best size for comparison of quality photos?

catspaw

For those of you who have put together comparison prints (EZ prints vs. Walmart vs. Walgreens, etc) for your clients, what size prints have you used? I know they need to be big enough to show the quality improvements, but I'm not sure I want to invest into a dozen 8x10s either (I'd use three different photos through 5-6 different local printers).

Have you found that 5x7 is sufficient or should I suck up the triplicate cost and go for the full page sized images? :scratch

EDIT: and what size file do you use? Those from SM get the full size, but if they bought the image from me and then printed it, it'd still cost a bit more if they got the full sized image, but less if they got the smaller one so .... hrm. I guess I need to figure out what I'm trying to compare and prove. Quality of SM prints? yes. Value? yes.

Cygnus Studios

catspaw wrote:

Have you found that 5x7 is sufficient or should I suck up the triplicate cost and go for the full page sized images?

I use 11x14 for my book. It is a size that most people do not see on a regular basis, and it forces their thoughts into a new direction.
I want my clients to see quick differences and large photos make that happen quickly.

It also dramatically shows the difference in quality. I have Bay Photo, Costco, Target and Walmart. Without exception everyone has chosen Bay Photo.

catspaw

Cygnus Studios wrote:

I use 11x14 for my book. It is a size that most people do not see on a regular basis, and it forces their thoughts into a new direction.
I want my clients to see quick differences and large photos make that happen quickly.

It also dramatically shows the difference in quality. I have Bay Photo, Costco, Target and Walmart. Without exception everyone has chosen Bay Photo.

I was debating between 8x10 or using 5x7s but 100% or close to it so the details show up. Walmart, Walgreens, Target, Albertsons, another grocery store, Ritz Photo, Bay Photos and EZ Photos are all on my list. Oh, and printing at home.

then I was going to list costs - downloading print + print costs vs. ordering a print - and list it next to each one too.

I only hope the SM options win out

Toshido

If this is a book to show clients I doubt you would want to show your costs in printing them. Maybe and hopefully misunderstanding what costs you are wanting to show them.

I know I have read the advice on here before to only show clients the best prints as well, though I don't think I fully agree with that advice.

catspaw

Toshido wrote:

If this is a book to show clients I doubt you would want to show your costs in printing them. Maybe and hopefully misunderstanding what costs you are wanting to show them.

nono, costs for THEM to get such prints, since after they pay for the download plus print it vs. the prices I have it at, they are cheaper (unless doing duplicates of course) to just order from me.

I know I have read the advice on here before to only show clients the best prints as well, though I don't think I fully agree with that advice.

never seen that advice and I know of several who have comparison books specifically to SHOW the quality +++ that you get from SM printing vs. walmart, etc.