Online Photo Finishers
Below is a brief factual comparison of each of the major services based on information provided on their respective websites. The comparison examines the printing process, paper brand/types, and location. Direct quotes are used where possible.
Kodak Gallery/Ofoto
Printing Process: "We develop our prints with the same silver halide process used by 35mm photo labs. In addition, we use a patent-pending system for analysis and processing of each image needing correction. We print your photos on high-quality Kodak paper, a resin-coated, silver-halide color paper optimized for digital printers. A light source inside our digital printers exposes the photographic paper pixel by pixel. This process mimics traditional photography, in which light from the subject exposes photographic film inside of a camera."
Paper Brand/Type: "We print all our photos on high-quality Kodak paper using state-of-the-art printers."
Location: California
dotPhoto
Printing Process: "dotPhoto uses state-of-the-art silver halide chemical process digital printers designed for professional photo finishers. These printers, combined with dotPhoto's proprietary imaging technology, result in the best possible prints from your digital camera."
Paper Brand/Type: "dotPhoto uses a true photographic process to create your prints. Real photographic paper (just like that used in your local 1-hour film developer) is exposed in this state-of-the-art digital printer. The paper is then developed using photographic chemicals. The result is you receive real photographic prints. dotPhoto uses Fuji Crystal Archive paper for our photo prints. We believe this paper and the finishing process we currently use offer the best combination of image quality and stability, color, sharpness and fade resistance for our amateur and professional customers. Fuji Crystal Archive paper is known for its vivid colors (deeper reds, clearer yellows, more natural skin tones), along with more brilliant whites and clear and detailed highlights. Fuji Crystal Archive is also known for prints that resist fading for generations."
Location: New Jersey
Snapfish
Printing Process: "The prints processed are in RA-4 chemistry with separate bleach and fix and fresh water wash. While we employ printers that use lasers to expose digital images on the photographic paper, this is quite different from a laser printer that uses dry toner. Digital prints are true photographic prints. Lasers are used to expose the digital image on to the paper in place of an optical projection through a negative, which would be employed in traditional photo printing. The prints are exactly the same as prints from film. These have state-of-the-art image stability that are of archival quality. There's improved light stability - Over 100 years before noticeable fading in typical home display - significantly improved dark stability - Over 200 years before noticeable fading in the most common home storage conditions and bold, bright colors that last longer."
Paper Brand/Type: "Snapfish prints on top quality HP and Fuji paper."
Location: San Francisco, CA
Shutterfly
Printing Process: "Shutterfly uses a silver-halide process similar to traditional photofinishing labs. Shutterfly uses state-of-the-art Fuji Frontier digital printers designed for professional photofinishers. These printers expose Fuji's Crystal Archive photographic paper using red, green, and blue lasers to produce the sharpest prints available. The exposed photographic paper is chemically processed in the same way as in traditional photo labs. These printers, combined with Shutterfly's proprietary imaging technology, result in the best possible prints from your pictures."
Paper Brand/Type: "We use Fuji Crystal Archive paper, so your images will be crystal clear and bursting with rich, full colors, and sharp, crisp whites. And they’ll stay looking great for a lifetime. Fuji Crystal Archive is a resin-based paper that is noted for its unmatched archival quality. It has long been considered the finest color photographic paper available and is the choice of professional photographers and commercial labs."
Location: North Carolina
Kodak Gallery/Ofoto
Printing Process: "We develop our prints with the same silver halide process used by 35mm photo labs. In addition, we use a patent-pending system for analysis and processing of each image needing correction. We print your photos on high-quality Kodak paper, a resin-coated, silver-halide color paper optimized for digital printers. A light source inside our digital printers exposes the photographic paper pixel by pixel. This process mimics traditional photography, in which light from the subject exposes photographic film inside of a camera."
Paper Brand/Type: "We print all our photos on high-quality Kodak paper using state-of-the-art printers."
Location: California
dotPhoto
Printing Process: "dotPhoto uses state-of-the-art silver halide chemical process digital printers designed for professional photo finishers. These printers, combined with dotPhoto's proprietary imaging technology, result in the best possible prints from your digital camera."
Paper Brand/Type: "dotPhoto uses a true photographic process to create your prints. Real photographic paper (just like that used in your local 1-hour film developer) is exposed in this state-of-the-art digital printer. The paper is then developed using photographic chemicals. The result is you receive real photographic prints. dotPhoto uses Fuji Crystal Archive paper for our photo prints. We believe this paper and the finishing process we currently use offer the best combination of image quality and stability, color, sharpness and fade resistance for our amateur and professional customers. Fuji Crystal Archive paper is known for its vivid colors (deeper reds, clearer yellows, more natural skin tones), along with more brilliant whites and clear and detailed highlights. Fuji Crystal Archive is also known for prints that resist fading for generations."
Location: New Jersey
Snapfish
Printing Process: "The prints processed are in RA-4 chemistry with separate bleach and fix and fresh water wash. While we employ printers that use lasers to expose digital images on the photographic paper, this is quite different from a laser printer that uses dry toner. Digital prints are true photographic prints. Lasers are used to expose the digital image on to the paper in place of an optical projection through a negative, which would be employed in traditional photo printing. The prints are exactly the same as prints from film. These have state-of-the-art image stability that are of archival quality. There's improved light stability - Over 100 years before noticeable fading in typical home display - significantly improved dark stability - Over 200 years before noticeable fading in the most common home storage conditions and bold, bright colors that last longer."
Paper Brand/Type: "Snapfish prints on top quality HP and Fuji paper."
Location: San Francisco, CA
Shutterfly
Printing Process: "Shutterfly uses a silver-halide process similar to traditional photofinishing labs. Shutterfly uses state-of-the-art Fuji Frontier digital printers designed for professional photofinishers. These printers expose Fuji's Crystal Archive photographic paper using red, green, and blue lasers to produce the sharpest prints available. The exposed photographic paper is chemically processed in the same way as in traditional photo labs. These printers, combined with Shutterfly's proprietary imaging technology, result in the best possible prints from your pictures."
Paper Brand/Type: "We use Fuji Crystal Archive paper, so your images will be crystal clear and bursting with rich, full colors, and sharp, crisp whites. And they’ll stay looking great for a lifetime. Fuji Crystal Archive is a resin-based paper that is noted for its unmatched archival quality. It has long been considered the finest color photographic paper available and is the choice of professional photographers and commercial labs."
Location: North Carolina
posted by The Voice at 9:07 AM
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