printing pictures

[dolce]

after some researching, i decided to invest on a good camera..so getting the cannon s5 is...where does everyone print their pictures? do you have a home printer?

 

[Suburbanmom]

I use www.mpix.com for just about everything I can wait a day or more. If I need it right away, I use the Kodak kiosk at Meijer. But I really prefer to use Mpix. They are very very good.

 

[dolce]

thanks for the reply! what kind of paper do you usually order?

 

[DueyDooDah]

I use Snapfish for one hour photo printing (they upload to my local Walgreen's where I can pick up the photos) and Mpix for anything I want to hang on the wall.

Know that I normally get good results with the Walmart prints but their quality control is not always up to par. I've had prints that don't match the original, such as a bad crop. Just inspect them before you leave the store and, if things are amiss, have the reprint.

You also have the choice for Snapfish to mail you photos directly from their labs. I have not used this service but hear they do a good job. Not the quality that Mpix, though.

 

[dolce]

thanks good to know...although mpix prices seem pretty decent for the quality

 

[Suburbanmom]

thanks for the reply! what kind of paper do you usually order?

Usually, I just use their regular paper. But for the occasional special shot, I use their metallic paper. It's just amazing with the right photo. I imagine that Cinderella Castle would be a good one to try on the metallic. At one time, you could request a sample paper pack. I don't know it they still do that or not.

 

[jann1033]

another vote for mpix although i used to use snapfish for snapshot type photos and they always turned out well( predigital days). i have used all their papers but B&w and like them all, agree the metallic is better for only certain types of photos, it kind of reminds me of a hologram type finish( can't think of any other way to describe it) so it's more a specialty finish imo. the only problem to me is you have to get only 1 paper type per order so you have to send in all b&Ws, all regular finish etc and pay shipping on each batch which is why i have yet to try their B&w...

as far as printers, probably depends on what you plan on printing...i'm trying to decide between the pixma 9500 or the older model and epson or hp ( forget the numbers, i've been leaning toward the canon) which are larger format( i have some fine art type stuff i want to do and need a good B&W printer for it)...they have more ink cartridges for B& w, the printer i have now, an hp photosmart is ok for color prints up to 8.5x11 but b&w are more light blackish/ gray and white. and for color mpix is so inexpensive i don't think i can print them at home in those sizes any cheaper. mpix usually gets to me within 2 days after i order, really fast.

 

[Experiment_626]

I use an Epson Stylus pro 9800 for most of my printing. Definitely not a home printer; it isn't cheap and prints on rolls up to 44-inches wide. Just one of its eight ink cartridges costs nearly $100. But to my eyes, the output is exceptional. I hope to eventually get a printer for home that will give me the same results on a smaller sheet. I currently have an Epson 1280 at home; good, but not a match for the 9800. Also, the 9800 uses Epson's Ultrachrome K3 pigment-based ink, so the prints will last a very long time if they're stored or displayed properly. The 1280 is dye-based, so it isn't as archival.

I want to try Mpix, as I've heard good things -- and I especially want to try the metallic paper. But having had complete control over my prints for so long, it is difficult to give it up.

SSB

 

[jann1033]

I use an Epson Stylus pro 9800 for most of my printing. Definitely not a home printer; it isn't cheap and prints on rolls up to 44-inches wide. Just one of its eight ink cartridges costs nearly $100. But to my eyes, the output is exceptional. I hope to eventually get a printer for home that will give me the same results on a smaller sheet. I currently have an Epson 1280 at home; good, but not a match for the 9800. Also, the 9800 uses Epson's Ultrachrome K3 pigment-based ink, so the prints will last a very long time if they're stored or displayed properly. The 1280 is dye-based, so it isn't as archival.

I want to try Mpix, as I've heard good things -- and I especially want to try the metallic paper. But having had complete control over my prints for so long, it is difficult to give it up.

SSB

sorry to go ot but wondering why the epson ink is so much more than the canon pigment ink( around 15) can't tell the quantity for the epson vs the canon so is the epson a larger amount than a normal printer ink cartridge?( i'm guessing canon is about the same size as a normal printer ink cartridge since the prices are similar to their other printer ink) i know that was one thing they said negative about some epsons, you needed to change out the black inks to print b&w and so wasted ink by doing so. i lke the ability to print on rolls which i don't think the other 2 do but wondered about the ink costs

 

[The Grays]

I use an Epson Stylus pro 9800 for most of my printing. Definitely not a home printer; it isn't cheap and prints on rolls up to 44-inches wide. Just one of its eight ink cartridges costs nearly $100. But to my eyes, the output is exceptional. I hope to eventually get a printer for home that will give me the same results on a smaller sheet. I currently have an Epson 1280 at home; good, but not a match for the 9800. Also, the 9800 uses Epson's Ultrachrome K3 pigment-based ink, so the prints will last a very long time if they're stored or displayed properly. The 1280 is dye-based, so it isn't as archival.

I want to try Mpix, as I've heard good things -- and I especially want to try the metallic paper. But having had complete control over my prints for so long, it is difficult to give it up.

SSB

I also have an Epson 9600 the model prior to the 9600. If you are looking for a good price on a smaller epson go to thrie web site and check out their clearance center, they have some great buys there. I have seen and head alot of great thigs about the epson 3800 also using theK3 inks. I feel that Epson gives you the best skin tone, an they have been woking wih professional photographers longer that any other company. Canon has many good printers but i feel epson has been a step ahead of them.

 

[safetymom]

I love my Epson printers The r800 does a wonderful job if you only print up to 8 1/2 x11 If you print larger then they have some newer models. I have the 1800 and 2400 and they do a wonderful job. Archival life is very long. Cost per 8x10 print is about $1.75

 

[thomas998]

If I'm printing small I tend to use the local places... if its a large print or I want special papers I use adorama.com... if you have prints you want but aren't in a hurry for it pays to wait until they run a special on large prints... they tend to happen every couple of months but can be very huge savings wise... I think I recall 11x14s were 2.49 one month... 4x6s were 8 cents for a while... non-sale prices are just on par with other places... maybe a little higher when not on sale... but you have a nice selection of papers, including metalic which can really make for a nice pop in a photo with lots of saturated colors.

 

[jann1033]

i think this was the review i saw that compared the 3. i'll have reread to see if he says why the epson ink costs so much more.http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/printers/Pigs/page_1.html
but according to him the ink for the epson is about 177 per set so don't know what to believe now lol

 

[Experiment_626]

sorry to go ot but wondering why the epson ink is so much more than the canon pigment ink( around 15) can't tell the quantity for the epson vs the canon so is the epson a larger amount than a normal printer ink cartridge?( i'm guessing canon is about the same size as a normal printer ink cartridge since the prices are similar to their other printer ink)

That's probably the difference; the 9800 uses rather large ink cartidges. Each cartridge is about the same size as a VHS video tape, but slightly thicker.

SSB

 

[jann1033]

That's probably the difference; the 9800 uses rather large ink cartidges. Each cartridge is about the same size as a VHS video tape, but slightly thicker.

SSB

yeah i just found that model, i'm looking at wide format but not that wide

 

[Experiment_626]

yeah i just found that model, i'm looking at wide format but not that wide

Yes, it's fantastic to be able to print at that size. I'm so used to it that I don't even consider a print to be "large' unless it's at least 18x24. I literally don't have enough walls for all the large prints I could otherwise make. But the printer is like an 800-pound gorilla in terms of space requirements!

SSB