Prints from your Digital Camera!
The convenience of digital cameras and ease of sharing them online is great, but what about ACTUAL pictures that you can put in your photo album or wallet? How do you get those from your digital camera? There are a couple of ways to do this:
- Print them yourself
- Order them in a photo store/photo department or online
Do you want to learn how?
Printing pictures yourself.
You’ve probably already tried printing out pictures from your computer printer. Even with photopaper, it isn’t quite the same as “developed” pictures from the olden days. I have to say, some of the newer printers do photos quite well and if you are sharing photos with a lot of people or doing “instant prints” at a party, they can do an acceptable job. However, if you want the beautiful, clear photos for your album or to frame, you could really use a photo printer.
I have a PictureMate by Epsom and am very happy with it. It prints 4×6 photos of high quality. Just like the ones I get from the drugstore from my film camera. I also have an HP PhotosSmart 8250 which I am also reasonably happy with, and it can print 8 x 10 very nicely. As you can see, both of these are older models. They print photos MUCH better than my regular computer printer.
To get photos to print, I can hook them up to my computer and print from there, or even hook my camera directly to the printer. However, I find it easier to insert the memory card of my camera directly into the printer and print from there. The PictureMate is very portable, so it is easy to carry with me to family gatherings. (How many times have you taken pictures at events and someone says, “I want a copy of that!”?)
Another way to print pictures yourself is to go to your local drugstore or discount store with your camera/usb cord or memory card! Many places which do film developing now have photoprinters available for customers to use. You insert your memory card or hook-up your camera and select the pictures you want to print. My drugstore also has a scanner available so that you can make print copies of your non-digital snapshots, too!
The upside of printing yourself is that you have the pictures IMMEDIATELY for sharing and adding to your scrapbook or album.
The downside of these printers and going to the drugstore is the cost per photo print. I figured out one time that my PictureMate’s photos come out to about 25¢ per print and it was 29¢ per print at my local drugstore.
Witchy Tip: I still say it’s worth it to have your own printer. I love the convenience of printing my own photos. It has been great for children’s parties, family gatherings and my hobby of scrapbooking. I like having a photo ready immediately when I am ready to do something with it.
Ordering prints online.
A cheaper way to get prints of your pictures is to order them from a site online (or perhaps your local photo or camera shop). You upload your pictures from your computer to a photosite and you can order prints and other specialty items (mousepads, t-shirts, mugs, etc.) with your pictures on them!
Here are some sites to get you started:
- KodakGallery.com: Kodak is a trusted name in cameras and film, and they have moved quickly to keep up with the digital age. Their site offers photo editing, sharing and printing services.
- Snapfish.com: Snapfish is a service of Hewlitt-Packard and if you have an HP camera, computer or printer, you are probably already aware of them! Their services are swift and the photos come back looking great. I know many people who swear by snapfish!
- Shutterfly.com: Shutterfly is another big name service which you can use to print your pictures. I have friends who use shutterfly and are very happy with them.
- Photobucket.com: This is my personal favorite since I host my photos and videos on this site already. That makes it the most convenient for me. (UPDATE: You can now get prints in an hour from photobucket.com by having them printed at your local Target store! CLICK HERE for details!)
If none of these sites appeal to you, you can also check with your local drugstore, discount store or photo supply store! Many of these places are now offering online photo hosting and digital sharing services. Prices vary for each service, as does the shipping charge.
The upside of using an online photo printing service is the cost! It is much cheaper per print to order your photos online. You also have the option of making fun items with your photos and creating online photo galleries to share.
The downside of using an online photo is that it takes a while to get your prints to you. To me, if you don’t mind waiting, you might as well be using a film camera!
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Great stuff!
I order mine from Sam’s or Wal-Mart and pay either 11¢ or 19¢ depending on whether I want 1-hour or to pick them up the next day.