I print all the time, and not just because I test printers, but because I like paper. It doesn’t matter if they’re documents, photos, posters, or banners; I like artifacts—everything is better in physical form. And it’s not just dinosaurs like me; while eschewing digital media, Gen Z is embracing printed matter, too (see, the kids are alright).
I’ve lost track of how many photo books I’ve printed over the years—mostly one-offs of little projects, fun things for friends, and maybe five copies at most. I’m not a photographer anymore, but old habits die hard, especially when you see the way people react to paper books. The response to a book, versus showing someone your latest Instagram post, is not even comparable.
With the holiday season kicking off, it seems apropos to point out that photo books make great gifts, as do mugs, prints, and my personal favorite for kids: photo puzzles. I’ve tested dozens of printing services over the years, and one of my favorites for holiday gifts is Staples.
You can order Staples prints online through the company’s website, which features a variety of tools to help you design your photo gift, be it a mug, print, or puzzle. The print quality is great, and the online tools are well done and easy to use. But while ordering online is convenient, it’s not why I like Staples for printing. It’s because I can go to my local store and talk to actual human beings about my printing needs.
Printing can be tricky, and preparing your digital files exactly how the printer wants them isn’t always easy. Best practice is to provide a high-res, flattened PDF file in CMYK color, but if you don’t know what that means or how to get your file into the right format, fear not. The best way to print, even if you do know how to format it accurately, is to bring the file to your local Staples and talk to the print and marketing specialists there. They can catch potential issues before you print, and in most cases they can print a proof (sometimes at a reduced size, but still a proof) so you can see what you’re getting beforehand. This is one advantage over online-only services.
Another big advantage is that you can get your gifts the same day if you pick up in-store. If you’re in a rush this holiday season, remember that tip. You can even order online and pick up in-store to save yourself a trip.
Want to really step up your game? Here’s my pro tip. Head to your local Staples to place your order, but have them print it at a Staples production center. Tell the store to have the production center send proofs for you to approve in person. This eliminates the same-day advantage, as it will likely take several days—sometimes as much as two weeks—but the printing quality will be better.
What’s the quality like? I printed a couple of 11-ounce mugs—other options include a 15-ounce mug and a 17-ounce travel mug—and the results were on par with other services I’ve tested. I happen to like the shape of the Staples mugs a little more than what I got from others, but that’s more personal preference than anything. For the design, you can choose a premade template and upload a photo of your choice, or you can start from scratch and design your own mug. As with all Staples printing services, you can choose same-day pickup if you want five or fewer. For larger orders, you’ll need to get them delivered.
The photo options, like mounted prints, are nice. The print quality here lags behind dedicated photo services like our top picks, Mpix and Printique, but for the price it’s quite good (both Mpix and Printique are more expensive). They offer canvas prints, metal prints, foam-backed prints, and posters up to 36 by 48 inches.
Staples is also a great place for business printing. I’m in the process of transitioning back to running a business, and the first thing I did wasn’t setting up an Instagram account or doing anything with social media. The first thing I did was print business cards. Staples online business card maker is fantastic. And if I had a physical presence for my business, I’d have printed banners and posters and signs and everything else. Because we live in the real world, and if you want your business to succeed offline, you’re going to need to print.
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