Staples Offers Fast Holiday Photo Gift Printing With In-Store Expert Help

As the holiday season begins, photo books, mugs, prints and photo puzzles are highlighted as popular gift choices. A longtime printer reviewer names Staples, the US office supply retailer, as one of his favorite services for holiday gift printing.

Staples allows customers to order prints online through design tools for mugs, photos or puzzles. However, the main advantage isn't online convenience but the ability to visit a local store and talk directly with print and marketing specialists. Preparing digital files correctly for printing can be tricky — best practice calls for a high-resolution, flattened PDF in CMYK color — but in-store staff can catch potential issues before printing and produce a proof for customers to review beforehand.

Another advantage is same-day pickup for in-store orders, including items ordered online. For better print quality, the recommendation is to place the order in-store but have it printed at a Staples production center, with proofs sent for in-person approval — a process that takes several days, sometimes up to two weeks, but yields higher-quality results.

Testing included 11-ounce mugs, with 15-ounce and 17-ounce travel mug options also available; quality was comparable to other services tested. Orders of five or fewer items can be picked up same-day, while larger orders require delivery. Photo products like mounted prints fall slightly short of dedicated photo services in quality but offer good value for the price. Staples also offers canvas prints, metal prints, foam-backed prints and posters up to 36 by 48 inches.

Staples is also noted as a strong option for business printing, including business cards — its online business card maker is praised as excellent — as well as banners, posters and signage.