Costco, Sams ETC. Vs. Millers or WHCC for final delivery

[HotHolly]

Ditto to Jesus. I've not found a local printer that can print as well as Millers. The other thing - maybe it was said and Im blind - but Samsclub.com on the back of the print is kind of blah.

[tjones0214]

Thanks for the correction on the Millers/MPIX thing. Also, some thing to keep in mind that some above have elluded to is what colorspace and/or callibration the lab is using. For example, WHCC will accept sRGB and Adobe RGB 1998. MPIX will only accept sRGB. You can download the printer/paper ICC profiles from WHCC, but not MPIX--but they tell you the paper and printers they are using. Never used Costco or SAMs...not sure of color space or ICC profile options there. Something to keep in mind though if you're doing your own color correction and/or calibration in Lightroom or PS (or others). I'm no expert...this is just my experience.

[adirty1]

Originally Posted by ParkImaging

I've NEVER had any non-professional print labs come out with quality even coming close to the WHCC's of the world (Full Color, BWC, etc.). It is really amazing to print the same image at two different labs and look at the results.

If I'm printing for family... cheapest wins every time; unless it's important.

- Wil

I have a merit print that was printed at costco. just depends on who is printing and watching the printers.

[dtscds]

Just in case anyone is interested... You can get a brochure from Costco that will give the instructions for downloading their color profiles. You go to Dry Creek's website and you can download the profile for the specific printer at your specific Costco. I use them sometimes. But the closest one to me is quite a hike so it is easier to upload the files to MPIX and wait on them to be delivered.
I know a couple of high end pros who use Costco almost exclusively.
One more thing, I know that at Costco you can turn off the backprinting and Costco will not show up on your prints. I always put my website url on it. No one knows where I got the prints.

[AndrewCCM]

Aside from everything else mentioned... Since it's becoming more and more difficult to support anything these days that predominately American based. I prefer my money to go smaller independent outfits and not further support the overseas cheap labor machine. But that gets into a political argument....Sad sad..