picture.

Also not clear whether they did color correction. Thinking of buying what should be identical prints somewhere else, like nations, to compare. But having trouble taking the way-past-high-key overexposed ugly web site at nations seriously enough to actually create an account.

Michael K Johnson December 16, 2014 06:02

Found http://blog.emmett-photography.com/2013/12/2014-comparison-16-online-photo-print.html and http://improvephotography.com/7756/test-results-best-online-print-lab/ covering quite a few online labs.

Michael K Johnson December 16, 2014 06:37

Ugh. ProDPI says “Files must be saved as .JPG image files, 8bit, RGB. PDF, PSD, TIFF files are not accepted[.] Save .JPG files as quality level of 10 for fastest upload/transfer speed.”

Imported from Google+ — content and formatting may not be reliable