Printer shop or online for oversized prints?

JenniferMurphy · Jun 9, 2012

I need to make a print of a photo collage that is 63 x17 in Photoshop. I would like to make a print that is somewhere between 36 x 10 and 44 x 12.

I called the local Kinko's (FedEx). They say they can do it for $12/sq ft. There is a 24-hour turnaround.

Can anyone recommend an online printing service where I can upload the image, scale it to the right size, and get a print of these sizes mailed to me?

KmH · Jun 9, 2012

Most online print labs can and will print custom sizes.

as an example, for a 36 x 10 I would use Photoshop to put it on a 24 x 36 canvas and add a note in the margins blank space to please trim the excess.

In fact I would put the image on the canvas twice so I get 2 prints out of the one 26 x 24 sheet of printing paper.

JenniferMurphy · Jun 9, 2012

Did you create that composite image (2 images plus the trim instructions) offline and upload it as a single image or did you assemble it on photobucket?

I'll check out photobucket.

It's great that they will trim it.

KmH · Jun 9, 2012

I assembled it in Photoshop as 6 layers:

The white 36 x 24 background
2 layers of the gray image. (i just reused the same image twice, which is what you would do with your collage.
and 3 text layers that each say 'Please trim excess'.

Those that think Lightroom as it comes from adobe is all you need, take note of the 6 layers.

I first made a new white 36 x 24 document image, The I made a separate 36 x 10 gray document image. You would just open a copy of your collage instaed of making a 36x16 gray docuument.

Using the 'Arrange Documents' tool on the Applications bar in 2-up mode, with the 'Move' tool active I then clicked on and dragged the gray image on top of the white image, which makes the gray image a separate layer as an addition to the larger white background. (If you hold down the shift key as you do the drag, your image will stay centered left-to-right). I then dragged out a guideline from the top ruler and placed it 1" below the top of the 36 x 24 white document. (When the 'Move' tool is active you can use the arrow keys to move the active document (or active layer) 1 pixel at a time, or hold down the shift key and the arrows will move the document 10 pixels per arrow key push)

Each 'Please trim excess' text line would also be it's own layer.

JenniferMurphy · Jun 18, 2012

Keith,

I couldn't try out your technique, because I cannot figure out how to get my little printer (Canon S830D) to accept a page longer than 22 inches.

On another thread, Edsport recommended ezprint.com for printing panoramas. The prices were very reasonable, so I ordered three prints. Here are the prices as compared with Kinko's, whiuch quoted me $25/sq ft.