Answers to Questions about Online Photo Finishing and Digital

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

So you use the Fuji fronter to make your prints?

you shood have a home page like this

http://www.photoaccess.com/buy/catalog.jsp?jrunsessionid=1011079885260192239&cb=PA

why do I have to click on 4 differnt web pages just to see your print size
I guess I am to stupid to find out prices?
You have some Vary GOOD looking products like real digital SIZE prints
I could not figure out the price?

one more thing do you have a drop&drag setup to upload photos?

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing.

Click to expand...

What are the specs on the photo printer equipment you guys use?

dye sub? ink jet? laser? dpi? # colors? continuous tone? etc?

What sort of papers do you use?

glossy? satin? rc backed? weight? etc?

martin G G said:

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

So you use the Fuji fronter to make your prints?

Click to expand...

No, we use Gretag Mileca printers

martino said:

you shood have a home page like this

http://www.photoaccess.com/buy/catalog.jsp?jrunsessionid=1011079885260192239&cb=PA

why do I have to click on 4 differnt web pages just to see your
print size

Click to expand...

Don't understand this question. Sorry.

martino said:

I guess I am to stupid to find out prices?

Click to expand...

Prices are in the product catalog and on the order page. Product catalog has a several links on the home page including the text link "pricing" . On all member pages there is a tab at the top that says "Products" that goes directly to the catalog and pricing. Prices are also on the drop down list of print sizes during ordering.

martino said:

You have some Vary GOOD looking products like real digital SIZE prints
I could not figure out the price?

one more thing do you have a drop&drag setup to upload photos?

Click to expand...

No drag and drop. We preferred to provide a full function upload application called PhotoStreamer. It supports drag and drop, lets you specify the album to put pictures into, lets you add text capitions, descriptions, rotate pictures, sort the order of photos etc. Plus it does batch uploading and supports upload restart on a lost connection.

JonW said:

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing.

Click to expand...

What are the specs on the photo printer equipment you guys use?

Click to expand...

We use Gretag Sienna printers. These are roll to roll printers up to 12" in width. Printing is done with a CRT imager at 300 ppi. Processing is done on a Colex paper processor.

Jon W77861 said:

dye sub? ink jet? laser? dpi? # colors? continuous tone? etc?

Click to expand...

Printing is traditional photo finishing using light sensitive paper, developer, fixer, etc. Yes it is continuous tone.

Jon W77861 said:

What sort of papers do you use?

Click to expand...

We use Fuji Crystal Archive photo paper

Jon W77861 said:

glossy? satin? rc backed? weight? etc?

Click to expand...

We do glossy, matte, and slides. I don't know the paper weight right off, but it is basically what you would expect from the neighborhood photo lab.

I read from your other reply about the upstream tool to upload images.

How about support for good old ftp? I prefer to upload this way than installing another program.
Also do you have ICC profile for the printer?

thanks.

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

OK Mark, I'm trying PhotoAccess. I HATE the fact that your registration form defaults to "PhotoAccess can share my name with selected, reputable partners". With so many other competitive sites for image processing, this was reason enough for me to tell you and your SPAM proliferators to screw yourselves!!! But, in the interest of fairness, I thought I would give your processing facility a chance. I'll let you know what I think when I get the prints. Hopefully your quality will be better than OFOTO (since your prices are similar).
Sincerely,
David

martin G G said:

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

So you use the Fuji fronter to make your prints?

you shood have a home page like this

http://www.photoaccess.com/buy/catalog.jsp?jrunsessionid=1011079885260192239&cb=PA

why do I have to click on 4 differnt web pages just to see your
print size
I guess I am to stupid to find out prices?
You have some Vary GOOD looking products like real digital SIZE prints
I could not figure out the price?

one more thing do you have a drop&drag setup to upload photos?

Click to expand...

Member said:

OK Mark, I'm trying PhotoAccess.

Click to expand...

Very nice of you.

Member said:

I HATE the fact that your registration form defaults to
"PhotoAccess can share my name with selected, reputable
partners".

Click to expand...

I agree, I don't like this practice.

Member said:

With so many other competitive sites for image processing,
this was reason enough for me to tell you and your SPAM
proliferators to screw yourselves!!!

Click to expand...

This comment was the reason for my post. Why can't you put these comments in a nicer way? Why do you resort to brutal tactics? I've yet to see comments like this resolve anything. I'm no saint but I've learned that this gets people nowhere.

Mark, BTW, I agree that this is not a nice practice. It's almost borderline unethical trying to sneak something by someone that isn't entirely reading your web pages. I generally avoid web pages that do this myself. Perhaps you guys could change this practice. As you can see it upsets and disturbs most people. This is very similar to those annoying pop-up ads that pop "behind" your web browser. I always stop what I'm doing, flip to the annoying screen, remove it, and proceed. I won't allow myself to view these screens.

Member said:

But, in the interest of fairness, I thought I would give your processing
facility a chance.

Click to expand...

Mighty generous I would say.

Member said:

I'll let you know what I think when I get the prints. Hopefully your quality will be better than OFOTO (since your prices are similar).

Click to expand...

Guess we'll find out!

-Dave

I am new to digital printing. I assumed it would be cheaper, because there is less developing chemicals used if I upload the images. If I bring 35 mm film to Sam's Club, I can get 24 exposure 4x6 DBL prints (total of 48 prints) for $4 or about .08 a print.

The cheapest place I have found is Walmart @ .26 a print. Most places charge .47 a print. How can you, or anyone else justify prices at leasr 3 1/2 - 6 times the cost of 35 mm developing?

Is Walmart the cheapest place to get images printed???

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I have used Ofoto before. Yesterday I went to try out 10 free photos from PhotoAccess. I'm looking forward to receiving my order.

Two questions:

1) For a 4x6 and an 8x10, what would the optimal resolution be for printing? I'd like each of my pixels to match the pixels that are printed and was wondering what resolution would need to be. From Ofoto it appears that if I print a 4x6 or a 8x10 they have similar resolution, so the 8x10 would be a lower dpi.

2) I don't understand color profiles and management too well. But, from using Photoshop 6, what color setting would give the most accurate colors in a print at PhotoAccess?

Thanks!
Bill

We've never, to my knowledge, sold our list to any others in spite of that message. Even by clicking ok we still respect your needs, especially your need to not be spam'd

thanks for the comment..

DSegal said:

martin G G said:

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

So you use the Fuji fronter to make your prints?

you shood have a home page like this

http://www.photoaccess.com/buy/catalog.jsp?jrunsessionid=1011079885260192239&cb=PA

why do I have to click on 4 differnt web pages just to see your
print size
I guess I am to stupid to find out prices?
You have some Vary GOOD looking products like real digital SIZE prints
I could not figure out the price?

one more thing do you have a drop&drag setup to upload photos?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

ok, I'll discuss this internally and see about changing the setting on sharing with partners.

Dave said:

Dave64053 said:

OK Mark, I'm trying PhotoAccess.

Click to expand...

Very nice of you.

Dave64053 said:

I HATE the fact that your registration form defaults to
"PhotoAccess can share my name with selected, reputable
partners".

Click to expand...

I agree, I don't like this practice.

Dave64053 said:

With so many other competitive sites for image processing,
this was reason enough for me to tell you and your SPAM
proliferators to screw yourselves!!!

Click to expand...

This comment was the reason for my post. Why can't you put these
comments in a nicer way? Why do you resort to brutal tactics?
I've yet to see comments like this resolve anything. I'm no saint
but I've learned that this gets people nowhere.

Mark, BTW, I agree that this is not a nice practice. It's almost
borderline unethical trying to sneak something by someone that
isn't entirely reading your web pages. I generally avoid web pages
that do this myself. Perhaps you guys could change this practice.
As you can see it upsets and disturbs most people. This is very
similar to those annoying pop-up ads that pop "behind" your web
browser. I always stop what I'm doing, flip to the annoying
screen, remove it, and proceed. I won't allow myself to view these
screens.

Dave64053 said:

But, in the interest of fairness, I thought I would give your processing
facility a chance.

Click to expand...

Mighty generous I would say.

Dave64053 said:

I'll let you know what I think when I get the prints. Hopefully your quality will be better than OFOTO (since your prices are similar).

Click to expand...

Guess we'll find out!

-Dave

Click to expand...

to my knowledge Walmart is the cheapest place. The reason the prices are higher is that the major components of cost for digital finishing are the computer systems, facilities, and systems development, plus the cost of labor in printing.

That is to say, this is business is highly sensitive to volumes. Right now the volume on digital is low compared with analog and the prices reflect that. Over the long haul, I am sure prices will come down as volume goes up.

ScottBroker said:

The cheapest place I have found is Walmart @ .26 a print. Most
places charge .47 a print. How can you, or anyone else justify
prices at leasr 3 1/2 - 6 times the cost of 35 mm developing?

Is Walmart the cheapest place to get images printed???

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Bill

Our FAQ on the web site or our customer service can field calls such as this. We print at 200 pixels per inch. Just multiply by the dimensions of your print by that number and that is the pixel count you need.

Photoshop settings should be sRGB working space, Gamma=2.2 and white point set to 6500K.

Good luck.

BillCat said:

I have used Ofoto before. Yesterday I went to try out 10 free
photos from PhotoAccess. I'm looking forward to receiving my order.

Two questions:

1) For a 4x6 and an 8x10, what would the optimal resolution be for
printing? I'd like each of my pixels to match the pixels that are
printed and was wondering what resolution would need to be. From
Ofoto it appears that if I print a 4x6 or a 8x10 they have similar
resolution, so the 8x10 would be a lower dpi.

2) I don't understand color profiles and management too well.
But, from using Photoshop 6, what color setting would give the most
accurate colors in a print at PhotoAccess?

Thanks!
Bill

Click to expand...

I got my order back today from PhotoAccess. I ordered ten 6 inch digital prints. The variable width of the digital prints worked out great. Not much was cropped which was nice. I did one almost square, one thin one, and mostly my photos were 4:3 and I was very pleased with the results.

Problems: all of my photos had a thin red line about 1.25 inches from the edge of each photo. The blue in my photos was weak and all the photos had a pinkish tint to them.

My Ofoto experience was better as far as quality.

Anyway, I love the variable width prints, and will try PhotoAccess out again.

It's really nice of Mark Waldin to answer out questions.

ScottBroker said:

The cheapest place I have found is Walmart @ .26 a print. Most
places charge .47 a print. How can you, or anyone else justify
prices at leasr 3 1/2 - 6 times the cost of 35 mm developing?

Click to expand...

Another thing to consider with digital processing is that you don't print all your prints. Digital processing is still more expensive then 35mm, but once you factor in the 35mm prints that you would not have printed, it comes much closer. Think of the price as cost/print that I wanted.
--RZ http://www.romeozulu.com/photos

Have you considered offering panoramic prints?

Right now the main US online service I know of with panoramics is EZprints, and since they changed their shipping, they're too expensive from Canada.

Is it your Gretag printers that let you offer digital aspect ratio prints, or was it just a service that PhotoAccess thought would be useful?

Do I understand correctly that PhotoAccess does no enhancement of photos other than some sharpening?

-- Richard Akerman
http://www.akerman.ca/digiphoto.html

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Mark Waldin said:

I work for PhotoAccess and am posting this message for anyone that
would like to ask me (or my colleagues) any questions about digital
on-line photo finishing. I'll check the forum every few days and
try to answer any questions as best as I can. I hope this can be a
small service to the enthusiast community.

If anyone takes offense at this, please let me know as I don't wish
to upset anyone.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Mark,

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

I have experience with Ofoto.com and have been moderately happy with the prints I receive. However, I use the word "moderately" because the JPEG compression they require for upload takes some life out of the prints...dulls the colors a bit and takes away some of the sharpness. Perhaps it's the way they print and not the compression at all... Does PhotoAccess also require a JPEG upload (vs. TIFF)? If so, is there something I can do in PhotoShop to compensate? I've tried oversaturing the color in PhotoShop before uploading to Ofoto, but it didn't seem to make a difference in the printed outcome.

Are there any online photo finishing sites that don't require compressed files?

Todd

Mark,

I just received a test 11x14 photo back from Photoaccess and I am very pleased - in fact, except for a very slight yellowish cast to skin tones (very slight), I am ecstatic re the quality of the enlargement.

My question concerns how best to send photos to you for processing, especially the 11x 14 enlargements I will be using your service for. Your previous comments to this question left me perplexed.This image originated from a Canon G2 RAW format converted to a TIFF - with some color and sharpening adjustments in Photoshop and then converted to a jpeg with the following resizing done to the original: 8-bit RGB flat JPEG file, 2832x3708 pixels (7.87x10.30 inches) @ 360.00 pixels/inch.

This was resized with resolution changed to 360ppi not resampled. Could I have just sent you the original size which defaults to 72ppi and something like 31x23 size(2278x1720 pixels or thereabouts) in Photoshop and let you guys do the appropriate resizing???? or should I send an already resized 11x14 at whatever ppi that gives to the original without any resampling???

Also, I think the very slight yellow skin tone cast probably could be corrected by me if I was able to match my calibrated monitor to your photo press - any profiles (preferrably Color-sync) that would allow me to do so???

Thanks in advance -I think this info is crucial for us to use your service for the best quality possible.

Regards,
JoeMA

Mark,

Hello. This is the kindler gentler Dave. Sorry for the hostilities, but I am pretty opinionated about spammers, and phone soliciters...

Well I sent 3 batches of prints to 3 different shops for processing, (OFoto, Yahoo-Shutterfly, and Photoaccess). All three arrived in the mail on the same day. The clear winner winner was OFoto.

All of the prices were approximately the same (within a few cents), OFoto’s photos are clearly the sharpest (Photoaccess being second), OFoto’s photo paper quality is superior: It is Kodak paper and is 20% thicker than the Fuji used at the other two labs, and it does NOT curl. OFoto and Shutterfly timestamp the back of the prints with the processing date. The software interface for OFoto is clearly the best.

I performed this experiment once before comparing OFoto with Dotphoto and Walmart. OFoto at $.49 and Walmart at $.29 were virtually identical in quality, but the pain using Walmart’s terrible interface was just not worth my time (unless you perceive your time worth pennies per hour). All the Dotphoto prints were free, due to an introductory offer, and frankly, weren’t worth the price.
I guess this puts your lab as #2 in my book.

I would love to hear about other people’s comparisons, because I’m always looking for that cheaper and better quality lab.
Sincerely,
David

Dave said:

Dave64053 said:

OK Mark, I'm trying PhotoAccess.

Click to expand...

Very nice of you.

Dave64053 said:

I HATE the fact that your registration form defaults to
"PhotoAccess can share my name with selected, reputable
partners".

Click to expand...

I agree, I don't like this practice.

Dave64053 said:

With so many other competitive sites for image processing,
this was reason enough for me to tell you and your SPAM
proliferators to screw yourselves!!!

Click to expand...

This comment was the reason for my post. Why can't you put these
comments in a nicer way? Why do you resort to brutal tactics?
I've yet to see comments like this resolve anything. I'm no saint
but I've learned that this gets people nowhere.

Mark, BTW, I agree that this is not a nice practice. It's almost
borderline unethical trying to sneak something by someone that
isn't entirely reading your web pages. I generally avoid web pages
that do this myself. Perhaps you guys could change this practice.
As you can see it upsets and disturbs most people. This is very
similar to those annoying pop-up ads that pop "behind" your web
browser. I always stop what I'm doing, flip to the annoying
screen, remove it, and proceed. I won't allow myself to view these
screens.

Dave64053 said:

But, in the interest of fairness, I thought I would give your processing
facility a chance.

Click to expand...

Mighty generous I would say.

Dave64053 said:

I'll let you know what I think when I get the prints. Hopefully your quality will be better than OFOTO (since your prices are similar).

Click to expand...

Guess we'll find out!

-Dave

Click to expand...