How many of you print your own pictures for the albums?

[wilky95]

The reason that I ask is that I have problems getting good prints done where I live and where I do a lot of event photography the competition I'm up against have started to print on the day of the events so I have invested in the KODAK PROF 1400 DIGITAL DYE DIFFUSION PHOTO PRINTER.

I realize that at £1.50 for a 12 x 8" or 2- 8" x 6 prints its not cheap but the quality of the pictures have astounded me, it will even print out the pores on the brides neck its so sharp I can not ever see me going back to so called ink jet photo printers as their quality is not as good even my Epsom R 1800 can not compete so do you all out reach your pictures or do you home print?

Martin

[Bobster]

i use my Photo1400 photo printer for events, orders after the event i let the local photo store handle them

[liza]

I don't use my home printer for prints. I sent everything to a pro lab and have been more pleased with the results.

[canoned]

When I was still using proofbooks I would print 4x6's off 2 epson picturemates. Amazing quality, very exceptable as a proof. You can actually run water over them. (not that you'd want to) Anyway, I would bang them off as I was post processing so it didn't really take any extra time. Didn't have to leave home and it cost less then 19cents a print. used to get much satisfaction having the control. now I use blurb books for my proofing.

[canoned]

Sorry, just reread op's post and realized it concerned event photography. In this case we do take several larger epson printers. We have found the quality to be very acceptable. But we have to take to many to keep up so we are also interested in feedback on the faster dye-subs. We also have a deal with a local lab to keep someone there later when we have an event We run the cards over and they run 8x10's faster then any dye-sub. BTW do people still use albums for anything? I haven't had anyone order an album in a couple years.

[tim]

Since time isn't too important to me I let a lab do it. I don't trust inkjet printers, but i've never had a high end one.

[GertS]

I use a lab, which works great and they are fast. If I order the images to noon by internet, I have them the next day in the mail.

They are a bit more expensive than cheap photo labs, but the results are this worth, as all colors are correct and excellent quality. Other labs, I had always problems that they optimized my pictures with the result that the images were useless as the colors were odd.

It saves me time as I can order from home.

Larger prints are delivered flat, no roll, and each (larger) image wrapped in paper between strong cardboard.

It took me a while to find this company.

[wilky95]

Hi Bobster is that the same printer as I have the Kodak? if so how do you find it for event work.

Thanks for all the replies I think that for volume work I shall have to use the on line printers for now and put up with the odd cock up from them.



Martin



i use my Photo1400 photo printer for events, orders after the event i let the local photo store handle them

[JJacula]

I'd never print anything at home, I don't trust at at-home printers, regardless of how much they cost.
I use a wonderful lab, I'm very happy with them!

[picturecrazy]

no way!!!! not a CHANCE!!!

I don't want more headaches than I already have. Managing printing is a whole 'nother industry and ballgame. You have to constantly calibrate to have consistency, every time you put a new ink tank in, there is a chance the colour could be off. Do you have printer calibration equipment? With a pro printer, your environment has to be well controlled to get consistent prints. Are you ready to shell out to put accurate air conditioning, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers in your home/office?

Pro labs have full time experienced staff to keep everything running consistent. And it takes a full time commitment to match it. To me, it is only worth your time if you can consistently get much better prints than your pro lab and not end up spending more than what your lab charges. You will certainly be spending more TIME keeping this all in check. My shooting fee is $300 an hour. Is the extra time you spend on that worth your time?

[paul33]

Don't see any point in home printing when online printing is so convenient and lo-cost ...... plus you are taking big risks given the concerns over home print longevity !

[canoned]

If anyone is concerned about ink-jet print longevity check out www.wilhelm-researh.com (http://www.wilhelm-researh.com) But I agree about if there are no time constraints use an on-line lab. I let exposure manager fulfill my orders for me and I just cash the monthly check they send me. It doesn't get any better than that.