So you want to print up some posters of your own photographs? You could take a trip to a local print shop or chain, but why not use one of the many quality web-based services? There are a handful of different services that will let you upload your photographs and then send you poster-sized prints in the mail — allow us to break down some of the choices for you.
In this article, we’ll cover poster printing with the following services:
Yahoo! Photos/Target
Yahoo! Photos is a web-based photo management service from Yahoo!, built before the search giant acquired Flickr. Yahoo! Photos has paired up with Target to allow users of the service to purchase prints of their photographs.
Once you’ve uploaded your photos to the Yahoo! Photos system, browse to one you’d like printed and click the “Order Prints” button. This will show you a new menu, which contains an option for “Larger Sizes”. Here’s a screenshot:
Fig. 1 - The “Order Prints” menu from Yahoo! Photos, showing the “Larger Sizes” option.
Clicking “Larger Sizes” brings you directly to the ordering page for a poster-sized print of the photo you were looking at.
Flickr
Flickr is a very popular web-based photo sharing site that is owned by Yahoo!. Join Flickr, upload your photos, and then find one that you’d like to print. Above the photo, you’ll see an “Order Prints” button. Click that, and you’ll see a menu of print sizes and prices appear.
Fig. 2 - The “Order Prints” menu for a Flickr-hosted photograph.
Click on the “More Options” link, and Flickr will show you larger, poster-sized print options. If your photo’s resolution is not high enough to print a good quality poster, Flickr will tell you these larger sizes are “not recommended”.
The first time you click Flickr’s “Order Prints” button, you’ll be asked to set up a few basic options. Simply follow the on-screen instructions, then return to your photo and click “Order Prints” once more.
Flickr/Qoop
Flickr also offers photo prints through a company called QOOP. Take another look at the “Order Prints” menu shown above, and you’ll notice a link at the bottom that reads “Order Prints from QOOP”. Click that link, and you’ll be taken to the QOOP website and shown the following sizes/prices:
Fig. 3 - QOOP order form
Click on the gray “more sizes” link, and you’ll see a full list of the sizes offered by QOOP, including poster sizes.
Fig. 4 - Greater list of QOOP sizes and prices.
Click the “Add” button next to the size print you’d like. Notice some sizes have exclamation marks next to them — this means that your photo might not print well at that sizes.
Once again, the first time you click the “Order prints from QOOP” link in Flickr, you’ll be asked to set up some basic options allowing QOOP to access your Flickr photos.
Wallhogs
Wallhogs is a unique site built specifically for printing poster-sized versions of your photographs. In addition to offering regular glossy posters, Wallhogs can also do canvas prints, and reusable vinyl stock.
Create a Wallhogs account and log in, then click the “Create Your Prints” button at the top of the screen. Wallhogs will show you the “Three easy steps to personal decor”. Click on “Step 1: Upload Photo or Image”, and then let the Wallhogs quide you through the rest of the uploading & ordering process.
Fig. 5 - Wallhogs step 1
Snapfish by HP
Snapfish is a photo printing site by Hewlett Packard that offers a handful of poster-sized printing options. Snapfish has a help article called “Ordering Poster Prints” that outlines their prices, minimum resolution requirements, and the process for ordering poster prints. Join Snapfish, upload the photos you’d like printed, and follow their instructions.
Shutterfly
Shutterfly is a photo printing site that offers three large sizes: 11×14, 16×20, and 20×30. Simply join Shutterfly, upload some photos, and browse to the ones you wanted printed. Check off the check box underneath the photo(s) you want, and click the “Next” button to the top right that’s labeled “Select sizes and quantities”. Once the next page loads, you’ll be presented with the various sizes and prices offered by Shutterfly.
Fig. 6 - Printing sizes offered by Shutterfly. Fill in your desired quantities.
In addition to glossy poster prints, Shutterfly can also print your photos on canvas.
Price Comparison
All six of these services have a very similar price structure. Here’s a table for comparison:
| Yahoo!/Target | |
| 11×14 | $4.95 |
| 16×20 | $14.95 |
| 16×24 | $15.95 |
| 18×24 | $17.95 |
| 20×24 | $18.95 |
| 20×30 | $19.95 |
| Flickr | |
| 20×30 | $19.95 |
| Flickr/QOOP | |
| 11×14 | $6.99 |
| 12×18 | $9.99 |
| 16×20 | $14.99 |
| 16×24 | $16.99 |
| 18×24 | $17.99 |
| 20×20 | $17.99 |
| 20×24 | $18.99 |
| 20×30 | $19.99 |
| 24×36 | $19.99 |
| 30×40 | $39.99 |
| Wallhogs | |
| 24″ tall | $19.99 |
| 36″ tall | $31.99 |
| 48″ tall | $44.99 |
| 60″ tall | $54.99 |
| 72″ tall | $64.99 |
| 84″ tall | $74.99 |
| Snapfish by HP | |
| 11×14 | $6.99 |
| 12×18 | $9.99 |
| 16×20 | $14.99 |
| 20×30 | $19.99 |
| Shutterfly | |
| 11×14 | $7.99 |
| 16×20 | $17.99 |
| 20×30 | $22.99 |
Prices shown are are accurate as of 4/11/2007, and are subject to change without notice at any time. Please check the final total of your purchase before you check-out. Wallhogs prices are based on regular poster prints, not canvas or vinyl.
A Word About Image Resolution
Image resolution refers to the quality of a digital image, and the amount of detail it contains. A photograph taken at low resolution might look fine at it’s original size, but not so hot when it’s blow up to the size of a poster. Most of the services we’ve described in this article will alert you if your photo’s resolution is not up to par.
Who to choose?
Who you choose to print your posters is ultimately up to you, since all of the sites covered in this article are reputable, established printing outfits. If you’re the comparison-shopping type, use the price table shown above to track down the best price. If you’re looking for convenience, and your photos are already hosted on Flickr, try the Flickr or Flickr/Qoop route. If you’re looking for something original, go no further than Wallhogs — their reusable vinyl prints really are something else.
Further Reading
This article is part of a larger series covering different way to print posters from your own photos. Be sure to read the entire series, “Print Posters from Your Own Photos“.
