What is the best way to print digital photos?

[Chan WK]

After several months of using a digital camera, I have accumulated
several GB of digital photos. The old film camera is now collecting
dust but the problem is I have almost no printout of recent shots.

I would like to print out some of the better digital shots so that I
can share them with visitors and the children. I know I can burn them
onto VCD and display them on the TV, but the experience is just
different. Call me old fashion but I prefer the feeling of "closeness"
when everyone stick around the photo albums.

Appreciate comments on which of these option is the best way to get
printout of my digital photos :

a) direct photo printer (example, Canon CP200). Cost to own is ok for
me (approx RM600); per-print is approx RM0.88, which is a little high,
but quality is fantastic and the printout is on postcard paper which
is thick. It is also darn fast to print (less than 30 sec). Only
downside is that it is limited to one size only (approx 4R).

b) normal photo printer (example, one of those from Canon, Epson, HP,
etc). If using normal A4 paper, per-print cost should be lower but
quality unknown. Not sure the total cost if using glossy paper. Was
told that the printing speed is very low for such printer (>10
minutes??).

c) printout at the photo shop (Kodak, Fuji, etc). The cheapest I have
seen is RM0.45 per-print but handling fee of RM5.00. Those without
handling fee is usually around RM0.60. Have not used this so printout
quality unknown. Also not sure what sort of paper they are using.

I expect to print maybe about 15~20 shots per-month. So which option
should I go for?

[Kwan]

Canon S520. approximately 2.5 min / page on High Quality Paper (not glossy)
full A4 boderless printing. I am still using my AMD K6/2 400 MHz (Asus T2P4
originally designed for the classic pentium 133). It should be faster if I
run it on a fast machine.

You can also combine and print 4 photos per page using Photo Shop (or some
other softwares), to reduce cost.

Good if you like to do some tweak to the photo before printing :)

Cost per page.... unknown. Never calculated.

Post by Chan WK
After several months of using a digital camera, I have accumulated
several GB of digital photos. The old film camera is now collecting
dust but the problem is I have almost no printout of recent shots.
I would like to print out some of the better digital shots so that I
can share them with visitors and the children. I know I can burn them
onto VCD and display them on the TV, but the experience is just
different. Call me old fashion but I prefer the feeling of "closeness"
when everyone stick around the photo albums.
Appreciate comments on which of these option is the best way to get
a) direct photo printer (example, Canon CP200). Cost to own is ok for
me (approx RM600); per-print is approx RM0.88, which is a little high,
but quality is fantastic and the printout is on postcard paper which
is thick. It is also darn fast to print (less than 30 sec). Only
downside is that it is limited to one size only (approx 4R).
b) normal photo printer (example, one of those from Canon, Epson, HP,
etc). If using normal A4 paper, per-print cost should be lower but
quality unknown. Not sure the total cost if using glossy paper. Was
told that the printing speed is very low for such printer (>10
minutes??).
c) printout at the photo shop (Kodak, Fuji, etc). The cheapest I have
seen is RM0.45 per-print but handling fee of RM5.00. Those without
handling fee is usually around RM0.60. Have not used this so printout
quality unknown. Also not sure what sort of paper they are using.
I expect to print maybe about 15~20 shots per-month. So which option
should I go for?

[rizzia]

this is my experience...
have thousands and thousands of digital images on the hard disc...
bought a photo printer, canon i850, quality...mmmmm is ok...cost of
printer approx rm820.00 (2003) cost to print 4R approx 0.45 cents. (too
much time to process/prepare. (leceh lor...)

my modus operandi now...take lots and lotsa pictures, select the ones
you really like. (i usually collect up to 100 or 250) burn to a cd-r. go
to photo shop, get them to print, quality? amazing!! even better than my
printer! (makes sense! my printer, rm820.00, their printer rm10,000.00
++!!)

cost? 0.50 sen, 4R size no processsing fee...absolute blis!!

next? to get a digital SLR...and shoot even more pictures...

cheers

Post by Chan WK
After several months of using a digital camera, I have accumulated
several GB of digital photos. The old film camera is now collecting
dust but the problem is I have almost no printout of recent shots.
I would like to print out some of the better digital shots so that I
can share them with visitors and the children. I know I can burn them
onto VCD and display them on the TV, but the experience is just
different. Call me old fashion but I prefer the feeling of "closeness"
when everyone stick around the photo albums.
Appreciate comments on which of these option is the best way to get
a) direct photo printer (example, Canon CP200). Cost to own is ok for
me (approx RM600); per-print is approx RM0.88, which is a little high,
but quality is fantastic and the printout is on postcard paper which
is thick. It is also darn fast to print (less than 30 sec). Only
downside is that it is limited to one size only (approx 4R).
b) normal photo printer (example, one of those from Canon, Epson, HP,
etc). If using normal A4 paper, per-print cost should be lower but
quality unknown. Not sure the total cost if using glossy paper. Was
told that the printing speed is very low for such printer (>10
minutes??).
c) printout at the photo shop (Kodak, Fuji, etc). The cheapest I have
seen is RM0.45 per-print but handling fee of RM5.00. Those without
handling fee is usually around RM0.60. Have not used this so printout
quality unknown. Also not sure what sort of paper they are using.
I expect to print maybe about 15~20 shots per-month. So which option
should I go for?

[Kelvin Yam]

Which photo shop did you visit?

Post by rizzia
this is my experience...
have thousands and thousands of digital images on the hard disc...
bought a photo printer, canon i850, quality...mmmmm is ok...cost of
printer approx rm820.00 (2003) cost to print 4R approx 0.45 cents. (too
much time to process/prepare. (leceh lor...)
my modus operandi now...take lots and lotsa pictures, select the ones
you really like. (i usually collect up to 100 or 250) burn to a cd-r. go
to photo shop, get them to print, quality? amazing!! even better than my
printer! (makes sense! my printer, rm820.00, their printer rm10,000.00
++!!)
cost? 0.50 sen, 4R size no processsing fee...absolute blis!!
next? to get a digital SLR...and shoot even more pictures...
cheers

Post by Chan WK
After several months of using a digital camera, I have accumulated
several GB of digital photos. The old film camera is now collecting
dust but the problem is I have almost no printout of recent shots.
I would like to print out some of the better digital shots so that I
can share them with visitors and the children. I know I can burn them
onto VCD and display them on the TV, but the experience is just
different. Call me old fashion but I prefer the feeling of "closeness"
when everyone stick around the photo albums.
Appreciate comments on which of these option is the best way to get
a) direct photo printer (example, Canon CP200). Cost to own is ok for
me (approx RM600); per-print is approx RM0.88, which is a little high,
but quality is fantastic and the printout is on postcard paper which
is thick. It is also darn fast to print (less than 30 sec). Only
downside is that it is limited to one size only (approx 4R).
b) normal photo printer (example, one of those from Canon, Epson, HP,
etc). If using normal A4 paper, per-print cost should be lower but
quality unknown. Not sure the total cost if using glossy paper. Was
told that the printing speed is very low for such printer (>10
minutes??).
c) printout at the photo shop (Kodak, Fuji, etc). The cheapest I have
seen is RM0.45 per-print but handling fee of RM5.00. Those without
handling fee is usually around RM0.60. Have not used this so printout
quality unknown. Also not sure what sort of paper they are using.
I expect to print maybe about 15~20 shots per-month. So which option
should I go for?

[rizzia]

fotosun digital studio
133, ss2/24 pj

Post by Kelvin Yam
Which photo shop did you visit?

Post by rizzia
this is my experience...
have thousands and thousands of digital images on the hard disc...
bought a photo printer, canon i850, quality...mmmmm is ok...cost of
printer approx rm820.00 (2003) cost to print 4R approx 0.45 cents. (too
much time to process/prepare. (leceh lor...)
my modus operandi now...take lots and lotsa pictures, select the ones
you really like. (i usually collect up to 100 or 250) burn to a cd-r. go
to photo shop, get them to print, quality? amazing!! even better than my
printer! (makes sense! my printer, rm820.00, their printer rm10,000.00
++!!)
cost? 0.50 sen, 4R size no processsing fee...absolute blis!!
next? to get a digital SLR...and shoot even more pictures...
cheers

[Chan WK]

What sort of paper do they use? Is it the normal photo paper? (which
is more than good enough for me)

Post by rizzia
fotosun digital studio
133, ss2/24 pj

[mn]

the print quality is indistinguishable from normal print, esp when printing
a 1600x1200-pixel photo on 4R size (4"x6"). my son used the fotokem shop at
subang parade, and for 120 pieces (pooled with friends, + some form of
membership scheme), they got 35sen/4R-piece. i thot that was a good bargain.

+++

Post by Chan WK
What sort of paper do they use? Is it the normal photo paper? (which
is more than good enough for me)

Post by rizzia
fotosun digital studio
133, ss2/24 pj

[lowkl]

Yo Chan WK et al,

Send it to the photoshop! With competition on the rise, the price per
print keeps dropping and dropping. The handling charge usually gets
absorbed if you print in bulk. Check around to get the best deals.
Quality is essentially like what you used to get from film... only much
sharper and more saturated (for me at least). They use real photo paper
processed in the real "photo" way, not by spraying colour onto paper. IN
addition, they also get it ready FAST - you can even get 1-hour service.
Inkjets are good for large prints and for single prints, but otherwise
the hassle, time and cost are simply NOT worth it!

[rizzia]

too true...concentrate on creating the images...

Post by lowkl
Yo Chan WK et al,
Send it to the photoshop! With competition on the rise, the price per
print keeps dropping and dropping. The handling charge usually gets
absorbed if you print in bulk. Check around to get the best deals.
Quality is essentially like what you used to get from film... only much
sharper and more saturated (for me at least). They use real photo paper
processed in the real "photo" way, not by spraying colour onto paper. IN
addition, they also get it ready FAST - you can even get 1-hour service.
Inkjets are good for large prints and for single prints, but otherwise
the hassle, time and cost are simply NOT worth it!

[David T]

35 cents/4R piece is really cheap. It cost 50 cents here in JB even
though I'm sending over 100 pieces per print.

Post by mn
the print quality is indistinguishable from normal print, esp when printing
a 1600x1200-pixel photo on 4R size (4"x6"). my son used the fotokem shop at
subang parade, and for 120 pieces (pooled with friends, + some form of
membership scheme), they got 35sen/4R-piece. i thot that was a good bargain.
+++

Post by Chan WK
What sort of paper do they use? Is it the normal photo paper? (which
is more than good enough for me)

Post by rizzia
fotosun digital studio
133, ss2/24 pj

----------------
David Toh,
www.kiddoXP.com
www.streamyx.info
Pain is temporary, bragging rights are forever ...

[Chan WK]

Maybe they think 100 pcs is no big deal?

I was shopping in KLCC a few days ago and saw a shop advertising 45sen
for "over 500 pcs". Yes, 500. I guess some people really print that
many.

Post by David T
35 cents/4R piece is really cheap. It cost 50 cents here in JB even
though I'm sending over 100 pieces per print.

[mn]

Post by Chan WK
Maybe they think 100 pcs is no big deal?
I was shopping in KLCC a few days ago and saw a shop advertising 45sen
for "over 500 pcs". Yes, 500. I guess some people really print that
many.

...

not necessarily from one person. you can pool with your friends, that's what
my son and his mates did.

+++

[mh777]

chan,

the paper is the same paper they use when you develop using your film roll.
that is not the problem. my experience is that the photo tend to get 'crop'
as somehow the 4R doesn't correspond exactly with our 4:3 format??? have
any of you encounter this problem? another story is the white balance, some
of my photos looked fine on the computer but when printed looks 'yellowish'.
hopefully as digital prints technology gets better, all these budding issues
will be solved.

mh777

Post by Chan WK
What sort of paper do they use? Is it the normal photo paper? (which
is more than good enough for me)

Post by rizzia
fotosun digital studio
133, ss2/24 pj

[t***@gmail.com]

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