Online Digital Photo Printing

When you first bought a digital camera, you probably had a blast taking pictures and then printing them out at home. It was a convenient way to get photos compared with dropping off film to be developed. But pretty soon you also learned another lesson: ink is expensive.

While there are professional photo printers that have the capability of using bulk ink reservoirs, they're fairly expensive, and perhaps a little too fancy to purchase just for printing out pictures from your fishing trip.

There is an option that falls between using your typical home printer and buying a professional photo printer: online digital photo printing.

Once you try online digital photo printing, you'll probably be hooked. You don't have to worry about running out of ink halfway through printing a photo, and you get a professional quality print for a reasonable price. For a 4 x 6" print, you can expect to pay anywhere from $0.08 to $0.19, though several sites have discounts for large volume orders.

Most online digital photo printing services have quick turnaround, too. In fact, there are discounters like Walgreens and Wal-Mart that allow you to upload files, order prints, then pick them up the same day. Some online print services have agreements with various stores for in-store pick-up. For services that ship directly to you, expect to have your prints arrive within 2 to 10 days after placing your order.

Here are a few of the top online digital photo printing services, based on price, quality, and speed of delivery.

Clark Color

Clark Color (clarkcolor.com) has the best prices for online photo printing, starting at $0.08 per 4 x 6" print, increasing to $0.79 per 5 x 7" print and $2.99 per 8 x 10" print. Shipping charges start at just $0.99 for five 4 x 6" prints, with an additional $0.49 for every additional 10 prints up to 190.

Clark Color also offers an index CD for $2.99. The site accepts MasterCard, Visa, and Discover, and the uploading and ordering process is clear and intuitive. Shipping takes about 4 days, and Clark Color does not offer the option to pick up prints at a local print shop.

Snapfish

For print quality, it is hard to beat Snapfish (snapfish.com). In addition to the option of having prints shipped directly to you, you also have the option to send photos to a local Meijer, Staples, or Walgreens to pick up your prints.

Uploading your photos is simple, prices are reasonable (starting at $0.09 per 4 x 6" print), and Snapfish offers a number of customized photo gifts like mouse mats, collages, flip books, posters, mugs, stickers, and playing cards, some of which are also available for in-store pick-up.

Print quality is reliably good, whether the images are low contrast, high contrast, or black and white.

York Photo

If you need your prints to arrive on time reliably, York Photo (yorkphoto.com) has quick, dependable turnaround shipping time.

Uploading photos is very simple, whether done one by one, through a downloadable Java app that allows multiple uploads at once, or using York's desktop manager/organizer, a free program that allows you to manage your photos from your desktop without having to get on the website.

Prices start at $0.08 per 4 x 6" print, up to $2.99 for an 8 x 10" print. York can have your prints in your hands in 3 days, at a shipping cost of $0.99 for the first 5 prints. For every additional 10 prints, shipping increases by $0.49.

While York Photo has quick, dependable shipping at very reasonable prices, it does not yet have the option of sending prints to a local processor for in-store pick-up.

More printing options

There are a number of other online digital photo printing sites, some of which have specialized services like the creation of photo gifts, albums, and prints in sizes larger than 8 x 10 inches.

For a truly unique way of printing and enjoying your digital photos, check out Smilebooks.com where you can create professionally-bound table-top photo books with your digital photos. For classic 8" x 11" photo books, prices start at $19.95 (excluding the shipping fee).

Choosing online digital photo printing is a great way to maximize the quality of your prints, conserve your expensive printer ink, and save you time and effort, too.

In addition to allowing in-store same day pick-up, most online digital photo printing services offer several shipping options, including Canadian and international shipping with some.


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