FilePrint PDF Calendar Print Review

Features
Handling and Ordering
Performance
Verdict



FilePrint offer a massive array of templates that you can customise to print any number of photo products, whether it's calendars, invitations, canvas, framed canvas, greeting cards, panoramic prints, posters, business cards, complement slips, and more, they also offer the ability to print PDF documents, so you can create a custom calendar or photo product beyond the usual template. This is quite unique when compared to other photo printing services so we thought it would be worth a trial.

FilePrint Features

FilePrint offer stationary / business, calendars, cards, photos, posters, and canvas prints where you can choose from a large number of templates, or alternatively upload your own PDF design.

Following paper weights are available:

    Standard Silk (100-120 gsm)
    Heavy Silk (150-200 gsm)
    Card Silk (280-300 gsm)
    Heavy Card (350 gsm)
    Heavy Card Gloss Laminated (350 gsm)
    Heavy Matt Laminated (350 gsm)
    Canvas (300 gsm)

Any size available, but here is a list of the standard A sizes.

    A0: 841 x 1189 mm (33.1 × 46.8 in)
    A1: 594 x 841 mm (23.4 × 33.1 in)
    A2: 420 x 594 mm (16.5 × 23.4 in)
    A3: 297 x 420 mm (11.7 × 16.5 in)
    A4: 210 x 297 mm (8.3 × 11.7 in)
    A5: 148 x 210 mm (5.8 × 8.3 in)
    A6: 105 x 148 mm (4.1 × 5.8 in)

FilePrint Handling and Ordering

Upload your PDF file for printing (CMYK colour is recommended) on the website, and an A4 doc is printed at A4, there are no options to increase the size on the site, so it's important to get the design and setup of the document correct before uploading.

Choose from a number of paper options - although prices aren't displayed until later in the ordering process - instead you can calculate the expected price here, based on paper quality, paper size and number of pages. Ours came out at £8.31 for 25 pages of A4.

Preview the options, ensuring your document matches the layout required for the print you want. If you do submit a PDF document then it's important to make sure you have followed the example guidelines exactly, otherwise your print will not be layed out correctly. You do not need to worry about this if you use the template based system on the website as the layout and design is already done for you.

Add to cart, Fill in your delivery details, Choose your print and deliver services, the P&P charge is £3.20 making the total order £11.51. You can pay by AMEX, Mastercard, Visa, or Paypal. The site gives you an estimated delivery date when you have completed your order.

FilePrint Performance

Delivery was prompt with the calendar arriving just a couple of days later.

Packaging - Very good with roughly 3 layers of cardboard between the calendar and the outside world, this should provide ample protection from delivery. With our design and layout it was not possible to select a loop or hole for hanging the calendar, however if you select the A4/A3 hanging calendar design with the photo and calendar on the same page this is possible.



Print quality - The paper is thick and the binding is good. Colour is good, although black isn't entirely black in photos or text, with it just missing slightly, although this could be due to the RGB to CMYK conversion I applied to the document, rather than converting images to CMYK before using them. FilePrint has assured us that printing black is not a problem. It's also possible to see the print texture when viewed up close.

Value For Money

Fileprint offer A3 prints from 50p, with the price of the finished product being quite good value for money. Postage is realistic, and actually appears to be very close to the actual cost of posting things using Royal Mail rather than being exaggerated to cover "administration" etc which makes a refreshing change.

FilePrint Verdict

While designing your own PDF and uploading can seem more complicated that the standard template based print service, it can give you much greater customisation and control over your finished product, making it possible to make a much more unique end product, and for anyone who wants this, FilePrint are an ideal solution. Prices are also extremely competitive, with prompt delivery and this makes them worth using.

FilePrint Pros

Supports PDF
Cheap postage costs
Quick postage
Lots of templates and designs on the site

FilePrint Cons

Website could do with a refresh, as options can appear confusing
Sample prices section could do with a refresh
Price isn't known until you reach the checkout (unless you pre-check what you think it might be)
Doesn't come with an off-line designer like a lot of other photo products

FEATURES
HANDLING
PERFORMANCE
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL