Why Staples Is One of the Best Places to Print Photo Gifts

Staples offers a variety of tools to help you design photo gifts, including mugs, prints, puzzles and more. You can order prints online through the company’s website. The print quality is excellent, and the design tools are well-made and easy to use.

However, online ordering isn’t the main reason I prefer Staples for printing. The biggest advantage is that you can visit a local store and speak with a real person about your printing needs.

Get Help Preparing Your Files

Printing can be difficult, particularly when you need to prepare digital files in a specific format. Best practice is to provide high-resolution, flattened PDF files in CMYK colors. If you don’t know what that means or how to convert your files, Staples’ printing and marketing experts can help.

Even if you know exactly how to format your files, taking them to a local Staples store lets you consult with an expert before placing your order. You can identify potential problems before printing and, in most cases, request a proof—sometimes even a reduced-size proof—so you know what to expect. This is a significant advantage over online-only printing services.

Use Same-Day Pickup When You’re in a Hurry

In-store pickup is another major benefit. You may be able to receive your gift the same day, which can be especially useful during the holiday season. You can also order online and pick up your item in store to save a trip.

Pro Tip: Request Production-Center Calibration

For the best possible results, visit your local Staples store to place the order, then ask the store to have it printed at a Staples production center. You can request a calibration certificate from the production center for direct approval.

This option eliminates the same-day advantage and may take several days—sometimes up to two weeks—but it can improve print quality.

Staples Custom Mug Quality

I printed several 11-ounce mugs from Staples. Other available options include 15-ounce mugs and 17-ounce travel mugs. The results were comparable to those from other services I’ve tested.

I also prefer the shape of Staples’ mugs to some of the alternatives I’ve received, although that’s a matter of personal preference. For the design, you can select a ready-made template and upload a favorite photo, or start from scratch and create your own mug.

As with Staples’ other printing services, same-day pickup is available for five or fewer pages. Larger orders must be delivered.