How do you print your digital image files?

[cisco]

after trying many free profiles and a few custom ones, our studio purchased an ImagePrint RIP to use with out Epson 7600. Its a great combination and I do recommend ImagePrint even with its shortcomings and bugs.

An abbreviated outline of our workflow:
-shoot images in RAW
-edit in Photoshop
-print through ImagePrint to the Epson (with Epson Ultrachrome photo inks- you can use ink cartridges made for the 9600 in the 7600, they hold more ink), we use Epson Premium Lustre paper.
-cold laminate the prints (just a simple roller device that "sandwiches" the prints between laminate

cisco

[jayk2]

For family candids and something to show the clients right away, I print on my Canon i960. For archival and prints customers pay for, I have my local pro camera shop print them. I'm toying with getting an Epsion 2200 or the Canon i9900. I've seen some prints from the Epsion 2200 and I was floored by their ability, and I'm VERY picky about stuff that's going to paying clients.

[Vikki]

jayk2, you might want to check out the R800 and the soon to be released R1800. I have the R800, and I would give these to a client - they are just awesome!
Epson R1800

[Robt]

The 2200 costs $0.77 per square foot of ink the 4000 is said to be $0.44. It wouldn't take a whole lot of volume at that rate to pay the difference on ink alone.

Of course, if I have a 4000 I'll need a new house with more walls because then I'd find I couldn't live without 16 x 20's. BTW, I read this week that the 2200 is discontinued although I haven't seen an official announcement.

[davidhughs]

I installed InkRepublic.com's 2200 spongeless CIS and use epson 7600 ink.
The prints is exact same as Epson 2200's.

With InkRepublic's CIS and Epson ink, my setup works flawlessly ^_^

reference:
http://www.InkRepublic.com/index.asp
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/B...p?oid=19302857

I can also use IR's ultra pigment ink, but need to do the profile by myself. I will just stick with Epson's 7600 ink at this moment.

[Sarg]

I use a professional lab
www.digilab.com.au

[miss jane]

i work in a fuji frontier digital mini-lab (it's fantastic having a whole mini-lab at your disposal!) and i agree with vicki. their prints aren't only exceptional, but also archival. i'm not spruking fuji cause i work with them. i've worked in kodak labs, and have printed by hand with agfa and it's just a personal preference. i think as long as it's RA paper it's probably more durable than ink jet printing.

[yuppicide]

I looked at DOTPHOTO.. they're 19 cents a print now. I'd rather just take my photos to Walmart for 19 cents and they'll have them done in an hour. Plus there won't be any shipping charges.

[wbcarey]

Hello,
I also have a fuji frontier 370 and Chromira 30inch that we use.

[chiko321]

Frontier automation workflow will always cause colors to be reprocessed. And if you use the Frontier Kiosk, hell no!!; that thing always resamples the resolution in addition to color! The printer is visibly capable of distinguishing between 600/450/300 ppi, but if you like sharp pics NEVER use the kiosk - drop off the CD with your folders laid out like instruction sets. Unless you know how to trick the algorithms, and the lazy bastards actually calibrate that printer on every roll change like they should, well, nevermind, just DON'T.

And as for the DYE SUB.... sigh. first of all, it's poly-plastic, EXACTLY the same stuff used to decorate 2-liter soda bottles, i promise. Secondly, color matching is impossible, and always comes out a little hazy, say goodbye to true black with the DYE SUB. And OH, don't forget the misalignment of the color layers. And the SCRATCHES??? Did you forget the SCRATCHES??? All i gotta say is you get what you pay for, and at 26 cents or LESS?
NNNNNNope. Sorry.

Stick with the Epson R800 or 1800 for home use (if buying new models).
Color matching is a snap (when you understand the workflow).
These printers also use what is basically a clearcoat to eliminate ink/paper layering issues. Oh and not to forget that images are crisper and have a color gamut just as wide as any lab you can find. Archival quality varies, but it's not too hard to find 80-100 year paper, oh and both these printers do ROLLS. What else do you need???

I do finishing work for several studios in my area in addition to servicing their pc's and hardware. Right now the workhorse machine is the Epson4000 "pro-pro". Too bad it can't print lunch!

If you like quality the way i do, and are as picky as me, you'll soon learn that you can't trust anyone else but yourself, just as long as you can understand a little of color theory. Wal-Mart just throws that out the window for the sake of effeciency. Plus they don't pay squat to those who actually know what they are doing and care about what they produce in thier labs. Did you know that CD scanning services (aside from density issues) is capable of scanning 8x14 at 300ppi? AND retouching can be done at the lab! Don't ever let your managers know that you can retouch on their machines, you will become exploited quickly. I'm trying hard not to be biased but as for absolute quality, all i can honestly say is that Wal-Mart is adequate for exposure proofs or just those of us who don't work around pro's all the time. I will never frame anything printed at wal-mart again.

[drdesigns]

Hi everyone! New person here. I am really happy to have found this forum.

I print a couple of different ways. If I am designing a greeting card; I run my blank card with the *art* I created through my HP Color Laser Printer (HP2550). For photos to look like photos, I use smugmug or lately I have sent a few to Costco on-line and then picked them up at the store.

[fpellerin]

I bring everything I print to the Photo lab near my place. Their low cost and great service have rendered it useless for me to replace/maintain a good color printer in my home office.

[vidanse]

At our studio we have the Epson 7600 and use an Onyx rip with Ilford paper. Have had wonderful results. At home I just got the R1800. Fantanstic printer.
In a pinch we sometimes use Costco for quick wedding proofs, otherwise we send our sports stuff to Sports America. Wedding stuff to Burell and everything else we do in house.

ciao Vicki

[twinkissed]

I'm trying out a professional lab service, just bought first print last night so we'll see how that goes. I'll be trying a different company tonight for the canvas thanks to the nice tips in a different topic.

[twinkissed]

Just letting you know that I got my first print from Mpix. Paper quality was fantastic and I'll tell you this thing was packaged so well it could have made it through pretty much anything but a fire. Not too sure about the color quality compared to others but overall I would say I'd give it a 9 out of 10. The service was quick and they were extremely fast answering one of my questions and there is no minimum order required. I'll let you know how the other ones I try fair.