Printing Costs

[ekraxa]

I absolutely love the look of the autograph books and Epcot passports that you creative DISers have designed!!!!

My only question is this....it seems like it's going to be more expensive to print them out at home than it would be to purchase them. We have 3 kids and they're all going to want their own book.

We've committed to using the homemade Epcot passports (Thanks to Otterpops awesome designs!) but DH is having a hard time justifying the expense of printing the autograph books (even after I showed him the fabulous character breakfast pages).

He's telling me to print 6 books (1 passport and 1 autograph for each child) would cost about $150 in printer ink alone. I can't justify that amount of money even though the homemade books are so much cuter!

What have you all done to save money on the homemade books?

 

[thewrightswv]

I'm interested in the answer to this question too. I've been on the DIS boards for some time and just came across the DISign board a few days ago. My family didn't see me yesterday while I played with everything! I downloaded a trial of Photo Impact and was able to make my own name fills and modify some Mickey heads that I plan to use for t-shirts - big THANK YOU to all of the DISigners for their tips and photo buckets. I have the passport and autograph book pages bookmarked and was going to move onto those next.

But, ink is ridiculously expensive and I've wondered how many refills I might need to finish all these projects I've assigned to myself: luggage tags, autograph book, passport, t-shirts, door hangers, and whatever other magical DISigns I come across.

I had something bound at Staples a few years ago and it was only a few dollars; it's the ink that I'm thinking will be a big expense. Let's see what others have to say about keeping the cost reasonable.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

If you want to print the autograph pages in 3x5 or 4x6, just have them printed by shutterfly or some other group like that. Its super cheap. I think like 11 cents a print. Then buy photo books w/ photo sleeves($ store, walmart, or craft store). I got mine at Michael's for $1. Scuper cheap. You will need to buy retractable sharpies for the photos.

 

[Sue's Mum]

I have a Lexmark Interpret S405 which has a black cartridge and three colour cartridges (one for each colour). Before I started my Epcot passports, I had to insert a new black cartridge but the colour cartridges were part used.

I have printed three passports (see my thread with pics). The only cartridge I have had to replace was the yellow because it was getting low before I started. However, there is still plenty of ink left in the cartridges. They are the largest capacity available and a full set costs around £60 - so around $90 based on $1.5 to the £1. I would expect to be able to print at least another three passports, if I wanted them, and still have ink left. Since printing the passports, I have printed transfers for two t-shirts.

If I were to go through ink at the rate of knots that your DH seems to think you will, I would be changing my printer.

I hope this post which does not actually say much helps. LOL.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

If you have an HP printer, they eat ink like crazy. I'll be buying a new one of a different brand in the near future for my everyday printing & paper printing. And keep the HP for my photos. It does an amazing job. No one can tell the difference between the original & the printed pics.

 

[ekraxa]

The Shutterfly suggestion was perfect! They even have a special right now for 200 prints for $20. Thank you so much for posting that!

I'm back to putting together a set of amazing homemade autograph books thanks to you wonderful Dis-ers!

 

[ilovemickeymost]

The Shutterfly suggestion was perfect! They even have a special right now for 200 prints for $20. Thank you so much for posting that!

I'm back to putting together a set of amazing homemade autograph books thanks to you wonderful Dis-ers!

I'm so glad that worked out for you.

 

[Sue's Mum]

I am pleased you managed to find what you wanted. It's nice "when a plan comes together".