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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Photography Discussion => Topic started by: Phadrea on October 01, 2013, 03:22

Title: UK Printing Companies
Post by: Phadrea on October 01, 2013, 03:22

I am looking to get a large print of a landscape done for my home. Firstly, its from a RAW file converted to a JPEG but should I convert to a Tiff for a better print ?

Lastly, can anyone recommend a decent quality printing company online where you can upload your image for printing AND a good price.

Thanks.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: sharpshot on October 01, 2013, 03:34

Photobox are quite good.  They cost a bit more than some of the cheaper sites but they do a lot of special offers.
http://www.photobox.co.uk (http://www.photobox.co.uk)
I use maximum quality jpeg, had some big prints made and they look fine.  I calibrate my screen but if you haven't got anything to do that, have a look here.
http://www.photobox.co.uk/content/quality-advice/calibration (http://www.photobox.co.uk/content/quality-advice/calibration)

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: Phadrea on October 01, 2013, 03:56

Thanks. Looks reasonable prices.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: gostwyck on October 01, 2013, 04:02

I'd recommend Photobox too. I've been using them for 10 years now.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: Phadrea on October 01, 2013, 07:25

Great. Thanks people. I want a 30" x 20" poster print for the bathroom. Just need to get a decent size clip frame now.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: Ron on October 01, 2013, 09:59

Thanks guys, I want to get a few canvases, so I will be looking into Photobox as well.


http://www.photobox.ie/ (http://www.photobox.ie/)

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: RT on October 01, 2013, 11:56

Spectrum in Brighton (http://spectrumphoto.co.uk/ (http://spectrumphoto.co.uk/)) are one of the best printers in the UK, used by lots of high end galleries, I've had many prints done by them and they are very high quality and reasonably priced. Photobox are fine if you just want a cheap print but there quality is c*@p compared to Spectrum. All depends on your budget and requirements.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: Phadrea on October 01, 2013, 15:44

people above have said they use photobox and the quality is good. Now you have thrown a spanner in the works. The print I want is 35" x 20". Should I upload a TIff rather than a JPEG ?

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: RT on October 01, 2013, 17:34

As I said it all depends on what sort of quality you want and how much you're willing to pay, but that's the same for most things in life. Photobox are fine for what they charge.

And no from what you've said above there's no point in you converting your jpeg to a Tiff to upload for printing as you won't be gaining anything.

On a side note I'm intrigued as to why you shoot RAW and then convert that into a jpeg and not a Tiff, unless you do no further editing whatsoever in PS.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: gostwyck on October 01, 2013, 17:36

Quote from: Herg on October 01, 2013, 15:44

people above have said they use photobox and the quality is good. Now you have thrown a spanner in the works. The print I want is 35" x 20". Should I upload a TIff rather than a JPEG ?

I've got a feeling that they are only set up for JPEG. Either that or they'll simply convert a TIFF to a JPEG before printing. A JPEG is already way more detailed than most commercial printing processes can cope with at that size. Anyway, a print of that size is supposed to be viewed from some distance ... not from 4cm with an eyeglass.

Title: Re: UK Printing Companies
Post by: Phadrea on October 01, 2013, 18:04

I don't have ps, just lightroom which is all I need. PS would be overkill.