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Most digital printing services can go way beyond the traditional options, though, in applying your images to a remarkable variety of novelty goods. Cards, calendars, keyrings, coasters, mugs, T-shirts, even cushions - just about anything you might want a photo on can be printed. The quality of the result is harder to predict, though.

An increasingly popular option is printed photo albums. You arrange selected photos onscreen into a book which is then printed for you. From around £20, you can get a beautifully bound volume with your own pictures on the pages themselves rather than stuck in. It's great for special occasions, and the software should give you a fair amount of control

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over the layout of your album, captions and so on. For example, Snapfish's MemoryBooks are created within your web browser using Flash, which you probably already have installed, to let you design your book interactively.

Choosing and using

Whichever service you choose to use for your next batch of prints, it's well worth signing up with several. Many services offer a certain number of prints free to new customers, so you may as well take advantage and give several options a try while starting off your album for only the cost of postage.

Most online photo printing companies also send out regular marketing emails. That may sound like asking for spam, but it's a great way to stay informed about sales and special offers that can significantly reduce the cost of printing. For example, at the time of writing Bonusprint was offering 25% off everything and a free 18x12 (46x30cm) print for each customer, while Foto.com was offering 50 free 6x4 prints and prints for 1p each from the 501st print in bulk orders.

By hanging on to your photos until a relevant offer comes up, you could save a lot of money, especially for larger quantities, or treat yourself to an enlargement or two that you might not have ordered at full price.