Instore vs Online Digital Printing

[georgie]

Hi everyone

Firstly thanks for all the great info I have received to date - it has been a lifesaver.

Having seen recently that Big W prints 6 x 4 at $0.31 I would like to print some of my photos. I notice that they give you 2 options.

1) Upload photos online and pick up in store in about 4 days
2) Come instore and use a instore model (ebox)

Both cost the same and are Agfa machines. My questions - is there a quality difference using either way?

Has anyone printed with both and noticed a difference. I don't mind waiting the 4 days (actually I can probably only pick up on weekends anyway) if it offers better quality. Alternatively If I can take in a CD of high quality JPEGS and print straight away, I would like to do that.

Thoughts and suggestions would be great.

[huynhie]

georgie,

as the quality of prints differ from one place to another, I suggest you try both options and see which one you like the best.

[gstark]

I'm wondering why it takes FOUR BLOODY DAYS if you're uploading the image files to 'em!

It's not as if they have to move the paper from Perth to Melbourne to Sydney, and then wait for the ink to come in, by slow boat, from Tassie.

They have got to be kidding, haven't they?

My expectation would be that I could upload the files from my pc, and at the completion of the upload, wander in to the store (which should be just up the road) and collect the prints.


Quite frankly, if I'm going to wait 4 days, they should be delivering the prints to my door!

It strikes me as being a little bit like the banks who take zero time to clear a cheque, but still hit you for 7 days before you can have access to the funds.

IOW, there's more than a small smattering of bullshit somewhere in there.

[genji]

it takes 4 days cause every 2nd day they got to train new casual 15 yr old staff

if time is not of the essence i cant c y the quality would be any different.

[widdleyummycookie]

kmarts prints are 24c per print. but you have to watch out because most photo labs that arn't in major cities arn't digital. which means they don't print your digital photos in the chemicals like they do with your film. if it's not processed through chemicals your photos will be on crap paper, they will fade, the ink used is just a ribbon like whats used on the kodak printer docks, garbage. the paper scratches easily and dints, and the top layer (they layer the ink is printed on) peels off. and if you're wanting enlargements the prices are rediculous because it goes by page size and they only have 2 sizes. i work in a kmart photo lab and we are upgrading to digital machines in a few monts but all thats used at the moment is a kodak 4800 printer, and its a pain, they paper is just a roll and we have to reprint pictures so many times because of dints or scratches on the paper, or sraches n marks on the ribbon. big w is the same except they use crap agfa paper.

[jethro]

interesting stuff. ive seen and researced extensively the noritsu range of new generation lab machines. they are 7 colour and are chemical free. they have an epson engine running the prints and the main thing i could see different was that the last colour down was a gloss. have a look at this link its quite interesting and im pretty sure it will be the future

http://www.noritsu.co.jp/english/produc ... 1_621.html

[ozimax]

Big W is 20c per 6x4 today, Agfa quality seems reasonable, I got 100 printed today for a customer who is going to use them as giveaways, I don't think anyone can compete with that price at the moment, and that was for a 40 minute turnaround.

It would cost me far more than that to get the flyers printed on a colour laser, which isn't much chop anyway.

Cheers,

Max

[redline]

i am not a fan of the bigw lab job.
i send the send photo twice over a two week period to be printed and the both came up with varied skin tone for light to very dark.
i didn't want to bother to complain but i don't want varied results i wanted consistanty and accurancy so i went to nulab. but teds seem ok for the moment.