Blow Up Lab

This was the first time I created large-​scale posters. These guys were incredibly helpful at every step. They came back with an estimate within a day, offered help, provided several options for the finished product, and produced great results. I strongly recommend using them for this type of job.

The guys at Blow Up Lab go above and beyond — I have gone to them to have all of my artwork photographed and recently they kindly did a pro-​bono project for me, photographing four large paintings of a woman I am working with who lives in an SRO building in the Tenderloin and is in hospice care.
The entire team was amazing — the photographs were of highest quality with a same day turnaround and completed with love. I came back to them cleaning all her frames’ glass so that the artwork would be glowing when I returned it to her. So unnecessary for the services they were offering but hugely appreciated and really just made all the difference.
Couldn’t recommend Blow Up Lab more highly. They are professional and perfectionist.

I had a series of digital images I needed printed and mounted for a museum exhibit at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. I wanted someone who could translate what I do on pixels onto paper while keeping to the style of my photojournalistic work.
Frank McGrath without a doubt did what every great print master does. He simply creates beautiful prints while keeping the photographer’s vision completely intact.
He makes you feel like you’re his only client; attentive to your wants and needs, and also has a remarkable ability to use his own intuition when needed to better communicate your images onto the paper. He was generous offering his knowledge from his years of experience, finished his work before his deadlines and the cost was very reasonable considering all his expertise.
No doubt I’m planning on more exhibitions and Frank and his team at Blow Up Lab will definitely be my go-​to-​guys.

Amazing service! Excellent quality of work! Fast and impeccable. These are all I can say about Blow Up Lab. As an artist, they bring you to the next level with your work. Highly recommendable.

I came in wanting poster-​size prints of pictures from a vacation. Their options for mounting and printing are excellent, and the quality I got — along with the price I paid — was outstanding.

I did not make it easy for these guys but they surpassed every expectation I had. A damaged photo needed to be touched up and then blown up to be a centerpiece to my mother’s funeral service and brochure. Customer service was oustanding. The responsiveness and the attention to detail and my crazy timelines were not only met but exceeded (they had the job done a full day ahead of schedule– perhaps my mom sending some good thoughts). Worth every penny as everyone commented on the quality of the photo. I cannot thank them enough for making a difficult task go so smooth and not to add to my angst. I will go back in a second.

These guys are really great. I create artwork that tends to be difficult to mount, because of the texture and materials used. I had been going to General Graphics because they are the best in town. Unfortunately, they’re not cheap (mounting artwork on aluminum looks like a million bucks, and it costs just shy of that!). Their turnaround was usually two weeks. Period. Never sooner.
These guys were able to do the work – just as good, CHEAPER, and faster.
SOLD.
They now have a loyal client in me. And they should have one in you too.

One short story about my experience here:
I brought in a film negative for a high-​resolution scan. I asked if they could please scan the full frame, including the sprocket holes on the edges of the negative. They said they could get some of the edges in, but probably not all, as the carrier they use isn’t wide enough. I said, that would be fine.
I came back to pick up the finished scan a day later. Guess what? They had built a custom negative carrier just for my project! The finished result was way better than I expected, and better than originally promised.
High quality work and service that is courteous and professional. Everyone at the Blowup Lab was eager to work within my budget and specs, and is interested first and foremost in helping me produce a fine finished product.

I had a fantastic experience printing large scale trade show banners with the Blow Up Lab. Normally trade shows do their own printing, so I had no idea what to do when my client signed up for a trade show in Paris that required us to print our own banners. I found the Blow Up Lab on Unilocal and as soon as I started talking to Frank, I knew I was in good hands. I explained the parameters of the project — several very large banners (one was 7.5ft x 9.5ft) that could be shipped easily to Paris and then hung easily. He talked me through several options and then helped me decide on what would be the best option for this project. We settled on printing on Dreamscape vinyl — a really heavy-​weight, high quality matte vinyl. Frank said that Pixar made some large scale prints on it for their exhibit at the Oakland Museum. He also talked through all of the different hanging options with my client. And to top it all off, they got the banners into the mail and on their way to Paris in time to make a tight deadline. These guys are wonderful.

I just completed an order at The Blow Up Lab after being referred by a friend. I am so happy to have had the recommendation.
I brought in a difficult order with a tight timeline. Frank, the owner, discussed the many options I was thinking about, and how long it would take to accomplish the task. Frank then worked closely with me to produce a set of proofs to ensure color accuracy and image quality. This was the most hands on customer focused attention I have ever received.
I now have a set of images that are better than expected and as professional looking as possible. And they were done a day ahead of schedule! I will be back for more!

I have known Frank and team at The Blow Up Lab for over 5 years and they are simply awesome! The printing is top of the line and the customer service is incredible. I am a fine artist and often they create prints that are more perfect than the originals.
This is a local, family-​owned business that enriches our beautiful city. If you need custom, beautiful prints, especially if you are in the arts or graphics, only use them! You’re going to love Frank!

I am happy when I find businesses that are competent, knowledgeable, and nice, but add to that fast, high quality, competitive pricing, and local; you get a business worth its weight in gold. You get a place like The Blow Up Lab.
It is a tremendous feeling when you walk out of a business knowing you found exactly what you were looking for and you trust the people doing the work.
As a graphic designer and photographer I’m a stickler for color accuracy and quality printing, The Blow Up Lab satisfies my needs.
With this kind of service I think they are suck with me for many years to come.

My wide format printer died. I called them up for 2 3X8 vinyl banners with grommets. They turned it around in 1 day making my deadline. I will be using them from now on.

I just tried the Blow-​Up Lab for some giclee prints and was quite pleased with the outcome.
The owner, Frank, talked with me about the project before I submitted it. He explained what he could and couldn’t do and what he needed to make the best possible print.
One week after I gave him my files, the order was done as promised.
I’m a fan and can’t understand the poor ratings from the other two Unilocalers. I’ll return for more.

Miracle Workers ! Fast, friendly service — TOP NOTCH in my books !
I called Blow Up Lab this morning, inquiring how to have an enlargement done from a photo taken on my iPhone. I needed the finished product by this Sunday for my friend’s surprise birthday dinner.
The staff at Blow Up Lab took care of me like a VIP. Frank, in particular, was so very helpful. He was prompt in getting back to my e-​mail, walked me through the whole process on how to transfer the image, explained my options (canvass vs. photographic paper).
Normally, the turnaround time for canvass would be several days. I was going to settle for photographic paper, but then Frank worked his miracle — checking with his production team, and gave me the good news that my order would be ready by… would you believe… end of the day ???
(without charging me Rush fee — which, by the way, they could have).
Wow! Now that’s what I call customer service ! Where do you think I would go next time I needed photo enlargement service? Blow Up Lab, of course !
Thanks Frank (and Michael), and all the wonderful staff that made my day !

Very poor experience. I asked them to dry mount an original drawing on paper. They introduced me to their master «mounter,» who, after a modification to the picture, gave the job his blessing. They also made clear their lack of responsibility if it went wrong.
It went wrong. They ruined an original work of art. But what was REALLY wrong was their attitude about it. It seemed they couldn’t have cared less. No pride of craftsmanship. They offered no sincere apology, they were dismissive, they insisted on full payment. In short, NO decent customer relations. They lost a customer and gained an adversary.