What's the Best Way to Print My Digital Pictures?

HOME METHOD

• very convenient, you print whenever you’d like
• possibility of better touched-up photos as you’re likely to spend more time touching them up before you print
• print one or many – doesn’t matter, you can do it anytime

• if you run out of paper or ink, you can’t print anything
• can be costly to replenish the print cartridges and paper. Pictures use up a lot of ink
• there’s a learning curve in using the software to touch-up your photos and printing them
• when you have a paper jam or other printer complications, there’s no one around to help
• there can be wierd lines or blemishes on the printed picture that does not appear on the screen
• without the best coordination of a good printer, good paper, and plenty of ink, the quality of your pictures can be less than optimal

• picture quality is typically better
• cheaper method to print your pics
• no printer is needed
• can use your photos to make all sorts of neat things like greeting cards, pictures on mugs, books, blankets, etc.
• a developer’s website is open 24 hours a day – send in your order anytime
• almost any store can develop pictures now – warehouse clubs, grocery stores, pharmacies

• not nearly as convenient – you need to plan your trip to the developer
• sometimes you need to wait while other customers are being assisted
• if you use a memory card, thre store’s machine can be confusing
• sometimes the memory card gets jammed or the machine can’t read it
• if you use a memory card, you have to either wait or go back to the store to pick up the photos. Most photos take one hour to process

My Squeeze On It

So you see, both methods have their advantages and drawbacks. For me, sending my pictures online to a warehouse club is the best route. I use either Sam’s Club or Costco. Their prices are very closely matched with the cost of one 4×6 costs a mere 13 cents. The price has dramatically dropped from the 19 cents from a couple of years ago. For enlargements, Sam’s Club tends to be cheaper, but only by pennies for 5×7’s (38 cents) and 8×10’s ($1.42) yet Costco is cheaper for the larger sizes such as a 16×20 ($5.99) and 20×30 ($8.99).

Most of us only belong to just one warehouse club so regardless of which club you belong to, you can feel comfortable knowing you’re getting a good deal at either one.

So dig those photos out of your computer and get them printed, they are just waiting to be seen!