Big-time Prints

I’ve got a fairly capable printer at home, an HP Photosmart that can handle up to 19” prints. But sometimes you just want to go bigger - and maybe try something totally different.

Try outsourcing the job to mpix.com next time you need an enlargement. I’ve sent them several print jobs, and have been very impressed with the quality and turnaround each time. The prices seem reasonable, too. (BTW I get no compensation from mpix).

I’ve been getting the Gallery Wraps, which are just gorgeous. Your photo is printed onto canvas, and the canvas is stretched over a wooden frame. The image wraps around the edges of the 1.5”-deep frame, and the resulting three dimensional look is sweet. They come with thick black cardboard backs with hanging hardware already installed. You can literally pull these out of the shipping carton and put them right on your wall. A few readers of this blog have seen the results and can attest to the quality.

The mpix system works like many other online photo processors - you set up an account, upload your photos, and choose formats and sizes. Their online cropping tool works pretty well, and for the Gallery Wraps you get a preview of how the wrap affects the main image.

Now, for printing big 20x30” canvas wraps, you’ve gotta have a pretty substantial image to work with. 7 megapixel images are not going to cut it. In fact, some order sizes are greyed-out if your image is too small.

Also, you’ll have to know a bit about your color setup for best results. mpix uses, as most online processors do, the sRGB color space. I exported my images at 250 dpi, with no downward scaling, and selected the “Do not color manage” option on the order. That's a bit risky if you're not totally sure about your software and monitor calibration, because mpix will not refund a print that doesn't come out right if you elect to skip color management. How you size and crop these is important, too.

And, of course, you gotta have an image worthy of printing at this size and cost. That part, I can't help you with in this blog.

Anyways, give it a try the next time you need to go big-time.

Do you have a favorite online source for print processing? Share your findings here by responding to this post.