Best photo printer

[typer77]

Hi guys,

I have never invested tons of money into printers. Well, but I am starting to get very unpleased with my printer's quality. Perhaps I didn't have it set right, but nothing seems to come out right.
Every photo I have printed seems dull. Oh.. currently I am using HP photosmart 7550. I got it for abou 60 dollars a few months ago.

Is Canon the best photo printer on the market?
Would u use somethign that has scanning, faxing and printing abilities at the same time?

Thank you for giving me some help,

Jack

[WestFalcon]

I like Epson printers. I really like the older 890 which you can get for $125 refurbed from Epson. You will love it and they are built like a tank. I like Canon but not enough paper choices. I wouldn't buy an all in one since I think that a dedicated machine would be better for photos. I haven't ever has one so I may not be correct but that's my gut feeling.

[scottbergerphoto]

Epson Stylus Photo 2200. Not the fastest or quietest. Just the best color photos you'll ever see. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/Epson2200.shtml
Scott

[Brian Tilley]

I've used a number of HP and Epson Printers.

I have had very good luck with Epson, but recently I was given a Canon i960.

Much better than any of the others I have used, including many expensive models.

A professional photographer recently lookad at my printouts and said that in terms of print quality, at a distance of more than a foot or two, the images looked as good as any prints of 35mm photos from a photo lab.

As for using a multi-task unit, such as one that will fax and scan in addition to printing, I belive that a unit that is designed specifically to print photos will do a better job that any of the multi-use units.

That's my two cents worth of info.

[andreyua]

I dont really like epson because of its speed.
I have a Epson 2000P right now, the quality is REAL GOOD!
But it takes forever to print it.

[typer77]

Thanks guys... I am still trying to find out if the problem is the printer or my processing skillz... I think the later has a lot to do with it...

[IanD]

Jack,
I recently switched from HP to Canon after many many years of HP use.
I bought a i960 and have not regretted one little bit.
Excellent output and very easy on ink. That was the one problem I found recently with HP. They consumed many tanks, very quickly.
The Canon is easy to use and all it requires are a few minor tweaks in the drivers. If you ever pick one up, I'd be happy to sent you the driver settings I use as a good starting point.

[arogop]

I have the Canon i950, which is the predesesor (came before) of the i960. It is a fantastic printer. Quiet, fast and the quality is excellent. I only use Canon ink and paper. I found that the quality is not good with generics.

[MacDuff]

I would be very interested in the driver settings you use. I have the i960 and am very happy with it, but always room for improvement.

MacDuff

[typer77]

Most likely, I will be buying new printer in a month. I will give the Canon a try! I am moving from Japan to HK and need to replace half the electronic equipment at home...

[IanD]

I would be very interested in the driver settings you use. I have the i960 and am very happy with it, but always room for improvement.

MacDuff
Mac,
I'm on the laptop right now but will post the settings I use later tonight or tomorrow during the day.

[Belmondo]

Ian.
I'd be interested in those settings myself. I'm assuming that they'd be similar on the i950.

Thanks,

Thos.

[Boosting1Bar]

A lot of people warned me to stay away from Canon and get an Epson, but I didn't listen. Ended up with the i860 and it prints fantastic prints for my purposes. I've printed a couple that I had printed at ofoto.com before I got the Canon, and you can't tell the difference unless you're really REALLY close. I highly recommend the Canon.

[IanD]

Here are the driver and set up settings that I have been using with my i960 and the results are excellent. The most important step is to make sure your monitor is calibrated either using Adobe Gamma or an optical system. I used Adobe Gamma and it was quick and painless. The only advise I can offer here is to let the monitor warm up for 30 minutes or so and do the calibrating in subdued light.
The paper I always use is Canon Photo Paper Plus glossy along with Canon Ink. The profiles and settings below are for the above paper/ink.
OK and here we go.......
To start, open Control Panel (I'm assuming that the OS is Windows XP) click on Printers and Faxes, click on Canon i960.
Right click the Canon i960
Double Click Properties in the drop down menu.
Click on the tab Color Management
There should be a list of color profiles if the srivers were installed properly.
They are-
CNBJPRN2.ICM...BJ Color Printer Profile 2000 (Generic)
CNB5CDA0.ICM...Canon i960 MP1 (Matte Photo Paper)
CNB5CCA0.ICM...Canon i960 PR1 (Photo Paper Pro)
CNB5CCB0.ICM...Canon i960 PR2 (Photo Paper Pro Matte)
CNB5CEA0.ICM...Canon i960 SP1 (Photo Paper Plus Glossy)
The last prifile is the one you want. Just above you will see the choice of "Automatic" or "Manual". Click on Manual and this forces the printer to use the highlited profile for all printing jobs.
Almost there.
Now click on DEFAULT.
Go back to the main Properties page and click on the General tab.
Near the bottom you will see "Printing Preferences"
click on that.
You should now be in a Canon i960 Printing preferences window.
Look for Print Quality and click "Manual"
Click on "Set"
Click on "Diffusion" and just above that there is a slider that should be all the way to the right.
Click "OK" to save the settings.
Now just below you will see "Color Settings"
Click "Custom" and then "Set"
Here is the fun part. Everyone sees colors a little different but the following settings print a photo that folks I show them too really like the balance of.
Cyan 4
Magenta -12
Yellow 0
Black 0
Intensity Slider in the middle
Enable ICM not checked (disabled)
Print Type set to Photo (you might want to try the other settings here to see how the prints look to your eyes)
Brightness Normal
Click OK to save settings and return to the Main Menu.
If you now go under the Profiles tab you should see you new profile there.
You can give it a special name like "Ians Excellent Profile Settings" :lol: or some other easy to remember name. This is the profile you want to use when you print a photo.
That is it...simple eh?
Now the other important part is in PhotoShop/PS Elements
Open the program and then open any old photo.
Under File, scroll down to Print Preview and click
If not open, click on "Show More Options"
Bring up "Color Management" in the box just below the "Show More Options"
For "Source Space" click ""Document"
This setting depend on the profile you shoot in, either Adobe RGB or sRGB. You choose the one you use.
Below that ther is a seting for "Print Space"
You want to match that to your source, weither Adobe RGB or sRGB.
For the "Intent"etting I choose Perceptual.
Then click "Use Black Point Compensation" and that is it. Ready to print.
Any questions feel free to PM me.
That was a lot of typing for me. I think I'm going to go and have a nap :lol:

[Crazy Canuck]

I use a HP photosmart 1000 with no problems so far, it was a refurbished and cheap at the time. I haven't used any other printer so far, is there a lot of difference with print quality and cost?

[Belmondo]

Here are the driver and set up settings that I have been using with my i960 and the results are excellent.

Ian:
I have a 950i, so the dialog boxes and menus were a little different. I didn't have the whole list of color profiles you have...only the generic one (CNBJPRN2.ICM), so I started with that one.

Everything else was there, albeit in different places with different names in some cases.

It really does seem to work well, and I did name the settins 'Ians' profile,' since I had not yet tried it. I will now go back a rename it as you have suggested.

Thanks for the hard work (typing is hard work?)

You rest now.

Tom

[IanD]

Here are the driver and set up settings that I have been using with my i960 and the results are excellent.

Ian:
I have a 950i, so the dialog boxes and menus were a little different. I didn't have the whole list of color profiles you have...only the generic one (CNBJPRN2.ICM), so I started with that one.

Everything else was there, albeit in different places with different names in some cases.

It really does seem to work well, and I did name the settins 'Ians' profile,' since I had not yet tried it. I will now go back a rename it as you have suggested.

Thanks for the hard work (typing is hard work?)

You rest now.

Tom
Thos,
My typing skills have reduced secretaries to tears. Hunt and peck...more hunting than pecking :lol:
Glad that the info helped.

[GenEOS]

Best Buy has the i960 for 199 plus a mail in offer for a 30 dollar gift card...
I just bought the i960 and it is awesome for the money!
It prints 4x6 trmendously well and the design of the printer is great.
USB 1 and 2 ports...

[CyberDyneSystems]

After years of HP and a few self destructing in under a year Epsons. I finally tried the long ignored Canon printers (an i950 )

...mostly due to my love affair with another Canon product :roll:

The results have been fantastic. I was happier with the i950 than any other Inkjet I have ever used,.

...untill I got the i9100!!! :mrgreen:

Both top notch. I wouldn't go near an Epson now.

[IanD]

After years of HP and a few self destructing in under a year Epsons. I finally tried the long ignored Canon printers (an i950 )

...mostly due to my love affair with another Canon product :roll:

The results have been fantastic. I was happier with the i950 than any other Inkjet I have ever used,.

...untill I got the i9100!!! :mrgreen:

Both top notch. I wouldn't go near an Epson now.
CDS,
Have to agree with you except tht I was an HP devotee. Still have one, a deskjet 5850 that I use strictly for printing and only because of its built in wireless features. Sort of nice to be able to print a report while in my "other office" :lol:

[OwenPGA]

Here are the driver and set up settings that I have been using with my i960 and the results are excellent. The most important step is to make sure your monitor is calibrated either using Adobe Gamma or an optical system. I used Adobe Gamma and it was quick and painless. The only advise I can offer here is to let the monitor warm up for 30 minutes or so and do the calibrating in subdued light.
The paper I always use is Canon Photo Paper Plus glossy along with Canon Ink. The profiles and settings below are for the above paper/ink.
OK and here we go.......
To start, open Control Panel (I'm assuming that the OS is Windows XP) click on Printers and Faxes, click on Canon i960.
Right click the Canon i960
Double Click Properties in the drop down menu.
Click on the tab Color Management
There should be a list of color profiles if the srivers were installed properly.
They are-
CNBJPRN2.ICM...BJ Color Printer Profile 2000 (Generic)
CNB5CDA0.ICM...Canon i960 MP1 (Matte Photo Paper)
CNB5CCA0.ICM...Canon i960 PR1 (Photo Paper Pro)
CNB5CCB0.ICM...Canon i960 PR2 (Photo Paper Pro Matte)
CNB5CEA0.ICM...Canon i960 SP1 (Photo Paper Plus Glossy)
The last prifile is the one you want. Just above you will see the choice of "Automatic" or "Manual". Click on Manual and this forces the printer to use the highlited profile for all printing jobs.
Almost there.
Now click on DEFAULT.
Go back to the main Properties page and click on the General tab.
Near the bottom you will see "Printing Preferences"
click on that.
You should now be in a Canon i960 Printing preferences window.
Look for Print Quality and click "Manual"
Click on "Set"
Click on "Diffusion" and just above that there is a slider that should be all the way to the right.
Click "OK" to save the settings.
Now just below you will see "Color Settings"
Click "Custom" and then "Set"
Here is the fun part. Everyone sees colors a little different but the following settings print a photo that folks I show them too really like the balance of.
Cyan 4
Magenta -12
Yellow 0
Black 0
Intensity Slider in the middle
Enable ICM not checked (disabled)
Print Type set to Photo (you might want to try the other settings here to see how the prints look to your eyes)
Brightness Normal
Click OK to save settings and return to the Main Menu.
If you now go under the Profiles tab you should see you new profile there.
You can give it a special name like "Ians Excellent Profile Settings" :lol: or some other easy to remember name. This is the profile you want to use when you print a photo.
That is it...simple eh?
Now the other important part is in PhotoShop/PS Elements
Open the program and then open any old photo.
Under File, scroll down to Print Preview and click
If not open, click on "Show More Options"
Bring up "Color Management" in the box just below the "Show More Options"
For "Source Space" click ""Document"
This setting depend on the profile you shoot in, either Adobe RGB or sRGB. You choose the one you use.
Below that ther is a seting for "Print Space"
You want to match that to your source, weither Adobe RGB or sRGB.
For the "Intent"etting I choose Perceptual.
Then click "Use Black Point Compensation" and that is it. Ready to print.
Any questions feel free to PM me.
That was a lot of typing for me. I think I'm going to go and have a nap :lol:All of my settings are the same as you suggested however when I go back into print properties for i960 the media type is listed as plain paper. I know we initially set the color profile tothe Canon sp1. Should the media be changed to glossy? Another important question would be and maybe i'm not understanding the big picture, but aren't these setting utilizing the printer profile as apposed to the PS profile? Why wouldn't we by pass the printer profile and use what seems to be a pretty advanced color profiling system in PS CS? Thanks for any thoughts. Owen

[roelw]

With respect to this post, the settings (locations?) in PSElements 4 are not the same, and I'm not sure how to complete the instructions from this point forward. In addition, can you tell me how to print photos using black ink only, so that I don't have the awful composite shafing when printing B&W photos?

Thanks

Roel

Now the other important part is in PhotoShop/PS Elements
Open the program and then open any old photo.
Under File, scroll down to Print Preview and click
If not open, click on "Show More Options"
Bring up "Color Management" in the box just below the "Show More Options"
For "Source Space" click ""Document"
This setting depend on the profile you shoot in, either Adobe RGB or sRGB. You choose the one you use.
Below that ther is a seting for "Print Space"
You want to match that to your source, weither Adobe RGB or sRGB.
For the "Intent"etting I choose Perceptual.
Then click "Use Black Point Compensation" and that is it. Ready to print.
Any questions feel free to PM me.
That was a lot of typing for me. I think I'm going to go and have a nap :lol:[/quote]

[webexplorer]

My choice is Epson. Because of piezo head technology you will have a constant performance even getting same result few months later on the same print.

A few things I do for all my Epson printers:
- Well calibrate my monitor to compare output from printer;
- I off all color management from photoshop to print RGB color patches;
- Create and fine tune ICC printer profiles rather than using manual tweaks;
- Use the same type of paper as I created the profile, within PS->Print Preview use PROOF and select printer profile for specific paper.

I use 3rd party Ultrachrome ink from China which has similar big color gamut as Epson, cost is about 1/3. Paper I need to use the best I can get from the market otherwise gamut is pretty small.

As long as I follow the workflow, quality is assured.
Place your test print under sunlight, dye base ink faded very fast as you notice magenta and yellow gone within 2 weeks. You want your prints last more than 20+ years, right?

[webexplorer]

Not always true. The first inket jet printer that was considered archival quality was the Epson 1270/80, which was dye-based. The HP DesignJets also have good lifespan. both in the range of 50 to 60 years. It's true that the new pigment-based printers have much longer lifespans (100 years on display, 200 in the dark). But in a digital world, you can always reprint a photo in fifty years on an even better printer that makes prints that will last a thousand years and will order more ketchup when the refrigerator reports it's low ;)

If I were buying one now, I'd get the HP B9180. The early reviews are outstanding. Equal or better quality than the Epson R2400. Pigment based, so the prints will last a hundred years. It uses less ink for cleaning than Epson or Canon. Built in densitometer, so it can calibrate itself every time you replace ink. HP went out and built the best 13" photo printer on the market.

If you're a black and white photographer, definitely get the HP. It produces neutral black and white prints out of the box, something none of the 13" Epsons has ever done. The Epson print driver mixes tiny amounts of the color inks in when it prints black and white, enough that someone with a great eye can see the color shift. My friend has had the 1280, the 2000, the 2200 and now the R1800 and they all have this problem (the 1280 was always a touch magenta, the others a touch green). The only "fix" for the Epson is to spend a thousand dollars for a professional RIP to replace the Epson driver. I must agree part of your statement, yes changing Epson head is expensive which costs me more than 1K for my 10600. For small desktop I would throw it away rather than paying 100 dollars to change printhead. I have a designjet 5000 and 5500 for 3 years still running well. Thermo printers need to change print head often so operating cost is increased, I pay for HP replaceable print head accumative within 3 years are more than what I paid for my StylusPro 10600. Just my opinion, not trying to critize any brand. Desktop thermo, you have already pay for the head when you purchase the cartridge but everytime you renew cartridge you are changing head therefore color won't accurate.

In my trade, I can't change printhead otherwise I need to reprofile again as spot colors sure run so that is why I choose Epson and Roland. No matter how the printer autocalibrates, it is just simply doing basic normalising and hori/vert alignment, some basic patches matching may be but I don't know how those in Barcelona works. I ever tried to measure pantone colors before & after my HP printhead changed, results are too much different, delta E closes to 10! Not to mention mid gray which is so critical may cause my clients reject whole project if it is out.

[Anselina]

Omigosh! I have had the HP 7550 for about 4 years and LOVE it! My friends are amazed at the sharpness, realistic colors, clarity, etc. and I am always so delighted with them! I never had a lick of trouble until one of the little plastic ink cartridge restraint thingies just snapped apart on me... and I am gentle with all my stuff! I read in some Amazon.com reviews about it and saw a couple other people there who had that very same problem. I was devastated tho and tried fixing it... nothing will glue that plastic firmly enough... I even tried duct tape, to no avail. Made me so mad, perfectly good and AMAZING printer, gone because of a stupid plastic cartridge restraint?? Whine!! So I did research a bunch of other printers... ehhhh... sure there's some great ones out there... better than mine was for sure... but I loved my 7550 SO much... gave me such AWESOME results... that I went and ordered another one. Now that I know, too, about that weakness, I will use even extra care with it. So anyway, I find it really hard to believe that the printer is your problem... Can you borrow a friends and try it and see how it looks?

[coreypolis]

why did this thread get brought back up? its several YEARS old.

and the printers and workflow that Matthew and webexplorer are talking about are completely different. an epson 10000 and a 2400 aren't in the same league by any means

[Anselina]

Oops forgot to add that I use Kodak Ultima, Satin, to print my photos on. Just my favorite. Have tried cheaper photo paper that looked totally gross...like looking through a smokey haze or something. I don't even know the best of the best paper to use, but that's what I have used and amazing results with my HP 7550. Just a hobbyist too, btw.

[Anselina]

why did this thread get brought back up? its several YEARS old.

LOL I just saw that too. But it looked like an interesting thread to me, so I just read the stuff and thought I had a response, which turns out to be another useless one... :oops: lol :rolleyes: