Nations Photo Lab Metal Print Review
- About Nations Photo Lab
- Nations Photo Lab Hours
- Nations Photo Lab Products
- Nations Photo Lab Promo Code
- Nations Photo Lab Return Policy
- Nations Photo Lab Reviews
- Nations Photo Lab Metal Print Review
A couple of weeks ago, I got a metal print from Nations Photo Lab in the mail.
Nations Photo Lab is one of the most recognizable names for online printing, so I expected to get a high-quality print.
The question is, did my Nations Photo Lab metal print impress me or depress me?
In this Nations Photo Lab review, I’ll give you my thoughts on my metal print and give you some background information about Nations Photo Lab as well. Read more about canvas print on our website PhotographyTalk.com.
We have announced the winner of our 2020 BEST METAL PRINT COMPANY $100 CHALLENGE! Find out which company came out on top.
Table of Contents
About Nations Photo Lab
Nations Photo lab started in 2005, when three photographers - Ryan Millman, Jon Weinstock, and Harvis Kramer - got sick of subpar printing services and began their own.
They struggled to find a printer that could offer quality, service, and quick turnaround times, while also providing affordable options too.
So, the three men started printing with a single printer, and from those humble beginnings, Nations Photo Lab has turned into an operation with more than 150 staff members that work in a 55,000 square-foot facility. Read more about Nations Photo Lab.
Nations Photo Lab Hours
Nations Photo Lab doesn’t have a retail store, but their website makes ordering prints and other products easy around the clock seven days a week.
If you have a problem or a question, you can chat with them Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to midnight Eastern time, call them at 1-888-507-5755 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday, or email them (allow one business day for a response).
If you’re nearby their facility in Hunt Valley, Maryland, you can pick up your order Monday-Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Nations Photo Lab Products
The list of Nations Photo Lab products is quite extensive.
You can order all sorts of paper prints in various sizes from wallets to panoramic prints. They offer photo albums for just about any occasion in sizes that range from 8x8 inches to 12x12 inches, as well as photo books, again, in various sizing options for different occasions.
Cards, photo gifts, and wall decor round out the Nations Photo Lab products.
Nations Photo Lab Promo Code
If you’re looking for a Nations Photo Lab promo code, you’re in luck. The lab has a dedicated page on their website with all the current Nations Photo Lab promo codes that are available.
For example, there are several promo codes available at the moment, including 10 free 5x7 prints if you use the Nations Photo Lab app. You can also get 10% off your first order with Nations Photo Lab by using the promo code FTCSM when ordering from the website..
Nations Photo Lab Return Policy
The Nations Photo Lab return policy is a little bit vague. For starters, it’s called a “Happiness Pact.” Secondly, it doesn’t outline anything specific in terms of what a return might look like. Instead, the happiness pact page on their website says the following:
“We don't want to break the trust that you give to us, so we made a commitment to ensure that you love what you create. So if your creation doesn't look or feel how you imagined, talk to us. Our Happiness pact means we want you to receive the best quality product possible.”
Nations Photo Lab Reviews
The Nations Photo Lab reviews are consistently in the middle of the pack. On SiteJabber, for example, they’re rated at 3.1 stars, though that’s based on just 17 reviews. On Yelp!, the Nations Photo Lab reviews are about the same - 3 stars based on 130 reviews.
An in-depth Nations Photo Lab review by PCMag gives them a higher mark - 4 out of 5 stars - with a rating of “excellent.”
Nations Photo Lab Metal Print Review
I ordered this Nations Photo Lab metal print as part of an upcoming head-to-head comparison between multiple printing companies that offer metal prints.
Without letting the cat out of the bag, the goal was to order the same sized metal print from each company while sticking as close to a $100 budget as possible. I’ll have more details on the head-to-head showdown in a few weeks, so stay tuned for that!
My first impression of my Nations Photo Lab metal print is that it’s a pretty good-looking product. For starters, the signature in the bottom-right portion of the print looks really good, which is not something I can say for some of the other prints I ordered from other printers.
There is a slight reddish tint to the color, but nothing that’s overly in-your-face. I’d give the color accuracy for Nations Photo lab a rating of 8 out of 10.
When looking at the print up close, you can see that the detail of the print is also pretty good. The resolution came through nicely as well. Overall, I’d rate the detail and resolution of this print as an 8 out of 10.
I also like the shadows and highlights in this print. The whites are bright and contrasty without much in the way of detail loss and the shadows are deep and beautiful without being blocked up. For the price (outlined below), this is a great print.
Print (16x24): $88.33 (with a 15% off coupon code)
Tax: $0.00
Shipping: Free
Total: $88.33
With zero tax and free shipping, plus a 15% off coupon, this print ended up being one of the most affordable ones I ordered.
On the back is an interesting hardware situation.
I like that it’s a simple one-piece setup, but it’s ever so slightly off-center. Hanging it on the wall means that it is slightly askew.
Additionally, the mounting piece has metal edges that are a little sharp, which is concerning when you mount the print to the wall. It could do damage to the wall pretty easily, so it would be nice to have some rubber bumpers on the back to help prevent wall damage.
This isn’t the worst mounting hardware I’ve ever encountered. It’s not the best, either. I’d say it’s above average, though, and if it were exactly in the middle of the print and had some rubber bumpers to take care of those sharp metal edges on the mounting piece, this mounting system would be really awesome!
But, as I noted earlier, this isn’t a bad print at all, especially for the price. I’ll have more details on this and the other metal prints I ordered in my upcoming $100 metal print shootout.
We have announced the winner of our 2020 BEST METAL PRINT COMPANY $100 CHALLENGE! Find out which company came out on top.
