Who do you use for enlargements?

[mvse]

I have some 16x20s that I just had done at Inkleys and they are horrendous to say the least! I can't even begin to tell you how bad they are. The color is seriously messed up, they look sooo bad (it kinda looks like when you edit and hit unsharp mask wayyyy too much.) What makes me even more mad is that the employee just packaged them up and handed to me like that and expected me to be happy with them. When I brought them back in she said, "I tried to fix the color, but I just couldn't get it right w/o the CD, the photographer must have not had them at a good enough resolution." Which just makes me mad, b/c I did try to give her the CD and she wouldn't take it since the images would be sent to her printer from the computer. And I thought the resolution would just affect the pixelation, not the color, am I wrong? AND, they didn't need the color fixed anyway - they were professional photos that the photographer already edited....grrrrrr....
The picture I'm referring to is here (http://bluelily.squarespace.com/) on the banner at the top of the photographer's blog, it's the baby in the bucket - how the heck can you mess up the color so bad that the hat is yellow instead of brown?

Anyway, I need someone who does a good job at enlargements and doesn't think they need to "correct" the color. Inkleys offered to try to fix them, but I'm not going back there again. This is the second time they have screwed up my pictures.

[luv2sign20]

I use WHCC. Their website is www.WHCC.com (http://www.WHCC.com) their prices for a 16x20 I think are $15. If you add a dollar per file, they will do color correction too. But you have the option to not add that on too. They also have free shipping on their 2 day delivery. I really like them.

The other place I would try is Nichols photo Lab. They are in SLC, so if you want to go pick them up, they have that option too. They are a little more pricey. Their 16x20's are I think $24. They do amazing work as well... Pm me if you want their info too.. I just don't have their website on me right now.

HTH

[mvse]

Thank you for the links. I think I will just try an online company next time and make sure to have the option of not editing. I would not be making an enlargement of a photo unless I am already happy with it, so I guess I just don't understand why they think they need to edit them. I did just get back from Inkleys. I had them redo the ones that looked weird (and, um, severely jaundiced!), I told them not to edit anything (color, contrast, whatever) And, surprise! they look fine. They were okay to redo them, but made sure to point out that editing is their "thing", that's what they do, and that's why she did it. I just wish they had a better eye for contrast and color. Seriously, I can't believe how bad they were. I wish they had let me keep the old ones just to show the difference. They were soooo bad. Thanks for letting me vent.

[beckiann13]

There was another discussion about ordering prints here:
http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105722

I personally like Replicolor the best. And yes, you are right-- make sure to have the printing places turn off the auto enhancements. I always have them print the pictures as is (since I have already edited them).

HTH!

[Jennie]

I love adorama.com. My prints from there always turn out great. They use very nice professional paper.

[mishone73@hotmail.com]

I use www.Millerslab.com They a division called mpix www.mpix.com that anybody can use. Check it out. I love them!

[PaisleysMom]

These area all great suggestions.

I am really curious to see how they turn out. Just to rule this out, you are sure they are a high enough resolution? Did you take these yourself? Did you buy them from a photographer. They should be 300 dppi.

[mvse]

These area all great suggestions.

I am really curious to see how they turn out. Just to rule this out, you are sure they are a high enough resolution? Did you take these yourself? Did you buy them from a photographer. They should be 300 dppi.

Yes, I am sure they are a high enough resolution. As part of our package from the photographer, we had some prints and enlargements (5x7 up to 16x20) sent to us from whomever she uses for printing. They were perfect, so I couldn't understand why there was a problem getting more done. We also were given the rights to print them.

Just in case my previous post wasn't clear, I did end up taking them back to be fixed b/c as I had already spent $60 for them. And they turned out fine as long as they didn't do any adjustments. I learned my lesson! I guess I assumed they wouldn't try to edit anything unless I asked them, especially since they were from a professional (the employee knew this, as I did have to give her the copyright release form). It was so funny to me that even as I sat at the computer resending them to the printer and told them I didn't want any adjustments they still kept trying to adjust the color... "I'll just add a little red, okay?"
"Um, actually, I really just like them the way the photographer had them."
"Oh, are you sure? It looks like it needs some red, and maybe some blue."
"Nope, I really just like them how they are!"
"Hmmmmm."
I finally brought in the 16x20 that came from the photographer to show them how it should look. I think they finally got it after that.

I guess part of the problem came from the fact that they said the enlargement printer seems to print light, so they routinely darken and add contrast. And I think it was just a downhill road from there where she kept trying to fix what she had just fixed, LOL. I dunno, I still think she was on drugs or something, b/c they were unbelievably bad - not just "a matter of opinion" bad, but "what in the world?" bad, and the other guy there kept telling me, after she left, that she is the master of color b/c she worked for a long time at a pro color lab.... I'm wondering why she's still not there... hmmmm...

Anyway, I learned my lesson - I now know that you have to tell them specifically to not correct. (and possibly use a different location, LOL, I mean it was downtown Ogden afterall)

[ashtonwa]

Has anyone used ALLEN'S? We will be taking the cd that we will own for extended family photos and making a 24 X 36 that will be mounted and textured for $80 or so. I heard they are the only ones in Utah County that do this. I hope they are good. This is for my MIL!

[PaisleysMom]

I am glad you got them printed okay. Sometimes people are too helpful :happy6:

[katiekat]

Has anyone used ALLEN'S? We will be taking the cd that we will own for extended family photos and making a 24 X 36 that will be mounted and textured for $80 or so. I heard they are the only ones in Utah County that do this. I hope they are good. This is for my MIL!

They're not the only one's who do that. I love Kenny's on Center Street in Orem. They just did my family pic. I believe mine was 24x20. They textured and mounted it on foam core board. It looks amazing. I paid $65. They will also redo it and redo it if necessary until you are happy, although I have always been happy the first time with my digital prints. I did have a problem once with a film print that kept showing up little lint pieces on the enlargement, but that was years ago.

edited: I realized upon re-reading that it sounds like I am saying that Allen's is not good. I didn't mean that! I meant that they are not the only place in UT county that does this kind of thing. I have used them for smaller enlargements and they have been just great. Allen's is closer to my home, but more expensive, so for big orders, I go to Kenny's.

[ashtonwa]

They're not. I love Kenny's on Center Street in Orem. They just did my family pic. I believe mine was 24x20. They textured and mounted it on foam core board. It looks amazing. I paid $65. They will also redo it and redo it if necessary until you are happy, although I have always been happy the first time with my digital prints. I did have a problem once with a film print that kept showing up little lint pieces on the enlargement, but that was years ago.


Thanks katiekat! I'll be taking it to Kenny's then!

[djp4msp7]

Anyway, I learned my lesson - I now know that you have to tell them specifically to not correct. (and possibly use a different location, LOL, I mean it was downtown Ogden afterall)

I have never used the one in Downtown Ogden, but I have always had great service and prints from the Layton Inkley's and Riverdale.

[photogirl]

Has anyone used ALLEN'S? We will be taking the cd that we will own for extended family photos and making a 24 X 36 that will be mounted and textured for $80 or so. I heard they are the only ones in Utah County that do this. I hope they are good. This is for my MIL!

Snelsons in Springville does a beautiful job and are very reasonabily priced with a quick turn around.

[ashtonwa]

Snelsons in Springville does a beautiful job and are very reasonabily priced with a quick turn around.

Thanks! We'll look into that!

[Mommasue]

Any suggestions for the West Jordan area?

[liljepp]

I just order mine from Costco. The largest I've gone is 11 x 14, but they do have 28 x 18 ($2.99) and 16 x 20 and 20 x 30 ($9.99 each) in photo print or canvas (16 x 20 for $59.99 and 20 x 24 for $69.99).

[lyndibone]

I am a big fan of Kenny's as well. They do a great job. You can upload online and they have been having a lot of sales lately. I also really like the fotoshop which is on State street in Orem.
I know Costco is cheap but there is a difference. They are darker and greener. That's fine for your scrapbook but if you are doing an enlargement I'd really go with a specialty place. It really looks so much better. Try printing one there and then printing the same one at Kenny's, you'll see a huge difference. Whatever you do, NEVER GO TO WALMART they are horrible.

[waltersmngal22]

Whatever you do, NEVER GO TO WALMART they are horrible. Agreed, and I work there. If you have always liked Walgreen's myself. Fairly decent.