Looking for a good dedicated Photo printer

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kenneth Maultsby
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Kenneth Maultsby

I am looking for a good dedicated Photo printer to go with my Mac. I will
printing mostly 4x6 and 5x7 also some 8x10 I will be mostly editing the
photos using Photoshop Elements or Photoshop CS. I would like to have the
capabilities of printing larger photos like 11x14 or larger but I don't know
how often I will need to use that large of a size. Any suggestions will be
greatly appreciated.
 
I've been using the wide format R1800 by Epson since May and it's been a
real treat as quality printing goes; though clearly expensive to run. One of
the great factors to consider with an Epson is not the photo quality alone
but its possibility to clog these days. In this case I've had no problems;
probably due to the fact that it uses Ultrachrome pigment inks, which dry
slower than Epson's problematic Dura-brite inks (used in their C series
printers).
This printer can print sheets up to 13 X 19, and borderless 11 X 14. It
costs in the $500 range, but is clearly worth the price IMHO if one enjoys
the big picture. If one decides to do a lot of printing on this machine then
one should consider filling cartridges . Quality ink can be obtained from
reputable dealers that is equal to Epson's and costs less than half the
price.
If on the other hand you can deal without the large format because of
initial cost then the R800 might suffice. Before I had this printer I used
to piece a 15" X 20" print together to make a poster with Photoshop and then
laminate it. Usually I had good results and visually it looked acceptable to
the untrained eye.
 
More information would be really helpful.

One thing that still somewhat separates the printer brands is the type
of inks they use, the type of papers taht work with those inks and the
permanence of them.

Do you need archival prints? Will your prints be exposed to air?
Humidity, fingerprints?

Is speed important? What type of service duty do you intend for this
printer (numebr of prints per month) as that will help determine
cartridge size and cost. Will you be using OEM (printer company) ink
cartridges or buy either 3rd party, refills or refillables?

What type of paper surfaces do you like to print with?

What is your price range?

Art
 
Arthur said:
More information would be really helpful.

One thing that still somewhat separates the printer brands is the type
of inks they use, the type of papers taht work with those inks and
the permanence of them.

Do you need archival prints? Will your prints be exposed to air?
Humidity, fingerprints?

Is speed important? What type of service duty do you intend for this
printer (numebr of prints per month) as that will help determine
cartridge size and cost. Will you be using OEM (printer company) ink
cartridges or buy either 3rd party, refills or refillables?
Click to expand...

THAT INCREASE THE CHANCE TO RUIN THE PRINTER
 
Jan said:
I've been using the wide format R1800 by Epson since May and it's been a
real treat as quality printing goes; though clearly expensive to run. One of
the great factors to consider with an Epson is not the photo quality alone
but its possibility to clog these days. In this case I've had no problems;
probably due to the fact that it uses Ultrachrome pigment inks, which dry
slower than Epson's problematic Dura-brite inks (used in their C series
printers).
This printer can print sheets up to 13 X 19, and borderless 11 X 14. It
costs in the $500 range, but is clearly worth the price IMHO if one enjoys
the big picture. If one decides to do a lot of printing on this machine then
one should consider filling cartridges .
Click to expand...
THEN YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO CLOG THE PRINTHEAD AND RUIN A $500 PRINTER.
Quality ink
Click to expand...
THERE IS NONE
can be obtained from
reputable dealers
Click to expand...
THERE AREN'T ANY
 
The prints will be exposed to fingerprints and place in photo albums..
Speed is not too important.
Number of photos depends on event or coming back from vacatios I say about
thirty per month.
I will be using ODM ink but if I can find good 3rd party ink or refills for
a lower price that will not clog I will use that.
Paper surfaces glossy.
Price range $150-$500 the lower the better.
 
OK, thanks for the details.

If longevity is not a big issue, consider Canon printers, and since you
will be doing a lot of photos, consider either a 6 color model or a new
very fine 1 picolitre or less 4 color. These printers are also fast and
inexpensive to refill cartridges.

If you will be producing exclusively 4 x 6" consider on of the smaller
printers that woks only with that paper size.

For better longevity, consider HP, but I have noticed their papers tend
toward being fingerprint vulnerable, as well as dampness.

Epson has a wide range of inks for their printers. Durabrite printers
ar the least costly to acquire, but the ink adds up in terms of costs
and clogging is more common with these inks. Ultrachrome ink printers
by Epson use pigment inks and are pretty permanent, relatively
fingerprint resistant, and relatively waterproof when dry.

They also sell dye ink printers, but those inks will tend to fade.


Art
 
Arthur said:
OK, thanks for the details.

If longevity is not a big issue, consider Canon printers,
Click to expand...

CANON SHOULD HAVE GOOD LONGEVITY.
and since you will be doing a lot of photos, consider either a 6 color
model or a new very fine 1 picolitre or less 4 color. These printers
are also fast and inexpensive to refill cartridges.

If you will be producing exclusively 4 x 6" consider on of the smaller
printers that woks only with that paper size.
Click to expand...

THAT IS STUPID. THEY ARE INK DISPENSERS LIKE MANY EPSONS
For better longevity, consider HP, but I have noticed their papers
tend toward being fingerprint vulnerable, as well as dampness.
Click to expand...

THEN WEAR GLOVES
Epson has a wide range of inks for their printers. Durabrite printers
ar the least costly to acquire,
Click to expand...

AND CLOG THE MOST
but the ink adds up in terms of costs and clogging is more common with
these inks. Ultrachrome ink printers by Epson use pigment inks and
are pretty permanent, relatively fingerprint resistant, and relatively
waterproof when dry.
Click to expand...

BUT ARE SUBJECT TO BRONING
They also sell dye ink printers, but those inks will tend to fade.
MAYBE



Art
Click to expand...
BUY A CANON IP5200 AND USE CANON OEM INK
 
Basically, there are four inkjet printer brands in the general marketplace:

Dell/Lexmark (very inexpensive printers, often free, use dye inks,
thermal printhead as part of the cartridge. Cartridges ar every costly.
print quality, build of printer and drivers all mediocre to poor. Not
recommended.

HP: HP has a variety of printers and designs. The newer Vireo inks have
fairly good permanence, but require swellable polymer papers to do so.
They are slow drying, and vulnerable to fingerprints after drying.
Most use thermal heads attached to ink cartridge. Some have separate
heads, which tend to last numerous ink cartridges.

They have become fast but not without sacrifice of quality at the
fastest rates. Cartridge are costly, and ink amounts small, but the
company has improved yield by recycling ink and extracting air from it
internal to the printer. They make both 4 color and 6 and more color
printers.

Canon, up until very recently used dyes with Microporous papers
and most still do. These are rapid drying and the printers are fast and
easy to refill. the two main setbacks are the inks of some inksets is
very fugitive. Canon has introduced a new inkset called Chroma 100,
claiming 100 years of stable ink images, but looking into the claims you
will find the long end of those claims are based upon under glass or
dark keeping. The heads typically last about 2 years before requiring
replacement. They come in 4, 6 and more colors. Cartridges are easy to
refill, generally.

Finally, there is Epson. I suggest staying away for the Durabrite inks
sets and printers, until I hear more about the newer models. Durabrite
are rapid drying by can tend to clog in the low end printers. The inks
have very good permanence. Epson also makes low end dye printers.
The dye ink comes mainly in 6 color theses days. Those printers also
allow for CD and DVD print labels direct on the disks. They tend to
have good drivers. The best Epson printers are higher end ones, with
Ultra chrome pigment inks. They have a reasonable color gamut, don't
often clog, have permanent heads, and produce stunning prints, although
slower than the current canon models. Epson printers have cartridges
that are quite difficult to refill.

I'm not going to make specific suggestions, you need to look at the
output and decide your level of "perfection". Some people find 4 color
printers good value and reasonably accurate, some people demand at least
6 colors. Look at, or ask for samples form the manufacturer's win.

Art
 
Arthur said:
Basically, there are four inkjet printer brands in the general
marketplace:
Click to expand...

ACTUALLY 3. LEXMARK IS GARBAGE AND NOT A PRINTER SO YOU HAVE CANON,
EPSON, AND HP
Dell/Lexmark (very inexpensive printers, often free, use dye inks,
thermal printhead as part of the cartridge. Cartridges ar every
costly. print quality, build of printer and drivers all mediocre to
poor. Not recommended.

HP: HP has a variety of printers and designs. The newer Vireo inks
have fairly good permanence, but require swellable polymer papers to
do so. They are slow drying, and vulnerable to fingerprints after drying.
Most use thermal heads attached to ink cartridge. Some have separate
heads, which tend to last numerous ink cartridges.

They have become fast but not without sacrifice of quality at the
fastest rates. Cartridge are costly, and ink amounts small, but the
company has improved yield by recycling ink and extracting air from it
internal to the printer. They make both 4 color and 6 and more color
printers.

Canon, up until very recently used dyes with Microporous papers
and most still do. These are rapid drying and the printers are fast
and easy to refill.
Click to expand...

THAT IS A DISADVANTAGE
the two main setbacks are the inks of some inksets is very fugitive.
Canon has introduced a new inkset called Chroma 100, claiming 100
years of stable ink images, but looking into the claims you will find
the long end of those claims are based upon under glass or dark
keeping. The heads typically last about 2 years before requiring
replacement. They come in 4, 6 and more colors. Cartridges are easy
to refill, generally.
Click to expand...

A REAL DISADVANTAGE
Finally, there is Epson. I suggest staying away for the Durabrite
inks sets and printers, until I hear more about the newer models.
Durabrite are rapid drying by can tend to clog in the low end
printers. The inks have very good permanence. Epson also makes low
end dye printers.
The dye ink comes mainly in 6 color theses days. Those printers also
allow for CD and DVD print labels direct on the disks. They tend to
have good drivers. The best Epson printers are higher end ones, with
Ultra chrome pigment inks. They have a reasonable color gamut, don't
often clog, have permanent heads, and produce stunning prints,
Click to expand...

BUT THIS TYPE OF INK IS SUBJECT TO BRONZING
 
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