Digital camera owners typically take three to four times as many photos than their film counterparts. And why not…there are no developing or film costs. However, the printer industry would love for you to print out all those photos you are taking.
With digital, the potential savings can be huge IF you approach the printing process as I outline below:
- Backup all your photos to a CD (preferably make at least two backups) as these files are your ‘digital negatives’
- Not every photo needs to be printed
- Only print the photos you will frame, scrapbook, hang on the fridge, or send to friends or family
- Print them at the size appropriate for the occasion
- Use your home printer to print just the fridge and occasional scrap book photos Yes, do not use your home printer to print the majority of your shots. Instead, carefully pick out the photos you want printed, copy them to a CD, and take them to a local film developer.
Most photo labs today will print your digital memories. Using a photo lab to print your digital pics offers many advantages: * Cheaper (less than 20 cents per photo vs. well over a dollar per photo for prints from your ink jet)
- Higher quality paper
- No cutting or trimming of the photos involved
- True ‘photo quality’ output
- Outstanding archival life (same as a film developed photo)
If going to your local lab to print your digital pictures seems to retro for you, consider one of the three top online developing labs. Ofoto, and Shutterfly all offer great print outs for under 25 cents per shot. They also offer many fun projects where you can use your photos for t-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, mouse pads and more. Using one of these services works much easier if you have broadband (high speed) Internet, because uploading your photos to their service can be a lengthy process on a phone line.
