Photo printers

[DVC Jen]

I am looking for suggestions on a very good quality photo printer that I can also use to print normal text documents.

I want to be able to print photos that look like they were printed at a photo lab... or as close to it as my budget will allow.

I am willing to spend up to 350.00 - 400.00 on one.

Any suggestions?

[boBQuincy]

I am partial to Canon printers and recommend their photo printers as ones that can meet and exceed the quality of photo lab prints.

*However*... it takes a lot of work. For really good results your monitor should be calibrated. If you are not using Canon paper (and there are many other very good papers available) you will need a paper profile, often available from the paper manufacturer's website.

If you don't want to go through all that trouble, stick to Canon paper but still calibrate your monitor if you possibly can. Canon's IP6700 and Pro9000 use their newest inks and the print quality is good. The 9000 prints to 13 x 19 and is at Amazon for a little over $400 while the 6700 is around $200 (wide carriage certainly costs a premium).

Both of these will print text documents ok although if you do a lot of text printing you might want to get a low cost laser printer also (it will save you $$$ in ink).

[DVC Jen]

OK - forgive my ignorance - but how do I calibrate my monitor?

[boBQuincy]

OK - forgive my ignorance - but how do I calibrate my monitor?

Not ignorance at all, just something you never came across before. Colorvision's Spyder 2 Express is a good way to do this without spending a lot (less than $75). Believe me, it will quickly pay for itself from the savings in paper and ink.

If you use PhotoShop there is a setting (CTRL-Y) to "see" just how the print will look on the paper, and it is a lot different than it looks on the monitor setting.

[DVC Jen]

Thanks. :)