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Ed the Bruce

Ed the Bruce

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is there an ink jet printer that will have ink costs lower than if I simply use Smugmug's printing service

also which would have superior quality and longevity?

thank you
 
Ed the Bruce said:
is there an ink jet printer that will have ink costs lower than if I simply use Smugmug's printing service
Click to expand...
No, probably not. Even if you use refillable cartridges and third party, non-OEM ink, the cost of inkjet coated paper is relatively high.

Red River Paper has some studies of OEM ink costs by printer: http://www.redrivercatalog.com/cost-of-inkjet-printing.html

The other way to reduce costs is to buy a larger format printer with larger capacity cartridges which have a lower cost per unit volume of ink. It still isn't cheap.
Ed the Bruce said:
also which would have superior quality and longevity?
Click to expand...
Probably any pigment ink printer will have better quality and longevity with OEM inks. That is why some photographers print their own images: quality, longevity, control, and a much larger selection of high quality papers. Comparative cost isn't usually a criterion.

If you want low cost prints, then Costco does a good job, providing you want RC paper in lustre or gloss.

Brian A
 
Depends on many things. For longevity you would require a pigment ink and a quality photo paper for the print. Using a pigment ink restricts the variety of printers you could use - usually the more expensive. Also depends on the size that you wish to print. For infrequent printing or small runs it can be very expensive if using the original (makers) supplied ink. Probably cheaper to outsource your printing requirements.


Dave. (UK)
 
Besides cost (if you use a larger printer), the primary purposes of doing your own printing is control and speed, control meaning you can choose from a wider variety of paper stocks than what regular printing services can offer, and speed meaning you can have the print in a few minutes instead of a few days. But if neither of these are important to you (and/or you don't print often) then using a service is much simpler and with much less initial upfront expense.
 
I bought a lot of paper from Canon during their December "Buy one, get nine free" special and use PC ink. I calculate my cost for a Letter-size print on my Pro-100 (which I got on the $38 deal) to be around nine cents. It is so cheap that I don't hesitate to print multiple variations of a print just to compare them.

It is very satisfying to do as much as I can myself, so I mat and frame them myself, too.
 
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
 
cortlander1 said:
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH

cortlander1 said:
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
 
Most of us do print on the paper of our choice.
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH
Click to expand...
 
cortlander1 said:
Most of us do print on the paper of our choice.
Click to expand...
not really - you print on what you like that you can easily get

when I print through Smugmug I get far more options than I think any home printer could afford to stock

do you right now have metallic paper? - I can have a 36 x24 inch print here tomorrow on metallic or even a canvas wrap, or almost any other option

yes you do print on the paper of your choice, but you also limit your choices to what you economically find acceptable which limits your options. a home printer normally wont buy and store a large supply of a specialized paper because it would be cost prohibitive - using sumgmug or other line printer you only have to pay for the paper you actually use

I have drawers full of paper I haven't used because it just wasn't the best choice for the print, actually these days the only things I print at home are 4x6 prints for family and friends to pass around.

I like to print and frame my best shots and I just can't afford a printer that can make a 36x24 printer and all of the possible papers I might want for every different photograph

trust me - I wish I could, I would love to be able to do it at home at a reasonable price


cortlander1 said:
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH
cortlander1 said:
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
 
And do you realize that there are at least four different brands of metallic papers on the market each with their own unique characteristics (I know because I've experimented with them all). Does Smugmug, or any other printer, give you that many options, not to mention the dozens of different watercolor papers or canvasses?
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
Most of us do print on the paper of our choice.
Click to expand...
not really - you print on what you like that you can easily get

when I print through Smugmug I get far more options than I think any home printer could afford to stock

do you right now have metallic paper? - I can have a 36 x24 inch print here tomorrow on metallic or even a canvas wrap, or almost any other option

yes you do print on the paper of your choice, but you also limit your choices to what you economically find acceptable which limits your options. a home printer normally wont buy and store a large supply of a specialized paper because it would be cost prohibitive - using sumgmug or other line printer you only have to pay for the paper you actually use

I have drawers full of paper I haven't used because it just wasn't the best choice for the print, actually these days the only things I print at home are 4x6 prints for family and friends to pass around.

I like to print and frame my best shots and I just can't afford a printer that can make a 36x24 printer and all of the possible papers I might want for every different photograph

trust me - I wish I could, I would love to be able to do it at home at a reasonable price
Ed the Bruce said:
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH
Ed the Bruce said:
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
Most of us do print on the paper of our choice.
Click to expand...
not really - you print on what you like that you can easily get

when I print through Smugmug I get far more options than I think any home printer could afford to stock
Click to expand...
Now that is a ridiculous statement. Smugmug has what: four RC papers (gloss, lustre, photo matte and metallic) and canvas. That isn't a lot of choices. They offer no fibre/Baryta papers, no fine art papers, no textured papers, no cotton papers, just plastic coated and canvas.
Ed the Bruce said:
...

I like to print and frame my best shots and I just can't afford a printer that can make a 36x24 printer and all of the possible papers I might want for every different photograph
Click to expand...
Owning a 24" or larger format printer is a different proposition. But the paper selection range is a spurious argument. Smugmug, and most high volume online printers have an extremely limited selection of papers. Much more limited than most home printers. It is one of the many reasons they are cheap.

Their prints also have a more limited gamut and longevity, compared to pigment inkjet prints.

As has already been mentioned, you get more control, greater longevity, larger gamut, and a far greater selection of papers. What you don't get is volume pricing.

Brian A
 
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
Most of us do print on the paper of our choice.
Click to expand...
not really - you print on what you like that you can easily get

when I print through Smugmug I get far more options than I think any home printer could afford to stock

do you right now have metallic paper? - I can have a 36 x24 inch print here tomorrow on metallic or even a canvas wrap, or almost any other option
Click to expand...
Yes I do have metallic papers and several 36 inch prints from that. And I have Canson Baryta, Rag Photographique, BFK Rives, Watercolor paper etc and half a dozen kinds of Epson paper.

I do print with these papers because i listen, lurk and learn from highly knowledgeable print masters in these forums, who just responded to you. Give it a try.

yes you do print on the paper of your choice said:
Ed the Bruce said:
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1, post: 55890418, member: 1476850"]
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
mike earussi said:
And do you realize that there are at least four different brands of metallic papers on the market each with their own unique characteristics (I know because I've experimented with them all). Does Smugmug, or any other printer, give you that many options, not to mention the dozens of different watercolor papers or canvasses?
Click to expand...
probably not as many choices, but I can buy one sheet at a time. in one order I can print several different pictures all on different papers at a very reasonable price. To do that at home I would have to buy a box of each type of paper which would cost much more

and as I also said I like to print large as in 36x24.
mike earussi said:
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
Most of us do print on the paper of our choice.
Click to expand...
not really - you print on what you like that you can easily get

when I print through Smugmug I get far more options than I think any home printer could afford to stock

do you right now have metallic paper? - I can have a 36 x24 inch print here tomorrow on metallic or even a canvas wrap, or almost any other option

yes you do print on the paper of your choice, but you also limit your choices to what you economically find acceptable which limits your options. a home printer normally wont buy and store a large supply of a specialized paper because it would be cost prohibitive - using sumgmug or other line printer you only have to pay for the paper you actually use

I have drawers full of paper I haven't used because it just wasn't the best choice for the print, actually these days the only things I print at home are 4x6 prints for family and friends to pass around.

I like to print and frame my best shots and I just can't afford a printer that can make a 36x24 printer and all of the possible papers I might want for every different photograph

trust me - I wish I could, I would love to be able to do it at home at a reasonable price
mike earussi said:
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH
mike earussi said:
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
cortlander
http://www.photoshah.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ed the Bruce said:
cortlander1 said:
As an amateur, the one moment that brings me the greatest satisfaction in the entire photo making process is the one when your beautiful creation glides out of the printer.
Click to expand...
for me that is not the last step for my large prints - what comes out of the printer is just a proof - the final image being delivered on the paper of my choice professionally printed - is when I go AHHHH
Click to expand...
 
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