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WhizKid Online Image Upload: Off p.1 #1 · Best Lab What lab is your favorite? I'm looking for 5 star quality, most likely a 16x20 or 8x10. Price isn't too much of an issue since the client is paying for it, also framing services would be nice but aren't required. So, your thoughts please Aug 21, 2008 at 07:39 PM

nburwell Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #2 · Best Lab I've been using ProDPI recently for a lot of custom panorama printing, and they have done a wonderful job. I used to use Mpix a lot, but I have found myself using ProDPI more and more. Not only for their quality, but also their customer service, too. You do have to set up an account with them, but it only takes a few minutes, and it's free. -Nick Aug 21, 2008 at 10:43 PM

gzasinets Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #3 · Best Lab Millers Lab hands down. Tried lots of them and nobody could match miller's quality. Aug 21, 2008 at 11:53 PM

hidden_Markov Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #4 · Best Lab I support a photography studio IT wise, they have been using bayphoto for years. Their prints look nice. Use to be a customer when a Marine and doing the Marine Corps Ball picture thing with the wife. Was a happy customer. Now I support the same company that runs the studio that did/does the portrait taking. See various work from them when doing system maintenance things (since I got into photography, going to that facility not the chore it used to be, and kill some time seeing whats around vice leaving as quick as possible like I used to ). Work seems to be consistently good still. Managers there have tended to be picky, guessing they would have went elsewhere if not happy. Aug 22, 2008 at 12:32 AM

Saad Syed Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #5 · Best Lab WHCC Aug 22, 2008 at 12:57 PM

ghostrider25 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #6 · Best Lab nburwell wrote: I've been using ProDPI recently for a lot of custom panorama printing, and they have done a wonderful job. I used to use Mpix a lot, but I have found myself using ProDPI more and more. Not only for their quality, but also their customer service, too. You do have to set up an account with them, but it only takes a few minutes, and it's free. -Nick I went to their site and registered. Their whole setup seems confusing. I have to install a Java app just to see paper/sizing/mounting options and prices? How do you order a a custom panorama? Say, something like 20x60? Aug 22, 2008 at 08:26 PM

nburwell Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #7 · Best Lab I don't have to install the Java app on my Mac. I just run it via their web-site. Nonetheless, I believe the largest width/height they can print is 50". I may be wrong, but you can contact them just to confirm. But for example if you have a 20x40 print or whatnot, you would have to add a canvas border of 10" in photoshop so it fits their 30x40 format (you also only have Luster paper available). Feel free to PM me if this is confusing at all. -Nick Aug 23, 2008 at 12:01 AM

ajkessler Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #8 · Best Lab nburwell wrote: I don't have to install the Java app on my Mac. I just run it via their web-site. Nonetheless, I believe the largest width/height they can print is 50". I may be wrong, but you can contact them just to confirm. But for example if you have a 20x40 print or whatnot, you would have to add a canvas border of 10" in photoshop so it fits their 30x40 format (you also only have Luster paper available). Feel free to PM me if this is confusing at all. -Nick Never used propdi, have heard good things, but this doesn't really sound like a full service pro lab. If you have to add canvas space, etc, I wouldn't say this is the best service for 'custom panorama prints'. For this (custom panorama prints), I'm using West Coast Imaging. They'll print at whatever size, resolution, paper you want, on a variety of different printers. They'll cut to size (no fooling around with borders and cutting up your shots later). They're happy to ship my 20x60 prints flat (ie not in a tube). Price wise, I'm sure they're more expensive than other people. Their quality and customer service is so good there's no way they're going to be cheaper, but they do great work. On the prints I've received, there's only once been a problem (paper dimpled). I called them about it and they shipped me a new one immediately. If there are any problems with the print, they usually catch them (scratches, etc) and reprint it without you ever knowing about it. When trying places like ElCoColor, this is obviously not the case as prints I've received have blemishes that WCI prints never have. They also have very, very nice and helpful customer service people. I don't believe they do mounting or framing though. Edited on Aug 23, 2008 at 06:34 PM Aug 23, 2008 at 06:32 PM

ghostrider25 Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #9 · Best Lab ajkessler wrote: nburwell wrote: I don't have to install the Java app on my Mac. I just run it via their web-site. Nonetheless, I believe the largest width/height they can print is 50". I may be wrong, but you can contact them just to confirm. But for example if you have a 20x40 print or whatnot, you would have to add a canvas border of 10" in photoshop so it fits their 30x40 format (you also only have Luster paper available). Feel free to PM me if this is confusing at all. -Nick Never used propdi, have heard good things, but this doesn't really sound like a full service pro lab. If you have to add canvas space, etc, I wouldn't say this is the best service for 'custom panorama prints'. For this (custom panorama prints), I'm using West Coast Imaging. They'll print at whatever size, resolution, paper you want, on a variety of different printers. They'll cut to size (no fooling around with borders and cutting up your shots later). They're happy to ship my 20x60 prints flat (ie not in a tube). Price wise, I'm sure they're more expensive than other people. Their quality and customer service is so good there's no way they're going to be cheaper, but they do great work. On the prints I've received, there's only once been a problem (paper dimpled). I called them about it and they shipped me a new one immediately. If there are any problems with the print, they usually catch them (scratches, etc) and reprint it without you ever knowing about it. When trying places like ElCoColor, this is obviously not the case as prints I've received have blemishes that WCI prints never have. They also have very, very nice and helpful customer service people. I don't believe they do mounting or framing though. I've thought about trying WCI before but one thing I can't find on their website is if they do mounting for images that size (or at all). Do you have any experience with WCI and mounting? If not, how do you go about getting your 20x60's mounted? Any help would be greatly appreciated since I'm just starting to get into the realm of panoramas and large prints. Aug 24, 2008 at 03:35 AM

ajkessler Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #10 · Best Lab I've not used WCI for mounting and don't know if they do it. Looks like no mention of it on their site? I have a framer who will mount whatever I want to whatever I want. Any halfway decent framer should be able to mount for you, or you could probably do it yourself to save some money. Aug 24, 2008 at 07:11 PM

jcbradshaw Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #11 · Best Lab El-Co Color Labs. Best print quality, great communications, wonderful poster special, fast processing, impeccable packaging. Rather boring website, but who cares? Don't know what else to say. http://www.elcocolor.com/ Edited on Aug 24, 2008 at 11:23 PM Aug 24, 2008 at 11:21 PM

ajkessler Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #12 · Best Lab jcbradshaw wrote: El-Co Color Labs. Best print quality, great communications, wonderful poster special, fast processing, impeccable packaging. Rather boring website, but who cares? Don't know what else to say. http://www.elcocolor.com/ Must disagree. Used elco on a recommendation. UNBELIEVABLE turnaround time. I ordered and got a shipping confirmation literally within the hour. BUT, this obviously comes at a price. One of my prints was dimpled right in the middle, and both of them had light surface scratches. I've never received a print from WCI with scratches, and only one has been dimpled, which they promptly replaced. Otherwise, print quality is very good, but pretty much anything printed on fuji paper on a lightjet/chromira looks good. Packaging is not impeccable; they pack and ship in a tube. They do a fine job of it, but as with most tube shipping, mine arrived with the edges of both prints slightly dinged up and bent. WCI is head and shoulders above this company in terms of final product, but you sure do pay for it. Elco is unbelievable for the price, and they produce a pretty decent product. For most things, I'm sure ElCo would suffice, but if you're really looking for the best, it's simply not that. (I can't argue that WCI is... I've only tried a few other print labs. They're the best I've found so far though) Aug 25, 2008 at 06:58 AM

diannebunch Offline Image Upload: Off p.1 #13 · Best Lab I do some work with www.fullcolor.com. A professional full service lab. They have been in business for 30 years. Great service and quality. Also, if you sign up use code '50off' and they will take 50% off your first order, just for giving them a try. Good luck on your search for a lab that fits your needs. Aug 25, 2008 at 12:04 PM

jcbradshaw Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #14 · Best Lab ajkessler wrote: jcbradshaw wrote: El-Co Color Labs. Best print quality, great communications, wonderful poster special, fast processing, impeccable packaging. Rather boring website, but who cares? Don't know what else to say. http://www.elcocolor.com/ Must disagree. Used elco on a recommendation. UNBELIEVABLE turnaround time. I ordered and got a shipping confirmation literally within the hour. BUT, this obviously comes at a price. One of my prints was dimpled right in the middle, and both of them had light surface scratches. I've never received a print from WCI with scratches, and only one has been dimpled, which they promptly replaced. Otherwise, print quality is very good, but pretty much anything printed on fuji paper on a lightjet/chromira looks good. Packaging is not impeccable; they pack and ship in a tube. They do a fine job of it, but as with most tube shipping, mine arrived with the edges of both prints slightly dinged up and bent. WCI is head and shoulders above this company in terms of final product, but you sure do pay for it. Elco is unbelievable for the price, and they produce a pretty decent product. For most things, I'm sure ElCo would suffice, but if you're really looking for the best, it's simply not that. (I can't argue that WCI is... I've only tried a few other print labs. They're the best I've found so far though) Did you communicate your problems with El-Co? I had a problem or two, (they are human) and they could not have been more responsive. Aug 25, 2008 at 02:59 PM

Sunny Sra Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #15 · Best Lab i have used elco for my larger gallery displays...one print on metallic paper had dings on 1 side...they shipped a new one the very same day free of charge and did not ask for the other to be shipped. Aug 25, 2008 at 03:43 PM

ajkessler Offline Buy and Sell: On p.1 #16 · Best Lab jcbradshaw wrote: ajkessler wrote: jcbradshaw wrote: El-Co Color Labs. Best print quality, great communications, wonderful poster special, fast processing, impeccable packaging. Rather boring website, but who cares? Don't know what else to say. http://www.elcocolor.com/ Must disagree. Used elco on a recommendation. UNBELIEVABLE turnaround time. I ordered and got a shipping confirmation literally within the hour. BUT, this obviously comes at a price. One of my prints was dimpled right in the middle, and both of them had light surface scratches. I've never received a print from WCI with scratches, and only one has been dimpled, which they promptly replaced. Otherwise, print quality is very good, but pretty much anything printed on fuji paper on a lightjet/chromira looks good. Packaging is not impeccable; they pack and ship in a tube. They do a fine job of it, but as with most tube shipping, mine arrived with the edges of both prints slightly dinged up and bent. WCI is head and shoulders above this company in terms of final product, but you sure do pay for it. Elco is unbelievable for the price, and they produce a pretty decent product. For most things, I'm sure ElCo would suffice, but if you're really looking for the best, it's simply not that. (I can't argue that WCI is... I've only tried a few other print labs. They're the best I've found so far though) Did you communicate your problems with El-Co? I had a problem or two, (they are human) and they could not have been more responsive. No I didn't. Frankly, for the price (which is unbelievable compared to places like WCI) I sort of expected it. The prints were tests more than anything. For a lot of things, I'm sure they would suffice, but for stuff I want to hang, it doesn't do it for me. FWIW, ElCo's lightjet and paper combination doesn't produce the colors or the DR that WCI and their Chromira does. Prints are much 'muddier' (and yes, prints were targeted and soft-proofed for each individual profile). I imagine that's just the printer itself, but that's part of the equation as well. Aug 25, 2008 at 08:03 PM

jcbradshaw Offline Image Upload: On p.1 #17 · Best Lab I have been extremely happy with El-Co in all respects, comparing it with other professional labs. And my customers have been thrilled as well. But I have never tried WCI, so I cannot compare. I did check the pricing at WCI, and you are right. WCI is very expensive! Edited on Aug 26, 2008 at 03:54 PM Aug 26, 2008 at 03:49 PM

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