How do you get accurate prints online?

[dlccarlson]

I recently ordered some prints from Wal-Mart and the Future Shop. I ordered the same print to compare the quality. Neither store was perfect, neither looked exactly like what I see on my monitor. My monitor is calibrated with something called spider 2. What is your advice for ordering prints online?

[JohnG]

order from a company that doesn't do automatic color corrections. I happen to use ezprints.com and you have the choice of using their color correction or not. With the the auto correction turned off, I've been very happy with the results. The only downside is it takes about 8 days to get my photos.

[eric s]

Calibrating your monitor is only the first step (but a very good one.)

You also need an ICC profile for the given printer and paper you're going to have the work done on, and then you have to use the profile to softproof your image.

If you're going to use walmart, check out:
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/
they have profiles for most walmart locations.

I don't know Future Shop, but they might offer profiles for their printers. If not, then I wouldn't use them.

Once you soft proof your images, then you need to have them turn off their in-printer color correction (like JohnG said.)

Eric