Walmart.com lists a price of $12.56 for a 16 x 20 print.

I use Costco. Their prices are pretty awesome and the quality is great.

When I was exhibiting, I used Mpix.com and Adoramapix.com. I did a lot of 16 x 20's. I was happy with both, but when did a side-by-side comparison of the same print, Mpix was slightly sharper. I was sorry to learn this, because they are more expensive ($16.99 vs. $9.60). :-)

Since then I've used only Mpix. They did my Christmas cards this year, thanks to a Black Friday special. Fabulous job. Several recipients told me they're going to frame theirs.

Costco - very good quality and cheaper than any other place I know of.

Walgreens

Mpix will also add the pearl top for small fee. For quality, I like mpix.

Before you pay for a print as large as 16 x 20, make sure that the image file has enough pixels to produce a smooth image. Most point and shoot cameras are set to nominal pixel counts and can not make good photos beyond 8.4 x 11 inches.

If the final picture is printed at 200 pixels per inch, then one square inch has 40,000 pixels. A 16 x 20 picture has 320 square inches and at 200 dots (pixels) per inch, it contains 12,800,000 pixels. In base 2, one meg is 1024 x 1024 or 1,048,576. A quantity of 12,800,000 becomes 12.2 megs in base 2. Therefore by this recconing, a 16 x 20 print needs a minimum of 12.2 mega -pixels. The file size is much larger than this because each pixel may use 24 bits to define its color and intensity. At 24 bits, the file size is approximately 307.2 Gigabits or 38.4 Gigabytes. This is an unweidly number.

So, how does a large print get made with a reasonable file size? Its done by spreading the available pixels over the print and interpolating between points to create the pixels in between. Loss of fine detail results. From a distance the print looks ok but on close examination, image edges may be blurred and fringing can occur between sharp color changes, e.g., a saturated red leaf against a bright blue autumn sky.

If you anticipate printing large photos, set your camera to take the image at its maximum pixel count. A camera with a full size sensor is recommended.

Mpix will tell you if your file shouldn't be enlarged to a given size. I wouldn't be tempted to overrule them, as Jemdandy is correct.

But the full-frame sensor cameras I've encountered cost close to $3,000--and that's just for the body! I don't own one, and you don't need something that sophisticated to get a good quality large print.

Thanks all. I think I'll look into Mpix. The pic was taken outdoors on a Canon Powershot Elph 330 point and shoot. The settings was on auto at the time so not sure what specs make up auto. I don't know enough about pixels and whatnot that jemdandy explained (thank you, by the way), so perhaps using Mpix is the way to go.

I'm sure your picture will enlarge just fine with that camera. I have a picture that I enlarged into a 10x12 years ago that was taken with a FOUR megapixel camera and it's hanging on my wall. I cut it into 4 4x6 shots to make it like a collage picture. Your camera is a 12 megapixel camera which will turn out a beautiful enlargement.

I just got an email from Mpix advertising 25% off all prints, now through January 29. Promo code PRINTS14.

BIG thanks, alisande. I'll take advantage. Thanks for sharing.