Large prints from*Wal-Mart (8x10, 11x14, etc.)

[caffeineshutter]

Hi All,


Has anybody here had large size prints made at Wal-Mart from 35mm negatives?

I'm curious as to the quality that can be had by dropping off your negs and having an 8x10 up to poster-sized print made by them.

I'm interested in having color prints done...I'm not looking for perfection, but I'm wondering what one can expect.



-CJ

 

[dmr]

I've had large prints made at Walgreens shops which use the same (Fuji Frontier) equipment that Wally World uses. No complaints at all. The thing is, they are not optical prints. They are done on photo paper, but exposed on a laser-type machine from a scan. This info came from a guy who runs one, and also gave me a Fuji test file to check my printer with.

I haven't had any done for some time now, but when I did I would usually not send in the negative, but prepare a fairly large file and get it just the way I wanted it, and tell them not to apply correction. If you don't they tend to punch up the saturation and clip some highlight detail.

For mass-produced prints, I must admit that they do a very appealing job.

 

[plummerl]

Fuji Frontiers produce very good prints on Fuji Crystal Archive paper (usually). They also have a fairly good lifespan. Noritsu 3xxx series machines are also common. I have had 12x18's done at Costco, with very good results using the Noritsu 3111 on Crystal Archive for an unbelievable price. The only caveat in all this is that you may enjoy a returned negative with some enhanced scratching applied.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

The thing is, they are not optical prints. They are done on photo paper, but exposed on a laser-type machine from a scan.

So they are optical prints. Just a diffrent type of optical system from what you may be used to.

My minilab can go to A4 size (similar to 10x8) by changing the paper cassette and scanning at a finer resolution. I recall a 3668x2456 scan being the highest their Fuji Frontier can manage. And that's fine for an A4 print.

For prints larger than A4 the negative must be sent away. The results are good, but I don't know what technology the outsourcing lab uses.

 

[mervynyan]

These prints are digital prints, acceptable but certainly not as fine art prints.

I found local color darkrooms will do much better. After all, you just need 1 in 100 to be hung. If you wish to learn about this, rent a local color darkroom. Otherwise any average mini lab can print.

 

[dmr]

So they are optical prints. Just a diffrent type of optical system from what you may be used to.

Well, the paper is optically exposed, but when this topic comes up on a certain other system, the consensus is most definitely that they are not optical prints in the traditional sense.

 

[MadMan2k]

They're not really optical prints - the picture is turned into a digital file and then comes back out, so it's digital no matter what the output medium is.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I have had prints up to 12x16 inch prints made at Wall Mart from digital files out of a 10 meg P&S camera. They are good enough for me to put on the wall at home even though they may not be fine art prints. No complaints from anyone viewing them either. I do not see how the same type of prints from from a 35mm neg could be any worse. You could always have one done as a test to see if it meets your needs before doing more. They are cheap enough in cost to try it.

Bob

 

[aad]

I have had some excellent results and some odd ones-all from my own scans. They used to have a "no corrections" option, and B&W came back B&W, but now it seems to be slightly purple. I finally got an Epson R2400.

 

[hjfischer]

I suggest you try Adorama (adorama.com) for enlargements if you can scan your negs and upload them. They do a really good job at a reasonable price. I believe my last order was for 11 X 14's at $4.95 each plus shipping per order of $3.95