What printing service does everyone use to print the high quality images the new iPhones take? We have had some printed and the colors do not come close to what we see on the screen. The images are also not as sharp. It looks like the files do not upload correctly
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Printing iPhone Photos
- Thread starter Antr7
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I’ve used Fracture for some prints and the results were very good. Remember that when you’re viewing on screen the image is backlit and can appear more vivid than a paper print would. You may need to lighten up the image before sending it off. For a test use one of your local big box printing places (Walmart, CVS, or Costco). Print the same image with different settings to see what you prefer.
My approach with the computer is pretty simple, I have a few prints made then attempt to set the display so it gives as close a match as possible to the prints. It won't exactly match every print, just find the best compromise. From there you can adjust the colour, density and contrast of the images as needed. Even so I will have to rework about 5% of anything I print. Stick with the same printer as there will be variations there as well.
As to sharpness that may relate to the size of the print. The sensors on an iPhone are very small and even at 8x10, I would expect some subjects to be soft. Any bigger and most images will probably look a at least somewhat soft. 5x7 and smaller should be capable of crisp prints, but keep in mind the printer may be resizing your image if it is not at 400 pixels per inch or whatever the actual resolution that their printer uses.
I don't own an iPhone so I have no idea as to whether you have sufficient control to do all that on your phone.
As to sharpness that may relate to the size of the print. The sensors on an iPhone are very small and even at 8x10, I would expect some subjects to be soft. Any bigger and most images will probably look a at least somewhat soft. 5x7 and smaller should be capable of crisp prints, but keep in mind the printer may be resizing your image if it is not at 400 pixels per inch or whatever the actual resolution that their printer uses.
I don't own an iPhone so I have no idea as to whether you have sufficient control to do all that on your phone.
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Ever since Costco closed their in-store photo processing, I print them myself. One thing to know about Costco is that they had a box to check on the order NOT to override and have the machine correct what I corrected. Walgreens and others did not have that capability when I inquired - they may now, but don't know, so didn't use them. Online? There is still Costco, and I did use them last year for a special personalized calendar project. Getting that time of year where may have to do it again. But if online, there are other well known options (Bay Photo, Mpix, WHCC, Printigue/Adorama) - the problem may be minimum order for free shipping or worse - tacking on a percentage for all orders (Zenfolio, Smugmug,etc)
Today, the majority of what is printed from an iPhone is 4x6 which I do from home where I use an inexpensive Canon printer with 6 ink cartridges, including a "photo ink" cartridge. I do drool over a wide carriage Canon Pro-1000 or Epson P900 with their archival quality pigmented inks. Larger than 4x6 typically are not taken with an iPhone, and probably wouldn't go over 8x10 if I did. My website is connected to WHCC, and while they do a good job, not overly happy. It was just the only choice I had for the service providing inexpensive hosting for a website store. With WHCC's $12 minimum (my cost, not what I charge), I have to review all orders and intercept small orders for alternate processing, otherwise they would charge me $12 for one 4x6.
I am fortunate that I have an excellent local lab - created by photographer for photographers - and what keeps me from purchasing those printers. (Interesting background of start-up http://www.rt-art.com/about-us.html) With any of the professional level labs, they will give you color profiles for their printer/paper that you set in Photoshop/Lightroom for print output, so they will not 'auto-correct' unless you tell them to. I do use the local lab for prints larger than 4x6 and their prices are "Costco" level - very competitive. I typically handle shipping, but they do provide it as an option. Typically where I will use them is when not conducive to full order auto process with drop shipping, such as special numbered limited editions or those that I sign.
Today, the majority of what is printed from an iPhone is 4x6 which I do from home where I use an inexpensive Canon printer with 6 ink cartridges, including a "photo ink" cartridge. I do drool over a wide carriage Canon Pro-1000 or Epson P900 with their archival quality pigmented inks. Larger than 4x6 typically are not taken with an iPhone, and probably wouldn't go over 8x10 if I did. My website is connected to WHCC, and while they do a good job, not overly happy. It was just the only choice I had for the service providing inexpensive hosting for a website store. With WHCC's $12 minimum (my cost, not what I charge), I have to review all orders and intercept small orders for alternate processing, otherwise they would charge me $12 for one 4x6.
I am fortunate that I have an excellent local lab - created by photographer for photographers - and what keeps me from purchasing those printers. (Interesting background of start-up http://www.rt-art.com/about-us.html) With any of the professional level labs, they will give you color profiles for their printer/paper that you set in Photoshop/Lightroom for print output, so they will not 'auto-correct' unless you tell them to. I do use the local lab for prints larger than 4x6 and their prices are "Costco" level - very competitive. I typically handle shipping, but they do provide it as an option. Typically where I will use them is when not conducive to full order auto process with drop shipping, such as special numbered limited editions or those that I sign.
What are your expectations? High end? General everyday? Specialized (Canvas, metallic, etc)? Resale/delivery to clients?
Something to hang on the wall actually. Probably canvas. Not sure about the stock though.
OK, a quick primer - and nothing against Bay Photo but they are in California and I am in Florida so have to think about shipping/client delivery times.
Paper - many times will also be expressed in grams noting the density/weight, but two different technologies - wet and dry. Most straight prints (low price leaders) from both professional and consumer labs are wet based, silver based darkroom chemical processed prints, and may refer to paper as e-surface or or something. Of course, they are available in various textures - glossy, matte, etc...but (hint) you will never find the paper available at B&H or other sources to purchase (might be in a different section with darkroom chemicals where I know the keep B&W papers). The "darkroom" are those gigantic machines you would see in Costco, Walgreens, etc and watch the fully processed print emerge for cutting and packaging.
Dry Paper - You can purchase these and intended for ink-jet printers. Among professional, and perhaps consumer, printer they may list under the category of "Fine Arts" archival prints or Giclée which translation literally means the spraying (of ink). Two types of ink - dye based (90% of all inkjet printers) and pigment based ink (high end printer) which is rated to have greater archival values assuming all are printed on acid free papers. While both wet and dry are good, the dry is considered wo give greater detail as the have from 8 to 12 cartridges to mix for more color combinations as it precisely sprays the ink.
Canvas - This will be dry method. The big issue is on sizing as it has to do with the 3/4 to 1.5" wrap- and they will give instructions. Two methods - solid border, typically choice of black or white, that showed 100% pf picture on surface. The other choice is edges of the photo wrap around so the display surface is essentially cropped to accommodate the wrap. Those are thing you have to be aware of. I have done a variation of that in Photoshop selecting a wrap strip, moving and flipping a mirror image of the edge to accommodate the wrap and show 100% on surface. I also let the printer know what I did so they don't try to correct.
Labs - really any of them. It may be because I signed up with WHCC as a professional for my website store but they sent me a sample pack to view papers and textures. Take advantage of a sample pack if they offer it. With local labs using darkroom processing - like Costco use to offer in their store - I would drop off (or upload from home) early in the day to get the freshest chemicals. Not that critical with inkjets. With the national labs don't be intimidated that their marketing push is for the high volume photographer - schools, wedding, events, etc as they do small custom jobs. I found it interesting that their default paper was wet based which notes their processing. The one exception I noted was Adorama's Printique as the only noted using Hahnemühle inkjet paper with no reference to other papers. While I use WHCC only because web store hosting, Pixpa didn't offer a choice, my first choice would have been Mpix (or their professional division, Millers) and Bay Photo - except for the distance. If I didn't have a local lab, Printique would definitely be in the mix. The more consumer focused labs like Smugmugg, Costco, WalMart, Walgreens etc, are OK except 1) the professional focused labs are price competitive, and 2) 100% of their business where employees are trained and may do color and print analysis as part of the service that would not anticipate at the consumer level.
I have used Mpix and have been very satisfied with their output, but it has been rather a while ago now. I've also heard good things about WHCC, too, actually......
Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with WHCC products as they are excellent. My issue is WHCC policies and being my only choice offered by my back office provider for a web store. Some back office providers offer the choice of several print processors when developing a price list. Two specific policies deal with drop shipping and minimum orders that don't exist with other print processing firms. Drop shipping has a $7.50 add-on fee if sent directly to the client. Essentially all orders must be shipped to me, then double up on shipping as it is reshipped - or pay the fee if less than the second shipping when it would cost them no more to originally ship to point A or Point B. The other issue is the $15 minimum order - PER PRODUCT - not total order. Canvas print, regular print, T-Shire are 3 different products, each subject to the minimum separately. That $15 doesn't sound like much until you realize that it is my cost payable to them - not the customer's total order. Generally speaking, if there is the typical 200% markup, it would translate to a $45 customer order. Typically not an issue with group photographers, such as weddings, with "packages pricing", more an issue where one print may be ordered, if fo no other reason than a new potential client 'testing' you. Lets say you order one 5x7 at $6 (or one 8x10 at $10) my cost to that single photo printed is $15 for a guaranteed loss. My solution is to disable automatic order processing and manually review every order, either approving or manually redirecting to my independent account at an alternate lab. Worse, it may not be a timely review if waiting until end of day to review (vs instant on automatic) or worse, I am on location in an area with no internet access.
It varies, but they actually have a good web site with "Same Day Pickup" menu item. Virtually eveything is available "shipped", but "Same Day Pickup" will identify stores where presumably done in-house, or at least a local site consolidating orders that delivers to a group of stores. Looking at canvas, yes they offer it, but same day pickup is limited to 11X14 only.
As far as biggest print, not certain as wanted me to upload a file before stating sizes offered where they probably match up file size/resolution with maximum size it would support even though they provide larger.