Best software for on-site printing?

Sorry everyone if this is a repeat threat. I tried searching, but couldn't find what I needed.

My friends and I have been shooting simple events such as 1st bday parties a lot lately and most clients want a muslin/paper backdrop with on-site printing. We're doing research on what to get. We have dye-sub printers ready to purchase. All we need to know is the software to use. We'll need something that you can easily create a frame template for and apply it to all photos being printed.

I've been using Lightroom 4 for a while. Is that any good for on-site printing?

If you can set everything up properly then DSLR Remote pro has a photobooth feature that is designed to do what you want.

And don't get carried away with Dyesubs, they are expensive to buy and run.
A good ink jet can now come close in speed, is better in quality and a whole lot cheaper to operate.

dslrBooth and an epson artisan printer with a CIS system is all you need, less than $250 all together:

DSLRBOOTH $50
EPSON ARTISAN 837 $137
CIS INK SYSTEM $60

The epsons are cheap enough you can buy 2 so you'll have a backup or you could set up two printers to spool for faster printing. We use them for small events and it prints a 4x6 in 10-15 seconds. The software handles all of the printing for you, and it's easy to set up a custom template.

ShotByTom wrote in post #15692351
dslrBooth and an epson artisan printer with a CIS system is all you need, less than $250 all together:

DSLRBOOTH $50
EPSON ARTISAN 837 $137
CIS INK SYSTEM $60

The epsons are cheap enough you can buy 2 so you'll have a backup or you could set up two printers to spool for faster printing. We use them for small events and it prints a 4x6 in 10-15 seconds. The software handles all of the printing for you, and it's easy to set up a custom template.

Wow...this is just what I've been looking for...a way to shoot live events and get prints to people quickly instead of getting their info and making a sale later...

thanks very much for the info.

One question comes to mind; do you have any idea where I could get "sleeves" for 4 x 6 prints? Sort of like a "souvenir photo" from an amusement park?

rpavich wrote in post #15692414
Wow...this is just what I've been looking for...a way to shoot live events and get prints to people quickly instead of getting their info and making a sale later...

thanks very much for the info.

One question comes to mind; do you have any idea where I could get "sleeves" for 4 x 6 prints? Sort of like a "souvenir photo" from an amusement park?

I used ivory colored 4x6 envelopes with my logo printed on it. They were about $4 for a box of 25 and I found them at walmart, along with several other colors.

THIS might be what you're looking for.

ShotByTom wrote in post #15692351
dslrBooth and an epson artisan printer with a CIS system is all you need, less than $250 all together:

DSLRBOOTH $50
EPSON ARTISAN 837 $137
CIS INK SYSTEM $60

The epsons are cheap enough you can buy 2 so you'll have a backup or you could set up two printers to spool for faster printing. We use them for small events and it prints a 4x6 in 10-15 seconds. The software handles all of the printing for you, and it's easy to set up a custom template.

Good info. I had some bad experience with ink jet printers in the past in which the ink dries and clogs the print head. Each time it cost more than the price of printer to fix. Would using a CIS ink system resolve the issue?

I've had good luck with the epsons and cis, I've never had one clog in just over a year.

Moppie wrote in post #15690753
And don't get carried away with Dyesubs, they are expensive to buy and run.
A good ink jet can now come close in speed, is better in quality and a whole lot cheaper to operate.

Really? I'm using 2 Sony dye subs during my events and can print thousand in a few days without a problem. Well, if you know or can recommend a inkjet that can print 4x6 in less than 8 seconds and come out dry piled up, I'd love to hear it. Thanks.

ShotByTom wrote in post #15692351
dslrBooth and an epson artisan printer with a CIS system is all you need, less than $250 all together:

DSLRBOOTH $50
EPSON ARTISAN 837 $137
CIS INK SYSTEM $60

The epsons are cheap enough you can buy 2 so you'll have a backup or you could set up two printers to spool for faster printing. We use them for small events and it prints a 4x6 in 10-15 seconds. The software handles all of the printing for you, and it's easy to set up a custom template.

Some good info there.. Now to see how much the UK will rip me off for the same!

EmaginePixel wrote in post #15694181
Really? I'm using 2 Sony dye subs during my events and can print thousand in a few days without a problem. Well, if you know or can recommend a inkjet that can print 4x6 in less than 8 seconds and come out dry piled up, I'd love to hear it. Thanks.

Ok....now that you've broken the ice on Dye Subs...which one would you use if you were printing on site?

rpavich wrote in post #15694379
Ok....now that you've broken the ice on Dye Subs...which one would you use if you were printing on site?

I would also like to know this. But certain features I'm looking for is the ability to automatically cut 4x6 or 5x7 into 2 vertical strips. Don't care much about total capacity of rolls but would be good. I'd rather spend a lot of money on a good dye sub printer that'll last a long time and make my life easier than a cheap one that breaks quick.

EmaginePixel wrote in post #15694181
Really? I'm using 2 Sony dye subs during my events and can print thousand in a few days without a problem. Well, if you know or can recommend a inkjet that can print 4x6 in less than 8 seconds and come out dry piled up, I'd love to hear it. Thanks.

When two Epsons can print at the same seed for $300 as your $1,000 dye sub the maths of what is cheaper to run changes quite a lot.
The $1,000 dye sub will of course last a lot longer, but you can replace the cheap ink jets 3 times each and still come out ahead on cost.
Ink jet printers have improved a lot in the last few years and now you really do need to be doing huge volumes to get any financial benefit from a dye sub.

ShotByTom wrote in post #15692351
dslrBooth and an epson artisan printer with a CIS system is all you need, less than $250 all together:

DSLRBOOTH $50
EPSON ARTISAN 837 $137
CIS INK SYSTEM $60

The epsons are cheap enough you can buy 2 so you'll have a backup or you could set up two printers to spool for faster printing. We use them for small events and it prints a 4x6 in 10-15 seconds. The software handles all of the printing for you, and it's easy to set up a custom template.

One more thing...how "turn key" is this system? I'm new to any of this...is it just "plug the printer ink thing into the printer and go" sort of deal or will I be frustrated because it wasn't made to do what I'm trying to do with it?

How is the software mentioned above better than just doing it in Photoshop? I do two on-site printing events each year, one at Easter and one at Christmas. I open the file, crop quickly and print.

tstowe wrote in post #15694624
How is the software mentioned above better than just doing it in Photoshop? I do two on-site printing events each year, one at Easter and one at Christmas. I open the file, crop quickly and print.

I wouldn't have time to print with photoshop or lightroom at the events I do, this software automatically prints the photo with a custom border and logo in a matter of seconds. It comes down to streamlining your workflow to be as fast as possible so the line moves quickly and people aren't standing around waiting for prints. With this software I can focus on posing and shooting the picture and my 11 year old daughter can run the printer...which involves removing the photo from the printer and stuffing it into an envelope and handing it to the customer.