How do you print your photos?

Hi all,
I've been printing my photos for my L/O's from Costco, but of course, the smallest size I can get is 4x6 (unless I want multiples by ordering wallet size). Most of the layouts I've seen on this site and in my mags have photos that are much smaller than 4x6. How do you get your photos printed in smaller sizes, or do you just crop? I have many beautiful close-up shots so cropping wouldn't work for the photos I want to use.
Thanks!

I use Picasa to create 2-up collages and print them in 4x6. Then I just cut in half.

I print most of mine myself, or just cut up old photos to get the size I want.

I really like the idea of creating collages and having them printed!

Cropping works on some pictures and I use to do that but for the last few years I've just been printing them myself. Seems to work better for me to print them as I need them.

Do you have a home printer? I use Picasa to make collages of various size pictures, google picasa you can download free.

I have a professional printer my DH gave me last year for my birthday so I print all my own. I use Picture It! software. It is very old program but I love all the different sizes. I print one or two 3x5 or 4x6 then almost all the rest are 2x3. It really works for me and my style. I use multiple pics per layout and the 2x3 is a real favorite of mine.

I have the same problem, but also recently discovered collages and my new batch of pictures have lots of them, so I have different sizes I can use.

I print everything at home, so I have more control over sizes, look, can get them when I need them, etc.

I print pretty much all my photos at home. I have a Kodak all in one printer and love it. I print on Kodak paper. They all come out good prints at least in my opinon.

Justie

Windows live photo gallery will allow you to print one wallet size or you can slected up to 9 different photos and print them wallet sized on a 8.5x11 photo paper.

I also print at home mostly using Picasa or PSE 10 (which is new to me so sometimes I still use Picasa)....
However, if you don't want to print at home, you can print at Walmart. They do a decent job and you can pick 2 or 4 photos per 4x6 if you want...It's under "collages" on their menu.
They offer a pretty good selection of sizes for photos.

Alison

I have used Walgreens too...put a few pics on a 4x6...and actually ended up not even cutting them apart for a project. I was really happy with the quality and the small size of the pics.

i normally use walgreens. i printed at walmart and was so unsatisfied, i took the same photo's and printed them again at walgreens to compare. walgreens prints a very crisp nice print, where as walmart was VERY discolored and muddy looking. these were professional photo's that i paid 130 to have taken, so i could have the print release to be able to print at my leisure, so they should have printed very good at walmart, but did not. never again will i trust them with my memories.

I use Walgreens but lately they are driving me crazy. You have to pull each picture up on the computer (I use the one in store) and line up where you want it which takes a lot of time which is okay.

I spent hour and hours in the store after our last trip and the computer crashed when they were printing them and we were on pins and needles to see if they could retrieve all the work I did. Fortunately they were able to save them but it took several days. And out of over 400 photos at least 35 or 40 did not print.

Then yesterday I sat for 2 hours preparing 110 pictures to be printed and their big photo printer crashed and they lost all my work. I got 40 of them before the printer crashed so I have about 70 pictures to go back and get ready to print.

If the machine breaks and they loose my photos again I have to find someone else to print for me.

That sucks Henri, I just print mines at home on my Kodak all in one printer. It printss good quality prints from 4x6 up to 5x7 they print good 8x10 photos. In color but black and white printed 8 x 10 has little lines going acrocss them if you look close but if you look far away. It ok so if I want 8x10 black and white photos or anything bigger then 8x10. I'll go to staples and have them print them out. I haven't had them print out photo since my color photography class. I loved how it came out. Now if I use them again I'll just sent it online and you get email from them when your order ready to be pick. I haven't had anything that need printed. But will know who to go to if I need a print.

Justie

http://wwwjustie.blogspot.com

I have a HP all-in-one laser printer which I love but I've never tried photos on it.

Okay - I did an entire album on California and most of it was on the stars on Hollywood blvd. I took pictures of the stars and did a collage on each page with the star, a bio on the person and loads of pictures throughout their careers.

I wasn't picky about the photos on that one so I actually printed them on white cardstock which worked fine on that project. In fact it really came out awesome.

But if I got real Kodak I might be able to use my laser printer. Do you think? It is an excellent quality. I hate to buy another printer.

By dream item now is a nice flatbed scanner that will scan 12 x 12's.

I've just started using Persnickety Prints. They print specifically for scrapbooks, and have many awesome sizes.

My Kodak printer is a inkjet 3250 all in one printer it prints regular printers, photos from 4x4 up to 8x10 and a scanner it good printer not too bad. I got it at Wal Mart when they were on sell. I wanted to find a printer that printed good quality photos. I had it for about three years now. Sometimes it acts up like I think every printer will do. But I only always use the Kodak paper to get the best quality photos. If I use other brands I read the directions to get the best quality printer. I want to get the new printer I think it called the Kodak Hero 7.1. It wireless that what I want a wireless printer. I like printing at home. It comes out good qulaity prints I can pick and choose at my own speed and time. It said that the photos will last for 100 years or more if you take care of them. Since they are printed with Kodak pigment ink. Which I hear makes your photos last longer then dye ink.

Justie

Henri, I have an HP all in one printer (inkjet) and I ended up buying a photo printer.....the prints you get on an all in one just don't compare to ones from a specific photo printer, IMO.
Try it, maybe you'll like them....a few sheets of paper won't matter just to try it. If you don't like them, you can continue to print at a store or buy a photo printer.
FYI, if you buy photo paper that is the same brand as your printer, you'll get better prints. If you skimp on the photo paper, you'll see a difference in the quality of your finished photos.....

Alison

Maybe I need to investigate a Kodak printer and paper. Like Justie said, I want my photos to last.

You confirmed it Alison, that the HP all-in-one probably isn't going to do as well as a printer like Justie suggested.

Yes Henri I like the Kodak Printer and it prints good quality photos. I relearned the Kodak center when you scan your photos you can put a lot of photos on the scanner and it'll usually scan and spereate all your photos for you. But sometimes it doesn't go that way but there a button where if you click it will pop up you can select each of your photo you scanned spereate. That what I forgot and rememerbed after while, lol. Just look around and read the reviews before you buy. Just so you know if it would be good fit for you or not. I heard good reviews there always going to be pro and cons to every machine though.

Justie

So Henri, have you tried doing your photos online to print at Walgreens? That way you would be able to keep all your changes. I would think you could print to any Walgreens depending on where you are at the time. I've never done it, but my BFF does it all the time.

I do mine online and pick up at our local Walmart. Ive had them print them again when they look muddy. they usually just need to clean the print machine. They are pretty good about checking them before they give them to you. Advantages of living in a smaller town. They have the time, and usually know you so they don't want to give bad photos.

Hi Henri,
Just to confirm, you don't have to purchase a Kodak printer.
I actually got an HP Photosmart printer and it does a great job! What a difference.....
It can be any brand as long as it is specifically a photo printer.....you should google "best photo printers"
The one I got is the Photosmart C310....it was rated in the top 3 and I am really happy with it.

Alison

If you have a Silhouette, you can size photos in the software, and have it print and cut for you. You can make the photos different shapes as well.

No Silhouette - wish I did have one.

My son used to have a HP Photosmart and it was awesome. Don't know what ever happened to it - I don't remember him ever printing a photo but I used it a time or two for real estate. However, it was one of the first and if he still has it, it will be ancient.

I ordered prints online at Walgreens in the past and they turned out really well. The last few times I tried to use it the program just jammed up and wouldn't let me do anything.

I called customer support and they couldn't figure out why it just jammed when I got to the checkout.

Guess I should try that again. Maybe I'll try that today instead of running to Walgreens. Would sure save time!

I e-mail my photos to Walgreens. I have a PictureMate at home that I rarely used and now the pictures have a funny tint to them even though I bought a new color cartridge. I'm too concerned about how long photo quality lasts on at home printers. Does anyone know?

Went back to Walgreens last night and told them I was shorted about 80 photos on my last order and didn't keep my receipt. No questions asked - they helped me with them again and gave them to me at no charge. Excellent customer service!

However, I want to be able to print smaller sizes sometimes without running to Walgreens.

I tried Walgreens online - spent hours yesterday and put in tons of pictures and editing them and putting them the way I wanted them. Closed the shopping cart to do something else. When I went back into my account my shopping cart was empty and I did not order or press submit. I just saved it. In fact didn't even put my store location or give them a card number to charge it so I know the order did not go through.

But, now I've got them all from the store last night. Still need a home printer.