Kodak Ultima Picture Paper 4x6 or 4x6.5?

[djdino]

Hello Team,

I just purchased a pack of Kodak Ultima photo paper and noticed immediately that the length is about 1/2 inch longer than my normal Canon 4x6's photo paper pro. Could anyone chime on the differences on size? Or did I purchased a defective batch?

I have also downloaded their software but it was to slow for my taste. I guess i'm going to have slice and cut.

Thanks everyone in advance.

Dino

[Feihung08]

Man, did the same damn thing!! What a super pain in the butt! If your good with the scissors you should be ok, and it's good enough paper not to throw away! I believe it's a size left over from the "ink doesn't dry fast enough" days so it was offered as a handle or tab or something.

I pick up one of these trimmers from Micheals (http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=sb0002) (better version at the store than on the site) for about $26 and have been happy printing whatever size!

[djdino]

Feihung08,

Thanks for your response and advice. The funny thing is that I already have one of those trimmers and was hoping to avoid using it LOL!! It's a great device but it doesn't cut well at times leaving some slivers on the edge. I guess it will have to do for now. Thanks agin.

[Sam]

I am not familiar with kodak paper but I have an HP printer and I buy 4x6 paper with a tab on it. With the HP paper the tab is perforated and I figured it was for handling.

I bought a primary school style paper cutter like the ones the teachers used in elementary school to cut my prints. It works much better than the slide razor type in my experience. Hope this helps.

[Longwatcher]

Kodak's answer to their stupidity

Question:
Why does Kodak offer 4 x 6.5 and not 4 x 6 inch inkjet paper?
Answer:
We developed the 4 x 6.5 inch paper to accommodate all inkjet printers, including borderless and HP PhotoSmart printers. Generally, the printable area is 1/2 inch less than the actual paper length and the extra half inch lets you print pictures larger so you can get a true 4 x 6 print.

Paper cutter's are wonderful things, but Kodak should have ignored HP in favor of Canon, Epson, Lexmark, etc... Or at least put in a perferation for the rest of us. Good paper, bad size.

Just my research and opinion,

[Feihung08]

No problem djdino! After all the help I've recieved in this forum (in a very short time) I'm happy I can contribute back in some way!

But to respond to solinger.....I tried the "paper cutter" as well, but had BAD luck with it compared to the 'trimmer'. I think the blade might have dulled or something but while trying to cut an 8½ x 11 Photo Paper Pro print, I found that half way through the cut the bloody paper just bent under the blade instead of cutting!! Very frustrating to see a nice print get scratched! (That was sugar coated for "made me freaking MAD....;))

As for the trimmer, your very right and it does leave little shaving's along the sides of SOME paper (Photo Paper Pro, but not Ilford Pearl), but I just keep a soft microfiber towel (from 99 Cent Store) and give the side a light wipe down when done. Plus the trimmer's blades (tiny razors incased in plastic housing) are MUCH cheaper to replace than a paper cutters arm.

[Avalonthas]

The 4x6 paper with the perforated tabs was not designed to be used on a full sized photo printer. It was originally designed and intended for use with the mini 4x6 printers, since they printed edge to edge you needed something to hold onto so it will not fingerprint or smudge (although they dry quickly nowadays). The tab is also there so the mini 4x6 printers can "grab and hold onto it" when its printing, since it feeds through the front and out the back several times for multipass printing (yellow, red, blue, or whatever colors it has). Im sure u could use it in a full sized printer as long as u adjust it properly to print in the center but your just paying extra, since cost per print is higher for tabbed 4x6 compared to regular 4x6.

As for Kodaks extra half inch on the sides, ive noticed that too, and im not quite sure why they did it. The only Kodak 4x6 I have ever used was the sample packs (I had like 30 sample packs with 5 prints in each), and its really annoying to have white edges to be cut. I cant really give an explanation for this, the only thing i can think of is for having extreme compatibility with every imaginable printer, both in terms of size and brand. If you notice on the packaging, it says (10x15cm - 4x6in. photo*) The asterisk * basically is the indicator that it is oversized paper, however at the bottom it doent say what the * means, so i guess its up to us to interpret that it means oversized paper lol