By now, you are probably aware that you can order prints of photos that you have uploaded into online galleries through the online gallery website. Maybe you're also aware that the quality of these prints is outstanding. But were you aware that you can print LARGE using online photo printing? It's true. Different online gallery websites have different printing sizes, but most offer at least an 8x12 printing option.

From an aesthetic point of view, it's worth remembering that just because online photo printing gives you the option to print large, that doesn't mean you should always print that large. Large prints are a specialized application and you must take the nature of the image into account when deciding to print large. There are also some technical considerations.

Most people are aware of ‘megapixels.' Megapixels give you an idea of the re3solution of the photos that your camera takes. But did you know that megapixels don't tell the whole story?

Indeed, megapixels are a quite overrated. Chances are you can't tell the difference between an 8-megapixel photo and the same image shot at 12 megapixel with your naked eye unless you enlarge the image to a massive size. Paradoxically, the higher megapixel image might be blurrier due to cramming so many megapixels onto such a small image sensor. The nature of the image matters. An image where tiny details are essential needs to be higher resolution. However, something like a cityscape—where the broad sweep and scope f the shapes and colors and dark and light of the picture matter more than niggling little details—is an outstanding candidate for large size online photo printing.

Another consideration when using online photo printing to make an image large is the viewing distance. How far away do you expect people to be when they look at the image? The greater the viewing distance, the less detail you need. The closer your viewer, the more detail. Thus an image that is large and designed to be seen from close up requires a really high resolution file, whereas a billboard, perhaps counter-intuitively, wouldn't require a very large file at all.

Online photo printing from online galleries is a great options for top quality printing. These printers are designed to print at a quality almost indistinguishable from actual photos The better online printers use Kodak photo paper, just like the paper used for printing enlargements from film negatives optically (the old fashioned way). They use very good quality photo printers to get vibrant, clear, accurate color. Most services offer a variety of sizes to suit your printing needs as well. Compare printers to get the size you need. You may find that you are quite satisfied with 8x10, or you may want something larger. Shop around. Prints can be ordered in either glossy or matte, with an easy online form. If you're in a hurry, many online galleries offer express shipping. Of course, the larger you print, the more expensive the shipping.