I am looking for a online digital photo printing service that works
across several countries.

I am residient in Germany (and can read English and German). But I
would like to be able to upload pictures that friends in the UK (and
lower priority the US) can view and print (and pay for the printing,
obviously) from their end.

The quality of the printing service is important to me: e.g. that the
colour of the photos is good.

The ease of uploading files to the site is also important. At present
I use a site (www.d2p.de) which documents very clearly
(www.d2p.de/formate.html in German) the size in pixels and the dpi you
should send the files as. I crop many of my pictures, and I believe it
won't do the photos any good it if the printers have to re-size my
photos.

Ideally I would like a site where you can print other things than
'prints', e.g. onto t-shirts, mouse mats, mugs, but this is lower
priority.

Can anyone help? I would appreciate reference to reviews of the print
quality and/or personal experience.

Hello jose-ga

many of the online printing services are U.S. based but some deliver
international.

The ideal ones would be those that offer ‘unlimited’ storage so they
allow you to upload the images from your digital camera so you can
display them in albums permanently. Some services like EZPrints only
allow you to store photos for 30 days for people to make orders. (
http://ezprints.mye-pix.com/TakeTour.asp ) Some sites like Microsoft’s
photo gallery puts a ceiling limit of around 20Mb which doesn’t even
absorb the contents of one photo session from a 32Mb memory card.
Having the benefit of an online photo album with the ability to store
full high resolution images to order prints, is a better option than
going for a ‘print service only’ site in my opinion.

I tried to source those which have the
1. Ability to store full sized photos from camera (without having to
resize) so the website automatically provides thumbnails and smaller
images for 56k users. Having a full sized image means better print
results
2. Ability to order prints from any country
3. Unlimited storage space
4. Easy upload of multiple images
(it helps if you have a high speed internet connection to upload the
images)

I currently use Sony’s Imagestation free service (
http://www.imagestation.com ) who provide unlimited storage; I have
about 780Mb stored via easy drag and drop upload - (whole folder
contents if you wish), no tedious multiple ‘browse’ and ‘select file’,
loads of templates for photo galleries, with comprehensive statistics
on viewers and the ability to leave comments. Imagestation also has
some powerful online editing tools, like adjusting sharpness,
brightness etc. It allows international ordering of prints and gifts
such as framed prints, mouse pad, mugs, picture cookies. Though
international postage is $4.99 USD. However the prints are currently
subcontracted to Ofoto and some reviews do not really rate their
quality. (I just tend to share the online images, and print off my own
prints). If you have a compatible Sony digital camera you can upload
the images directly to the site!

DotPhoto’s free service doesn’t have an ‘unlimited’ service but their
‘Family Plan’ subscription service does at $4.99 per month which
includes 26 free prints (6” x 4”) every month (
http://www.dotphoto.com/PrintPlans.asp )
They only deal with prints for the time being and have no printed
gifts. The only one amongst the group which does not allow easy upload
of multiple images, so you need to ‘browse’ > select file > OK, for
each image.

PhotoAccess free service also offers ‘unlimited’ storage for your
photos
( http://www.photoaccess.com/user/csFaq.jsp?#howmany ) and
‘Photostreamer’ software which allows you easy upload.
They have mugs, clothing, greeting cards, mouse pads, posters, puzzles
and other various printed gifts (
http://www.photoaccess.com/buy/catalog.jsp )

Shutterfly is a free membership service and have some additional items
to prints ( http://www.shutterfly.com/help/products.jsp ) but not as
wide a product range as PhotoAccess,. It too currently has unlimited
storage ( http://www.shutterfly.com/help/storage.jsp ) and an easy
upload software for dealing with multiple images.

Ofoto (now owned by Kodak) don’t seem to advertise the storage limit,
so that one is a bit of a mystery, but they do a small range of gifts
( http://www.ofoto.com/StoreOverview.jsp ) and have easy upload of
multiple images with a drag and drop interface.

All of them have international delivery starting around $4.99 USD for
standard 6”x4” prints which can be expensive if you are only ordering
1 or 2 prints. Larger prints and gifts attract more expensive charges.


“Schneid's Guide to Digital Photography” by Benjamin Schneid
section ‘Digital Photo Processing and Storage Web Sites’
http://www.benjaminschneider.com/photos.html
outlines his opinion on 4 online services and the quality
Dotphoto.com 4.5 stars
PhotoAccess.com 4.5 stars
Shutterfly.com 3 stars
Imagestation.com 2 stars
Ofoto.com 2 stars
All are detailed to have a free print offer, so you can at least trial
them yourself. Higher quality online printers should use traditional
silver-halide technology to photographic material ‘proper’ photo
processing (rather than inkjet or dye sublimation prints) Though Ofoto
supposedly does, strange they are only rated 2 stars above, however at
PC Photo review they are given a considerably higher rating. (below)

Other reviews are listed here at PC Photo Review
http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Photo,Sharing,&,Printing/PLS_3092crx.aspx

Dotphoto
http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Photo,Sharing,&,Printing/dotPhoto,Sharing,&,Printing/PRD_83080_3092crx.aspx

PhotoAccess
http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Photo,Sharing,&,Printing/PhotoAccess,Sharing,&,Printing/PRD_82822_3092crx.aspx

Shutterfly
http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Photo,Sharing,&,Printing/Shutterfly,Sharing,&,Printing/PRD_82824_3092crx.aspx

Imagestation
http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Photo,Sharing,&,Printing/Sony's,ImageStation,Sharing,and,Printing/PRD_130530_3092crx.aspx

Ofoto
http://www.pcphotoreview.com/Photo,Sharing,&,Printing/Ofoto,Sharing,&,Printing/PRD_82825_3092crx.aspx


Derek,"Is there Hope for North American Photofinishing Comp..." online
posting (Aug 10, 2001) <rec.photo.digital> via Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&safe=off&th=4a4e2f73cd928664&seekm=7ceb7964.0108120614.4ed29b30%40posting.google.com
has aired his opinion on Dotphoto, Ofoto, Printroom,Colormailer,
Walmart, Epixel, Photoaccess and Photochannel

John E Carter has published Ofoto and Walmart prints for comparison
http://pigseye.kennesaw.edu/~jcarter3/compare.html




Useful Links:
Yahoo: > Business and Economy > Shopping and Services > Photography >
Digital > Labs
http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Photography/Digital/Labs/
iBrowse > Shopping/Photography/Services/Digital/
http://www.ibrowse.co.uk/directory_root.php?browse=/Shopping/Photography/Services/Digital/
iBrowse > Computers/Internet/On_the_Web/Web_Applications/Virtual_Disk_Drives/Photo_Sharing/
http://www.ibrowse.co.uk/directory_root.php?browse=/Computers/Internet/On_the_Web/Web_Applications/Virtual_Disk_Drives/Photo_Sharing/




Search Strategy:

quality of imagestation prints
://www.google.com/search?q=quality+of+imagestation+prints&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=10&sa=N

image quality shutterfly
://www.google.com/search?q=image+quality+shutterfly&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=0&sa=N

I trust that is useful information,
if you need any clarification of the answer, just ask,
kind regards
lot-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by jose-ga on 05 Sep 2002 03:19 PDT

Thanks for your help. I need a little more help though.

The Photoaccess site looks good. Very easy to use. Imagestation is out
for me: the image quality is very important.

I was expecting a European site though. There are certainly many in
Germany, just on a quick search I couldn't find any German based ones
that had an English interface. There are also at least several in the
UK, but on a quick search I couldn't find out if they deliver to
Germany.

I could use a US based site, but I see two possible disadvantages:
delivery prices and delivery times. I had a look at the Photoaccess
prices, and they aren't too bad, so long as I order quite a few
prints.

Looking at 4x6 inch prints:

www.d2p.de
(who I use at present, these are perhaps overpriced, probably there
are cheaper services in Germany or UK?)
per print 0.55 Euros, delivery 2.30 Euros
So 10 prints,  5.50 + 2.30 =  7.80 Euros
   20 prints, 11.00 + 2.30 = 13.30

www.photoaccess.com
per print $0.45, International Shipping $4.99
So 10 prints 4.50 + 4.99 = $ 9.49
   20        9.00 + 4.99 = $13.99

(1 Dollar is almost exactly 1 Euro)

But I still have a worry about delivery times: I couldn't find any
info on the photoaccess site. Do they ship them airmail? How quick is
airmail? I have a magazine subscription delivered from the US, and it
takes ages.

I am still a little surprised there are no European based sites
though?

(I have a DSL connection so upload times are not a problem. My camera
is a Fuji.)

---

Request for Answer Clarification by jose-ga on 05 Sep 2002 04:26 PDT

2nd note from jose-ga (I am hoping this will this appear below my
'Request for Answer Clarification by jose-ga on 05 Sep 2002 03:19
PDT')

As I said, I was expecting a European based site: I have seen that
there are many European digital photo printing sites. Are there maybe
no European sites that also have 'photo albums' to store images?

---

Clarification of Answer by lot-ga on 05 Sep 2002 08:53 PDT

Hello jose-ga

There are quite a few European digital labs as you mention, but with
no photo album facility e.g.
Agfa Net
http://www.agfanet.com/en/ips/cont_how.php3
Fuji Lab
http://www.fujilab.co.uk/i_prints.html
Boots - Wellbeing.com
http://www.wellbeing.com/features/feature.jsp?articleId=1001024

and Yahoo! UK Photos offer an album but no print facility
http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/

However I did find this company which might suit your needs (depending
on image quality)
Fotango a UK service 
http://www.fotango.com
offer an online album which ‘appears’ to have no limit on storage,
though there is no specific mention of it. Upload is a bit cumbersome
for multiple images (10 photos in one upload session selected
individually) but they have an email facility which I tested with a
43mb attachment and it seemed to work fine. (Imagestation’s email
facility is limited to about 32mb attachments, but it also depends on
your ISP’s limit on size of email attachment)
Sharing of albums appears cumbersome, i.e. cannot share album URL
easily, it seems to be more suited to sharing individual sets of
photos.
UK prices are here on the order page.
http://www.fotango.com/cgi-bin/help_ordering.cgi
and they have a range of gifts
http://www.fotango.com/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=Gifts_Gallery
They have a german site too:
Fontango.de
http://www.fotango.de/cgi-bin/index.cgi
Though I am not sure if the German site interlinks with the UK site,
most probably if you joined the German site and shared photos with
your recipients they would get a German message to go to the German
site to view your photos.
I found feedback on the Ciao.com UK site
http://www.uk.ciao.com/products/3343.html
and one feedback on the Ciao.com German site
http://www.ciao.com/produkte/758585.html
Costs for 6x4 prints as per your comparisons (I needed to checkout
with a UK and a German address to see the exact shipping prices)
> UK delivery
10 prints £4.90 + £1.22 = £6.12
> Germany delivery
10 prints £4.90 + £1.73 = £6.63
> UK delivery
20 prints £9.80 + £1.34 = £11.14
> Germany delivery
20 prints £9.80 + £1.91 = £11.71

Delivery is assumed to be airmail, Photoaccess.com I believe use UPS.
I wouldn’t think they use surface mail which takes a month or so, that
would almost be business suicide.



Search Strategy:
Yahoo > Regional > Countries > United Kingdom > Business and Economy >
Shopping and Services > Photography > Digital > Labs
http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/United_Kingdom/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Photography/Digital/Labs/

Yahoo >Regional > Countries > United Kingdom > Business and Economy >
Shopping and Services > Communication and Information Management >
Internet and World Wide Web > Personal Information Management > Photo
Albums
http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/United_Kingdom/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Communication_and_Information_Management/Internet_and_World_Wide_Web/Personal_Information_Management/Photo_Albums/


fotango photo OR image OR print quality
://www.google.com/search?q=fotango+photo+OR+image+OR+print+quality&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&start=40&sa=N

online+photo+albums
http://www.ibrowse.co.uk

I hope the clarification is satisfactory, 
if not, please let me know.
kind regards
lot-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by lot-ga on 05 Sep 2002 08:56 PDT

For your information, 
the checkout prices for shipping above are from the UK Fotango site.
kind regards
lot-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by jose-ga on 06 Sep 2002 02:45 PDT

I don't need a clrification, your answer is all that I need, I just
want to say that I think I'll go for your first suggestion,
Photoaccess, but I'll have look at Photango.
Thanks again.

---

Clarification of Answer by lot-ga on 06 Sep 2002 04:05 PDT

hello jose-ga,
thanks and good luck.
This is a growth industry so no doubt there will be more players in
the market as people gradually switch to digital photography.
Hopefully by then, the per print costs will have dropped through
competition and there will be more European services.
(but downside is the currently free unlimited space services 'might'
start charging by subscription once they have a significant market
share).
kind regards
lot-ga

Lots of help, thanks. The clarification was just what I was hoping for.