Goodbye expensive photo labs!
Written: Aug 26 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Creates photo lab quality prints; heavy duty paper; no more need for commercial printing.
Cons: Prints need some drying time before being handled.
The Bottom Line: Fantastic quality for "homemade" prints. HP Premium Photo paper is far superior to competitive brands. This is the paper you'll want to use for printing your photos!
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| kiminnc's Full Review: PREMIUM PLUS PHOTO PAPER C6950A |
I don't need photo-processing labs anymore, now that I've found HP Premium Photo Paper. I've only purchased the "matte" finish, so I can't attest to the quality of the "glossy", but I couldn't be happier with the results!
I think I paid about $8.99 for this 15-sheet package at Staples. When I was shopping I noticed that almost every brand of photo paper had been opened. I know why! The difference in quality from one brand to another is VAST!! Some photo papers I've bought in the past, like Epson, were flimsy and sort of opalescent - more like plastic than paper. Since I had a new HP printer I wanted to check out the HP photo paper. Since the box was open, I pulled out a sheet and was surprised to find a similar density and quality of photo paper that is used by commercial film processors! It costs a pinch more than some of the other brands, but because the HP premium photo paper was so high quality, I decided to spend the extra buck or two.
I had taken several photos with my digital camera and wanted to make some prints to send to my “internet-challenged” relatives with whom I can’t seem to properly instruct how to open a file from e-mail (sigh). I have a nice software program for preparing photo layouts, so when I found a configuration I liked, I sent it to my HP printer to print copies.
I was so surprised when the first photo began to peek out of the printer! It looked like a real live photograph!! When the sheet was finished I pulled it out and set it on the desk to dry. The quality was superb!! Skin tones were true! Saturation and vibrancy of color were almost life-like! Nice, crisp images without looking overly sharp. I picked up the paper to look closer and managed to smudge the photo with my finger – DRAT!! Okay, this paper is almost flawless, but the drying time is fairly lengthy - like, maybe, 4-5 minutes (?) for especially saturated prints. Believe me though, it’s worth the wait! My husband and friends didn’t even question these prints as anything other than genuine Kodak processing.
I’ve never darkened the door of any photo lab since I purchased the HP Premium Photo paper. Why should I? It’s much cheaper to make my own prints, and I don’t have to wait even an hour to get them. The sheets are 8x10 and can print three 4x6 inch prints. At $8.99 that works out to me less than 20 cents a print (less the cost of ink)! I’ve noticed that $8.99 is probably the higher end of what you can expect to pay for this premium quality photo paper – so it may only cost you about 15 cents a print. By printing your own prints you also have the advantage of choosing any layout, including wallet size, 8x10’s, two 5x7’s, etc. Another advantage to making your own high quality prints with HP premium photo paper is that you only need print the “good” shots and can tinker around with imaging software to fix the “bad” shots. In other words you won’t waste any money on a photo of your thumb!
The HP Premium Photo paper is packaged in a sturdy cardboard envelope and mine also included coupons for additional HP specialty papers (i.e. T-shirt transfers, business cards, labels, and magnetic sheets).
I’m not sure how well this photo paper will work in a “non-HP” printer, but I’m imagining that any decent quality printer will produce very nice quality prints with the HP Premium Photo paper. At $8.99 a package – what are you waiting for? Run! Don’t walk to your nearest computer supply store or most any discount store and get a package of this fantastic paper! You’ll never go back to the old “our way or the highway” processing labs again!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kiminnc
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Location: North Carolina
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Too much of a good thing is wonderful!---Mae West
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