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Pro lab print shootout

Sample results from 8x10s with the same paper type mounted on a black board. Testers were asked to pick the best and worst print of the bunch. Red bars indicate the percent of people who picked a print as worst, green as best.

Here's more info: http://www.smugmug.com/photos/pro-print-labs-compared/
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  • At first glance, testers couldn't decide between Mpix, upper right, and Bay, lower right as best. The Bay shot was slightly redder in the cheek, which most testers didn't like. But those who noticed the foliage color behind the girl all chose Bay.<br /> <br /> A second Mpix version, upper left, struck most people as too blue. Same for whcc, but not to the same degree. Some people liked the somewhat pink color of the ProDPI, and some disliked it more than the blue of Mpix.
  • There was no contest for worst on this shot, as testers said she looked like a ghost in that print. Two testers thought the ProDPI version was too pink and 6% thought the Mpix lower center was a combination of too saturated and too orange.<br /> <br /> For 3/4ths of the testers, whcc was their instant choice for best. A few chose ProDPI because the shadow in her face wasn't as pronounced, a few more chose Bay because they liked a little more contrast than whcc delivered.
  • For worst, most testers were caught between the too-orange, too-saturated Mpix version (especially under tungsten light) in the upper middle and the too-pallid Mpix version upper right (but 12% called that one best because it was the least orange).<br /> <br /> Most thought Bay achieved the best balance in saturation and tone, but 7% thought it was the worst because they thought they saw some blue in it (none said that under tungsten light).
  • One set of 8x10s was placed in a flimsy box from whcc and damaged.
  • Even though the 8x10s were shrink-wrapped and cardboard-backed from whcc, the flimsy box was no match for UPS.
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  • This package contains two mounted photos from Bay Photo. This package was damaged by UPS when it was shipped, yet the photos inside are undamaged due to Bay Photos excellent packaging and care.
  • The inside of the package from Bay Photo is robust and protects the photos.
  • The outside of the package from Bay Photo shows that UPS damaged it during shipping.
  • The photos are enclosed in thick plastic bags on the inside of the inner packaging from Bay Photo.
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