stevme Posted December 12, 2006 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Assuming one is not in the exhibition print league, like myself, what would be your recommendation for US based printers to do both b&w and color pigment prints? I notice, for example, that Guy stated at some point that he does not do his own printing. I figure for prints beyond a certain size (the size of my printer) it is best to call upon the services of a professional, rather than try to purchase an Epson 9800 that will sit idle most of the time. I have used http://www.whcc.com for color prints in the past with satisfaction. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 12, 2006 Posted December 12, 2006 Hi stevme, Take a look here Printer recommendations? . I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wparsonsgisnet Posted December 12, 2006 Share #2 Posted December 12, 2006 I have been using Epson photo printers for more than 10 years now, and very happily. I just got an email from Epson today and they have 1280's for sale at $200-plus. You might also look at the 2200 and 2400 (I currently use a 2200 and would get a 2400 if I were buying today) altho they are considerable more expensive than that. However, I believe there are less expensive counterparts to these last 2 printers that don't print as large. Regards, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roblumba Posted December 12, 2006 Share #3 Posted December 12, 2006 The 3800 is just coming out and it gives you the Ultrachrome K3 inks, pressurized more efficient system, with higher volume tanks for cheaper per print price and 17inch width for doing the ocassional larger print. I don't have it, but it looks like a good entry point for $1300 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted December 12, 2006 Share #4 Posted December 12, 2006 If you won't print too much and find A3+ large enough, then I can highly recommend the Epson R2400. Inks are expensive and the tanks are small, so if you want to print often, I would recommend stepping up to the 4800. The price difference will pay itself off relatively quickly, believe me. HP has some interesting new printers, but I don't know much about them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&W Posted December 12, 2006 Share #5 Posted December 12, 2006 If you won't print too much and find A3+ large enough, then I can highly recommend the Epson R2400. Inks are expensive and the tanks are small, so if you want to print often, I would recommend stepping up to the 4800. The price difference will pay itself off relatively quickly, believe me. HP has some interesting new printers, but I don't know much about them. Amen! Or check out the new 3800 - larger ink tanks and it takes photo black and matte black without changing tanks (as for 2400) Anyhow you will enjoy a Epson prointer with K3 ink Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevme Posted December 12, 2006 Author Share #6 Posted December 12, 2006 Thank you for your posts and suggestions. I do have my eye on that new Epson 3800, despite some misgivings about it at LL. However, I am afraid I misspoke or mistyped -- my question is, what out sourced print labs would you recommend, located in the US, for color and for black and white printing? I mentioned in my first post that for large color prints, I have used White House Custom Colour. In other words, I want to ship a file off to someone else and have that firm print my larger prints. I call this firm a "printer." I have some wedding photos and I want to print them larger than my current printer (an Epson 890) will allow. I would also like to use pigment inks for longevity purposes. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted December 12, 2006 Share #7 Posted December 12, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been a long time Epson user and currently use the R1800 but am seriously looking at the new Canon 5000 for my next step up in printers. Take a look at the Luminous Landscape review and 6 month usage report on it. Very impressive. (Sorry but I can't link in their link) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted December 12, 2006 Share #8 Posted December 12, 2006 You might want to repost with the title "Lab Recommendations" instead of Printer Recommendations. I am interested in the resposnes as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georg Posted December 12, 2006 Share #9 Posted December 12, 2006 I'm very happy with the Canon Pro9000 so propably you should wait and at least take a look on the Pro9500 coming Jan/Feb07 (because of B&W). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrc Posted December 12, 2006 Share #10 Posted December 12, 2006 Take a look at the Luminous Landscape review and 6 month usage report on it. Very impressive. (Sorry but I can't link in their link) I notice that Michael Reichmann says he's got a new 3800 and will be reviewing it before Christmas, so we should get some comparisons between the the Epson and the Canon and maybe the HP. JC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted December 12, 2006 Share #11 Posted December 12, 2006 Thank you for your posts and suggestions. I do have my eye on that new Epson 3800, despite some misgivings about it at LL. However, I am afraid I misspoke or mistyped -- my question is, what out sourced print labs would you recommend, located in the US, for color and for black and white printing? I mentioned in my first post that for large color prints, I have used White House Custom Colour. In other words, I want to ship a file off to someone else and have that firm print my larger prints. I call this firm a "printer." I have some wedding photos and I want to print them larger than my current printer (an Epson 890) will allow. I would also like to use pigment inks for longevity purposes. Steve I've been using Printroom.com for a couple of years and feel they do excellentwork. They do actual lab prints on Fuji Crystal Archive paper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevme Posted December 12, 2006 Author Share #12 Posted December 12, 2006 Brent Thanks for your suggestion. I have reposted my inquiry under "Lab recommendations". Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted December 13, 2006 Share #13 Posted December 13, 2006 Many have suggested the Epson 3800 here, I don't have this printer yet but I have ordered it. For the last four years I've been using an Epson 2200 printer and have exhibited my work using this printer, so I am sold on Epson. I realize this doesn't answer your question but others may be interested in printer purchases. Cheers, Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgeoffrion Posted December 13, 2006 Share #14 Posted December 13, 2006 Try Mpix.com Online Digital Imaging Service - Order digital photo prints online from professional imaging lab, they offer color and TRUE black-and-white paper (one of the only few that actually print digital on TRUE black-and-white paper if you select this option (which I highly recommend). I also recommend their metallic paper. They use Kodak Endura Professional paper -- which is the best in my opinion. I don't do prints for Exhibits, but my clients do exhibit their prints... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokysun Posted December 13, 2006 Share #15 Posted December 13, 2006 check out west coast printing. they seem to have something really special: Provided courtesy West Coast Imaging, the preferred printing service of Mountain Scenes Photography. What is a Chromira? The Chromira is a Digital Enlarger that exposes type C photographic paper with LEDs. The photo paper is then processed in RA-4 chemistry, creating a continuous-tone, true photographic print. The LEDs use the numbers in your digital file to determine how to expose the paper. The Chromira is different from inkjet printers because it exposes photographic paper (no ink is involved), whereas inkjet printers physically lay ink on paper or canvas. Why we chose the Chromira as our primary output device for Fuji Crystal Archive Paper: Both the Lightjet and the Chromira expose Fuji Crystal Archive paper, so we’re printing on the same paper we've used since 1997. The main difference between the machines is how they expose paper. The Lightjet uses lasers, the Chromira uses LEDs. In our comparison testing we found that with an accurate profile, both could make prints that we considered to be a match. We decided to go with the Chromira because the prints seemed to consistently have a little more brilliance and a little cleaner color. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted December 13, 2006 Share #16 Posted December 13, 2006 JR When sending a file to Mpix.com will they print exactly as you have saved it, or will they tweak it? This sounds like a great option when silver gelatin prints are needed. Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrgeoffrion Posted December 13, 2006 Share #17 Posted December 13, 2006 JR When sending a file to Mpix.com will they print exactly as you have saved it, or will they tweak it? This sounds like a great option when silver gelatin prints are needed. Wilfredo+ Benitez-Rivera Photography Both options are available ("as is" or with "adjustments"). The only slight drawback is that the file must be submitted in sRGB format. It doesn't make a large difference in B&W but a slight one with color (if you are an*l like me). JR Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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