Is there a "best" way to occasionally make prints for family/friends?

I have three printers right now sitting waiting to go.  But when someone asks for a small, say 5 x7 print of something I consider a "snapshot".....I tell them to take the file on an SD card or thumbdrive down to the local Rite Aid where there is an automatiuc photo printing machine.

Those machines are wonderfully preset, just like a P&S camera corrects for almos ever variation to get good, average color, contrast, skin tones, sharpening, etc., etc. and print out a color fast, stable, protected picture for virtual pennies.....whereas for me to set up to print a singe 5 x 7 I have to go through amost the exact same routine as I do when priting a 16 x 24 or  6 foot banner. It is just NOT WORTH IT!

But then, approached from the other side, as a newbie, all that fussing and tweaking is, for awhile just more part of the do-it-yourself....fun.  For awhile.

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Peter Patricelli www.flyfishingfotography.com