Source:www.albumsource.com

The end result of many, if not most, of your "keeper" digital photo files is an actual photographic print that you can display, tuck away in an album, or give away.

With this in mind I thought I'd point you towards some online print services that offer free prints and other incentives.

I've used most of these services, more than once, and my results have been mixed, but generally quite good. In all instances the prints were delivered very, very quickly, within a few days and never longer than a week.

You can expect results that are equal to what you'll get at do it yourself photo kiosks and drop off processors found in drug stores and places like Sam's Club and Wal-Mart.

Generally, I've been quite happy with the results, as an amateur with high expectations. Some advantages of online "mail-order" printing are:

Wider selection of paper finishes and print sizes

Lower overall cost, especially for large orders, some are as low as 8 cents per 4X6

Extreme ease, upload digital photo files, enter credit card info, wait for prints to arrive in your mailbox

Many special discounts and other interesting promotions

Availability of various other items to which photos can be applied such as mugs, T shirts, etc.

Use of the latest and best printing equipment, technology and media, because these places can upgrade easily, often and quickly

The only downside is the shipping cost, and even that is a minor consideration because most places have low, fixed prices for shipping. Check the shipping costs and add it to your print total, then divide the result by the number of prints to determine your actual per print price.

My advice is to try them out with the free prints that are offered. Be sure to upload several of the same file to each so you can make comparisons and decide which is best for you.

As is the case with the bricks and mortar stores, results depend on who is operating the equipment at the time your order is processed, and whether or not something goes wrong and is not noticed. I've had both good and then great results from the same place on subsequent orders.

Clark Color Labs is offering 20 free prints.

Photoworks is giving away 25 free prints and, free shipping through February 28.

Shutterfly offers 15 free prints, sometimes they give away as many as 50.

Snapfish is very popular with their 25 free print promotion.

York Photo will spot you 20 free prints for trying their service.

dotPhoto is offering a whopping 50 free prints.

MyPhotoAlbum has 20 free prints for you.

Kodak Gallery is offering 20 free prints.

Winkflash isn't giving anything away right now but is offering 50% off on 4X6 prints.

For our friends in The United Kingdom here's a page of links to online digital photo processors with various offers for free and discounted prints.