Some time ago I reviewed online photo printing services — those sites where you could upload your photos so they would print them out and send them to you. In that review Bonusprint came out top. But recently I had to reconsider.

One set of prints from Bonusprint came back with many photos bent, smudged, or blurred. They were quick and courteous about making amends, and it didn’t cost me a penny. But the amended prints came back with a fine line running across each of them. Not enough to send back but annoying all the same. The last batch sent to them came back unreasonably dark. I decided to switch.

So I’m now using Photobox, who came out join second in my earlier review, and also allow a good range of sizes and options. Photobox also suggest you calibrate your monitor with their printers, which may mean I won’t get the variability I had with Bonusprint. Bonusprint themselves are keen to show that they calibrate their printers, although it’s not at all clear to me that this can be tied back to your monitor, in which case I’m note sure what the point is.

Of course, Photobox aren’t ideal. They’re more expensive than Bonusprint, and my request for a calibration print was initially refused (on the incorrect grounds that they couldn’t find me on their system) and then, when I pointed out their mistake, ignored. That didn’t bode well, but I sent off for some more prints anyway and they came back fine.

So that’s where we are. If things change further I’ll let you know.

Tags: photography, printing, review