Test print results using 3 companies

[whitevanman]

Finally got round to getting some prints done from my wedding 2 years ago.
I sent off the same 16 images to 3 companies to be printed 6x4, 8 colour and 8 black and white.
Prices are including delivery.
DSCL £6.52 (used their software to upload)
Loxley £13.61(used Loxley Roes to upload)
One Vision £18.16(just uploaded the images)

They all turned up within a day of each other.
I laid them all out in a line to compare each image one above the other.
I let my wife make her decision with out knowing price or where they came from ( price seems to affect her decision the more expensive the better )
She chose the Loxley prints.

So the Loxley images came out the best they seemed a bit more vibrant and sharper, the black and whites more contrast.
One Vision and DSCL I could see no difference apart from the price, they weren't bad and had I not done this test would have been happy with the results.
This is obviously just my observation and opinion but if I were handing over a prints to a client then I would feel a lot happier with the images from Loxley.
One Vision a lot of money for very little.
Hope this is some use to people looking for online printing.

 

[POAH]

how accurate were the prints compared to the screen?

did you upload srgb or profiled images?

heck of a price difference between them all though.

how different where the actual prints in terms of paper thickness and type. Loxely use the thicker fuji CA paper compared to DSCL which is supposed to have a better dmax.

 

[whitevanman]

They are all slightly darker than the screen image, which I have calibrated with a color munki display.
I uploaded srgb images.
I can not see any difference in the paper thickness, they all say Fujicolor professional paper.
The difference in the detail of the prints is noticeable, Loxley being better.

 

[ajax_andy]

I use Loxely and have been uber impressed with them.

Not tried either of the other companies mentioned due to being blown away by how good the Loxley prints are... looks like you've found the same too

 

[V8burble]

I did the same test about 18 months ago (including a few local labs) and came to the same conclusion. There is a noticeable improvement in fine detail to the Loxley output. I don't know why or how, and tbh I don't care how they do it, I'm just glad they do. I've used them exclusively (except for nursery stuff for which I use One Vision) ever since. The cost difference to me is negligible and included in my pricing anyway.

Glad to see that your tests still back up my findings still

 

[nikonuser]

Thanks Graham, since I have not used any of the labs it always interesting to know what other people think when comparisons are made.
Dave

 

[whitevanman]

I did the same test about 18 months ago (including a few local labs) and came to the same conclusion. There is a noticeable improvement in fine detail to the Loxley output. I don't know why or how, and tbh I don't care how they do it, I'm just glad they do. I've used them exclusively (except for nursery stuff for which I use One Vision) ever since. The cost difference to me is negligible and included in my pricing anyway.

Glad to see that your tests still back up my findings still

Why One Vision just for the nursery stuff?

 

[whitevanman]

Thanks Graham, since I have not used any of the labs it always interesting to know what other people think when comparisons are made.
Dave

Well I have read so many comparison on here I thought it was about time
I saw for myself what all the fuss was about.

 

[V8burble]

Why One Vision just for the nursery stuff?

Simply because they offer (as do others) a great package of proof cards and online sales platform. You just collect the proof cards and send them off to receive back the completed and collated packs to drop off at the respective nursery. All online sales 'just happen' without any input from me.... I just collect the spoils each month To try and do nursery packs all yourself is just asking for an early grave.