Getting started printing.

[Risacher]

Hello,

So after signing up for the photo swap I've realized I don't know a thing about printing my digital photographs. So far I've just printed photos at Costco, and I'm not sure they're quite up to snuff. They seem a little flatter, or less dynamic than when I view them on the screen.

So if you have any advice, or links to information that you think might be helpful, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

[Marko]

Best easy advice is stop going to Costco, especially for this swap.
It's not a pro lab and it gives average results and I'm being generous. Their paper is crap as well - way too thin imo.

Most people won't see a difference - photographers will.
Choose a pro lab like Champion on Guy street or Yves Thomas on St. Hubert street or Corlab on Peel street.

If you decide you want to print yourself, it's more complicated because you will need a monitor, a printer AND something to calibrate your monitor. I did a podcast on this a while ago - let me know if you want the link.

hope that helps

[Risacher]

Thank you, I'll head down to one of those labs. I'm not ready to invest in home printing at the moment.

[mbrager]

I'm the beneficiary of this exchange, and just received a very lovely print of the photo of the violin with the branch growing from it. Printed on a square sheet of matte paper with lots of texture in the paper, perfectly suited to the grain in the violin wood. Wonderful and can't wait to get it matted and framed. Thank you.

[JustinRyan215]

I find great pleasure in printing my photos. There is just something satisfying with printing your own photos! Marko's podcast was very instrumental in getting my "print studio" up and running. It is definitely not cheap to do. Although I just picked up a Canon pro 100 large format printer from amazon, with a 50 count pack of 13x19 luster paper for 260! That is actually cheaper than gthe all in one Canon Pixma mg6220 that I got as a Christmas gift a few years back. I have also calibrated my monitor AND my tablet (because with wireless printing, I often fire off my 4x6 and 5x7's right from my tablet) with the fairly inexpensive Colormonki calibrator. It has taken me a few years to accrue all of the necessary equipment to produce beautiful large prints, but it is totally worth it!

[Risacher]

I'm the beneficiary of this exchange, and just received a very lovely print of the photo of the violin with the branch growing from it. Printed on a square sheet of matte paper with lots of texture in the paper, perfectly suited to the grain in the violin wood. Wonderful and can't wait to get it matted and framed. Thank you.

Thank you for the kind words! I had it printed at Yves Thomas on their art paper. I pretty much spent the month of November getting different photographs printed on several mediums to try to figure what I like best. The trouble with the art paper is with all that texture it's hard to sign!

I had a ton of fun going into to town to pick up the prints, it's really neat to see that what works well on the screen doesn't necessarily work well in print, but also a lot of things look way better on paper! It reminds me of my years in school when writing papers I would edit them on paper because it was just a better medium and interface than the computer.

I would love to start printing myself, perhaps in the new year. I have a Canon IP4500 lying around (that we bought for printing our wedding invitations, an a few snapshots) does anyone think it's good enough to get started with? Or does it make more sense to put the 130$ the ink would cost into a piggy bank to get something with more possibilities, like an Epson 1430 or P400?

[CarlosV]

I concur with finding a specialty printing shop that you will be happy with... Costco, ya, well, not the first place I would go.
I have been going to Black's as they also use Epson inks and papers which I have been using and been very happy with the results...unfortunately they have closed shop....do to majority of people think Costco is good enough.

When it comes to printing yourself, yes, best thing around, however be ready to spend a lot of money on ink.
I have a Epson R1900 which is amazing and I will vouch for it, however be ready to spend at least $1 for every 4*6 you print.

I only use the Epson R1900 when I have a big print that I want to print and post in my house 13*19 size max size capable of printing and you will not be disappointed with the quality.