Print out photo collages

You've created loads of fabulous photo collages with scrapbooking or collage software such as Photo Collage Studio and now you want to print them. Should you do this yourself or use an online photo service? Here Deena Waisberg compare these two methods so you can choose the one that is right for you.

Printing out photo collages at home
Although you can use a regular colour ink-jet printer to print out photo collages at home, consider getting a photo printer (an ink-jet printer designed specifically to print photos). It will allow you to print 4 x 6-, 5 x 7- or 8 x 10-inch pictures. And most come with four-colour ink which does a commendable job.

You can pick up a photo printer for between $100.00 and $400.00. Epson Stylus Photo R380 ($149.99), HP Photosmart C4180 ($149.99), Canon Pixma iP90v ($375) and Lexmark's P315 Photo printer ($84.49) are some newer models.

Using an online photo service
Alternatively, you can save your photo collages as graphic format and use a photo service to print your collages. Many retailers have Web sites, including Black's On-line Photo Centre, Shoppers Drug Mart Easypix Online, Future Photo and London Drugs Photo Station, where you can order prints online.

You first register for free and then use a Web page to upload your collages from your hard drive to what the sites call an "album,” "darkroom" or "folder," which is basically your own space.

The size you choose – whether you’re using an online photo service or printing at home – should depend in part on the resolution of your digital photo collages. The sites will warn you if the picture doesn't have a high enough resolution for the size you've requested.

You can also choose the finish (glossy or matte) and the number of copies. "We're finding that customers are ordering prints in large quantities, 30 or more," says Phil Chapman, director, imaging products and services at Black’s.

Next, you enter your shipping, billing and credit card information. You can have the prints sent to a nearby store or to your home, if you're willing to pay an extra shipping charge. Black’s, for example, charges a shipping fee of $5.

Comparing the cost of each printing process
The cost of printing your own photo collages and the cost of using an online photo service are similar, but the online services have the edge.

In addition to the cost of the printer, when printing your own collages you have to buy ink and photo paper. "The ink is the most expensive part," says Toronto resident Giselle Sabatini. The black ink cartridge for her particular printer model sells for $35.99 and the colour cartridge costs $28.99.

When all the costs are factored in, and depending on the type of paper and ink you use, the average price of a 4 x 6 per print is between 23 cents for Canon, 24 cents for Epson and 31 cents for HP.

Those prices are pretty good, but the average cost per print using a photo service is better. Future Photo has the best prices, offering 4 x 6 prints at 19 cents each. At Shoppers Drug Mart, 4 x 6 prints are 29 cents each. At Black’s, 4 x 6 prints are 39 cents.

Consider convenience and ease
You can't beat the immediacy of printing your own photo collages. By printing collages of family events herself, Sabatini can send them out to friends and family right away. "It takes me about 30 seconds to print one," she says. With a photo service, you have to wait at least 24 hours and as long as a week to receive your photo collages.

When printing by yourself, you also have control over the process. "I can enhance the colour to get the prints exactly how I want them," explains Sabatini. However, you can make the collage worse if you don't know what you're doing. The advantage of using an online service is that the pros know how to do colour correction, so you can count on a professional-looking print.