iPhoto Export Click to see a larger image

There are two ways that you can get photos from iPhoto to the photo lab at Walgreens and Walmart: You can burn them to a CD and take them in or you can upload the photos directly to walgreens.com or walmart.com. The CD method is explained in this tip and the CD you create can be taken to any photo lab for processing. This tip covers the process for uploading your photos.

Walgreens and Walmart both use the same system for uploading prints. Their system is not perfect, but it is pretty close. The prep work that you do before sending your prints can also be used with any other online photo center that lets you upload, but you will generally have to upload the image files one at a time.

Printing photos at Walgreens or Walmart is a two step process: Prepping your photos from iPhoto then Uploading them to their websites.

Prepping your photos:

1. Do any editing you want to do to your photos. For best results, crop your photos to the size you are planning to print. (See how to pre-crop)
2. From the Thumbnail view, select all the photos you want to print. (Remember that you can use Command-click to select multiple photos.)
3. Choose File / Export... from the menu bar.
4. Leave the settings as they are and click Export.
5. In the export file dialog, select Desktop from the left pane and click the New Folder button. Name the new folder To Print and click Create.
6. Make sure the To Print folder is selected and then click OK. Your selected photos will be copied from iPhoto into your "To Print" folder on the Desktop

Upload Photos Click to see a larger image

1. Go to the website and click on the Photo link.
2. If it is your first time at the site, create an account. Otherwise sign in.
3. Follow the links to upload photos. Note: If it is your first time (recently) to upload, you will be prompted to download the QuickUpload plugin. Follow the install instructions and prompts. You will need your administrator's password to complete the install. Safari will quit after the install, so open it up again and re-log in to the photo center website. (It sounds difficult, but it is really pretty straightforward and you only have to do it once.)
4. IMPORTANT: It is the "Upload Photos" window where you need to be careful. The left side of upload window has various sources to select from. There is an option for the Pictures folder. DON'T select that. Instead, choose Desktop and then open your "To Print" folder you created way back in the prepping stage. Click the Select All button since you know that you want to upload all the photos you prepped.
5. Once your photos are uploaded, follow the website directions to print at your desired size and to pick up at your desired location.

I did a recent project that required printed photos. It was very easy to select and send the photos to my local Walgreens store down the street and they promised the prints in one hour. About 30 minutes later I got an e-mail saying that the prints were ready. Granted, this was a small order and it was about 8pm on a weeknight when the photo lab wasn't busy, but I was quite satisfied with both the service and the quality of the prints.

Note: I have no connection to either Walgreens or Walmart. I am only recommending their online photo centers because I have found them to be the easiest for iPhoto users. If you know of other online photo centers that use the same system or even something better, drop me a line.

Update: I've had several requests from the UK and other countries about using QuickUpload in those countries. I only have experience using it in the US. If you know of photo labs outside of the US that use Quick Upload, please let me know.

Related Items: iPhoto | Walgreens | GTD