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If it was up to me, I would never print out any of my digital pictures. I think they look great on the screen and I can make them as large as I want and zoom in if I need to. I guess I'm not very sentimental. But my wife, on the other hand, is very sentimental. We have to get all the good shots printed out so that she can place them in albums for posterity.

I gave up on printing out my own pictures a long time ago. If you're wondering why, check out this article. Now I get all my digital pictures professionally developed. The pictures I get back from the developer are just as high quality as film pictures and they are cheaper too.

I've tried many digital photo finishing services. My first foray into online digital photo finishing was with Shutterfly. Then I tried Walmart's online Digital Photo Center. If I had a coupon, I'd just bring my memory card into Target. All of these had differing results. Shutterfly's pictures had a red hue to them (although that was a long time ago and they have since won PC Magazine's Editor's Choice). With Walmart, I could order the pictures online but then had to pick them up in the store to avoid shipping costs. Target takes a couple days and they are a little pricey.

I recently found what I think to be the best online digital photo finisher on the web: Winkflash. When you first go to the site, everything looks too good to be true. Take a look at what they offer:

• Updated: 4x6" prints are now $0.16, $0.29 5x7" prints
• Free shipping on all orders during the summer sale, $0.99 flat-rate shipping all other times
• Matte or glossy finish
• Borderless or white borders
• Free unlimited online storage of your photos
• Upload your pictures to them online, or they send you a free CD-R to send back
• Updated: 5x7 photo greeting cards are only $0.99 no minimum, with $2 shipping per 100 cards

I've placed two orders with Winkflash. The pictures that they sent back were absolutely beautiful. Color and contrast are excellent. Of course, the quality of the pictures depends on your camera and how you took the shot.

Winkflash's prices cannot be touched by any other place on the web. A 5x7" print costs what a 4x6" print would cost at most other sites. And shipping is free right now! I ordered 100 of our honeymoon pictures for just $18 and I couldn't be happier with the results. Just see Winkflash's compare page to see how the other guys don't even come close. Even Walmart's 4x6" prints are $0.24.

If you've never ordered your pictures online, here's how it works:

First, you have to upload your pictures to the site. After you register with them, you download a little program that allows you to drag and drop the pictures you want right into the browser window. If you don't have a fast internet connection, this could take a long time. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't. Or...

You can sign up for their CD Mailer Program. This is one of the site's coolest features and it's great if you have a ton of pictures you want to print, or if you don't have fast internet. They will send you a CD-R for free that you can burn all your pictures to. The CD-R even comes in a postage-paid mailer so it doesn't cost you a thing to send it back to them!

A lot of sites give you tons of options for adjusting your photos and turning your pictures into cards, calendars, etc. Winkflash keeps it simple. They believe in the motto "Do one thing and do it well." You choose if you want a white border around the picture, glossy or matte finish, and you can do some rudimentary cropping options. I think this is the way it should be anyway, because it is easier (and more effective) to adjust your photos with a image editing program before you upload the pictures.

If you're looking for a site with more options to edit your pictures and get creative with calendars, cards, picture books, etc., then check out Shutterfly.

If you know of a digital photo finishing site that is a better bet for your money than Winkflash, I'd like to hear about it. Let me know using the feedback form.