p.1 #1To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
I currently have a Canon PIXMA Pro 9000ii and have been very happy with the print quality. I know printer/ink quality has gotten decently better and newer printers have more modern conveniences like network printing etc.
My printer recently broke. Prior to that, the only real issue I had was the print head clogging and needing to waste a bunch of ink to get it unclogged and some minor paper feed issues. Not bad for a release date purchase.
My question is: Since I find myself not printing as much as before but still desire to do at home prints, has printer technology changed at all in the ink clogging department? Is there a brand that made any leaps? I remember back in the day HP cartridges came with new print heads but were also more expensive.
Alternatively, I can always purchase prints online. It certainly would be more cost effective, I just like printing at home for some reason.
p.1 #2To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
Just a few quick thoughts
If you desire/love to do your own prints here is a way to think about it because you are willing to pay for the joy of home printing. It only a question of how much you want to pay.
If you just want/need to print at home, start looking for the printer you want to purchase.
They all clog so there are two things to consider. Some canon printers allow print head replacement by the consumer. In general, Epson does not. The other factor that makes a hugh difference is printing something every 1 to 2 weeks and not have it sit idle.
After those considerations, if you are concerned about the cost to a minor degree, confirm the max size paper you want to print (is it still 13x19) then compare that type or printer both eco tank and non eco tank. Will minimal prints non-eco tank make make total costs a less. Divde the total cost of printer and expected ink costs by the number or prints (both trial and final) and that tells you the cost per print. If that cost is OK with you for the joy of printing at home - you are done.
If that is too expensive, then start trying an print service provider for a a few months and see if you are happy. If you are you are done. If that is not as satisfying, revisit if you are willing to pay the cost for the home printing.
I know your feeling and I got a home printer because i love printing from home. It is not the most cost effective way to go yet being able to complete a project and see it right away and share/gift it right away has some value for me and I was willing to pay that price.
p.1 #3To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
Hi there. Thanks! It makes total sense what you are trying to say. I had a feeling the clogging issue had not changed vs what I was used to in the past.
p.1 #4To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
My Canon printers haven’t clogged yet—both of the professional printers. The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 and the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 both have user-replaceable heads.
I prefer to control the process from capture to print, like it was during the film days, total control.
Living in Thailand, I can have a large print mounted, matted with glass, and framed for about $60. Printing costs for paper and ink can be about $20 for a 33" x 44" print. During a visit to the USA, I had a print made professionally and framed by Michael’s Arts and Crafts at about the same size for right around $1000, so your costs can vary.
If you mat the prints yourself, the costs are much more reasonable.
p.1 #5To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
shutterbug guy wrote:
My Canon printers haven’t clogged yet—both of the professional printers. The Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 and the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-4600 both have user-replaceable heads.
I prefer to control the process from capture to print, like it was during the film days, total control.
Living in Thailand, I can have a large print mounted, matted with glass, and framed for about $60. Printing costs for paper and ink can be about $20 for a 33" x 44" print. During a visit to the USA, I had a print made professionally and framed by Michael’s Arts and Crafts at about the same size for right around $1000, so your costs can vary.
If you mat the prints yourself, the costs are much more reasonable.
p.1 #6To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
You might want to consider the Epson 8550. It is inexpensive, uses inexpensive inks and is developing a reputation for ease of use, including absense of issues such as clogging.
p.1 #8To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
I really like printing at home due to the quality I get out of it (plus instant gratification), but unfortunately I do not think modern inks are more clog resistant.
I upgraded from a Canon Pro-10S which never had a clog to a Pro-1000 which has been repeatedly clogging on the gray nozzle, despite automatically having a nozzle check print off every 6 hours the entire time I've owned the printer. I should note I owned the Pro-10 in a humid environment and I own the Pro-1000 in a dry environment so that could be a factor.
p.1 #10To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
A print is a real tangible object that you can hold in your hands, give it to friends and family. But maybe one of the most important things is that your photography can improve by seeing things in the print you’re not likely to see on a screen.
Besides much of our lives is viewed on screens today.
p.1 #11To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
WinMan wrote:
I currently have a Canon PIXMA Pro 9000ii and have been very happy with the print quality. I know printer/ink quality has gotten decently better and newer printers have more modern conveniences like network printing etc.
My printer recently broke. Prior to that, the only real issue I had was the print head clogging and needing to waste a bunch of ink to get it unclogged and some minor paper feed issues. Not bad for a release date purchase.
My question is: Since I find myself not printing as much as before but still desire to do at home prints, has printer technology changed at all in the ink clogging department? Is there a brand that made any leaps? I remember back in the day HP cartridges came with new print heads but were also more expensive.
Alternatively, I can always purchase prints online. It certainly would be more cost effective, I just like printing at home for some reason.
Hopefully my ramble makes some sense. Thoughts?...Show more →
excellent question! i do have a canon 2100 and 1000. obviously all small prints are done at home. if i want to put something on the wall. once i settle on the size, i print as large as i can with the 2100 and then decide home made or send out (which means i went with metal prints)
so yes, having a printer is essential for me, more importantly i can see my results 2am!!
p.1 #12To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
Home printing is going to have a consumables (ink+paper) cost of ~$2/sq.ft. Good lab prints will be ~$8/sq ft. How much do you print? You need to figure out how the up front cost of the printer itself along with other potential costs like replacement heads can be spread out. A $500 printer making one print per week is adding another $10/print.
Also consider waste. When you order one finished lab print, that's what you pay for. How many mis-prints or tests prints do you need to do at home to get a single finished print? That $2/sq ft (average) is for every square foot of paper that your home printer spits out. So if you need 2 test prints to get 1 final good print at home, your real finished cost is $6/sq ft. So your annual cost at home is more like $16/sq ft. Suddenly the lab cost doesn't look so bad.
p.1 #13To buy a new printer or to purchase prints online?
jeffbuzz wrote:
Home printing is going to have a consumables (ink+paper) cost of ~$2/sq.ft. Good lab prints will be ~$8/sq ft. How much do you print? You need to figure out how the up front cost of the printer itself along with other potential costs like replacement heads can be spread out. A $500 printer making one print per week is adding another $10/print.
Also consider waste. When you order one finished lab print, that's what you pay for. How many mis-prints or tests prints do you need to do at home to get a single finished print? That $2/sq ft (average) is for every square foot of paper that your home printer spits out. So if you need 2 test prints to get 1 final good print at home, your real finished cost is $6/sq ft. So your annual cost at home is more like $16/sq ft. Suddenly the lab cost doesn't look so bad....Show more →
I prefer to control the entire process from capture to print, regardless of cost. To me, the result, the print, is the most important part of the process. Based on experience, calibrating my monitor and printer with a personal ICC profile gives results no professional printer is likely to match. To me, the result is priceless; the final print is what counts.