View Full Version : How happy am I with DIY photo printing?
This poll aims to find out how many feel they can get more out of their photo printer than they currently manage.
The poll was inspired by our new series on improving photo printing skills (http://dpnow.com/4157.html).
coupekid
16-08-07, 08:26 PM
Interesting Poll Ian, personally I always use an on line printing service, usually photobox.
In my opinion printing yourself, although more convenient, is inevitably more expensive.
Interesting Poll Ian, personally I always use an on line printing service, usually photobox.
In my opinion printing yourself, although more convenient, is inevitably more expensive.
I don't disagree there - anyone who thinks that printing at home is going to save money is almost certainly going to be disappointed - unless they are looking for custom printing, large sizes, accurate cropping, etc. Commercial services with automated printing labs do a great job at a great price, but the moment you need skilled human operators it does get expensive.
Ian
I like to be in total control of my prints and the speed and convenience is worth every penny. Also like to try the same print on various papers so home printing for me.
I like to be in total control of my prints and the speed and convenience is worth every penny. Also like to try the same print on various papers so home printing for me.
Yes - this is a very valid and popular viewpoint.
Ian
StuartR
16-08-07, 11:48 PM
personally I always use an on line printing service, usually photobox.
In my opinion printing yourself, although more convenient, is inevitably more expensive.
Same here. Photobox every time.
coupekid
17-08-07, 09:10 AM
Same here. Photobox every time.
I just recently purchased some cards I made up to thank people for the gifts for Elise.......they went down a storm!
Also, the photobooks are stunning. Bought one for the couple whose wedding I shot, they were impressed.
StuartR
17-08-07, 12:49 PM
I just recently purchased some cards I made up to thank people for the gifts for Elise.......they went down a storm!
Also, the photobooks are stunning. Bought one for the couple whose wedding I shot, they were impressed.
Haven't tried the photobook option yet but I might send in a collection of my favourite pics to see how they look. I'm shooting my brother's wedding in October (press-ganged :\ ) and I thought a photobook of some sort would be the way to go for a selection of the better captures on the day.
Bearface
17-08-07, 02:59 PM
I'm perfectly happy with the prints I produce using my own printers, but it's cheaper and less stressful to upload files (any size or quantity) to my local lab's server and let them do the printing. I only really use the A3 and A4 printers I have in the office for proofs these days.
Whenever I'm in doubt about the potential results from using certain files on specific paper types, the lab is always happy to send me a free sample to enable me to check the quality. Furthermore the media used and the quality of the prints themselves is visually superior to anything I've seen from "home" printers, as good as they admittedly are.
TBH, although I've been into this photography lark for a while, I've never felt fully comfortable with home printing, the quality of the prints or the setting up and colour management side of things. My passion is photography and I'd sooner pass the stress onto someone else :)
Jocelyn Walker
17-08-07, 04:35 PM
Yes, homeprinting does cost a fair whack, as photos use up the ink at a rapid rate of knots & ink's not cheap! Yet, I get enjoyment & satisfaction from printing a few of my pics now & again! I printed half a dozen A4 this evening, as I wanted to produce a triptyche (sic) for my wall! The quality for my needs is good enough! The end result will be really rewarding, having completed the whole process DIY, from taking the pic...tweaking it on computer...printing...mounting & framing! If I wanted a photo printed any larger than A4, I would have it done professionally! I keep on meaning to have 1 of my best shots printed on canvas, which is all the rage.....but so expensive! Have to win the lotto for that to happen p'haps!;)
I don't disagree there - anyone who thinks that printing at home is going to save money is almost certainly going to be disappointed - unless they are looking for custom printing, large sizes, accurate cropping, etc. Commercial services with automated printing labs do a great job at a great price, but the moment you need skilled human operators it does get expensive.
Ian
I have used Klick for holiday photographs and often there is an special offer. I had about 160 8" x 6" done for 6p each of our Australian cruise a couple of years ago.
With regard to cropping, (I can only speak for Klick) you download the software and have the option of having the photos printed "As is" or you can crop them and then have them printed as you have adjusted them.
If you have them printed "As is" they stretch the pics and sometimes tops of heads can be cut off, or steeples of churches if your camera is not the same format? (ratio). Sorry I'm not very technical on these issues.
I do print my own also. I get a lot of enjoyment out of watching them come through the printer and can print up to A3.
I do some printing at home and the colours are good, visual quality ok. I only use home prints for temporary A4 stuff I stick on the walls, also for occasional proof prints for one or other of my sons family or friends. However, I always stress my home prints aren't made to last longterm.
Any prints that are to be kept and stored longer term are sent off to Photobox. I've had excellent prints from Photobox, also had superb greetings cards from there.
Pol
Ive read some of the reply's and Im amazed how many people rely on an external source for there prints. I cant express enough the joy it gives me when I see the picture coming out of the printer that I have created, its got to be something similar to the darkroom days, thats the whole point isnt it, seeing it develop and print into something????
Wanting something printed in a size your printer can not manage is the only aception to using an external source, that and quantity.
jds9000
28-05-08, 08:59 AM
Ive read some of the reply's and Im amazed how many people rely on an external source for there prints. I cant express enough the joy it gives me when I see the picture coming out of the printer that I have created, its got to be something similar to the darkroom days, thats the whole point isnt it, seeing it develop and print into something????
Wanting something printed in a size your printer can not manage is the only aception to using an external source, that and quantity.
Have to agree with you there Ash. I know at times it can be 'trying', the tones aren't right, or too dark/light, but the satisfaction of taking a picture that you like, and 'seeing it through' from start to finish, has to be worth more than sending off a file to the online printers, and then finding out two days later that they have cropped it, and it's too dark !!
Jay
Have to agree with you there Ash. I know at times it can be 'trying', the tones aren't right, or too dark/light, but the satisfaction of taking a picture that you like, and 'seeing it through' from start to finish, has to be worth more than sending off a file to the online printers, and then finding out two days later that they have cropped it, and it's too dark !!
Jay
Absolutely - the pride and satisfaction in producing your own prints can be very rewarding and I encourage everyone to have a go, especially for large prints. However, for large print runs, especially of smaller prints like 6x4s, where quality is not a paramount consideration (though the better photofinishers really do produce good results) it's not really worth the time DIY printing, and it's often a lot cheaper by outsourcing your prints. so my advice is to mix and match :)
Ian
Bob Ross
28-05-08, 11:32 PM
Hi Ian,
Well, I am the DIY guy, having been driven into the darkroom in the early 60s, by bad prints and have enjoyed both sides of photography, color and B&W (as well as some weird stuff). It would be interesting to compare costs between a home based color darkroom and todays inkjet printing. At least today we don't have the shelf life of chemicals and paper and the grief of discovering that something got contaminated and you didn't know it.
One thing that I seldom see mentioned is the making of several generations of prints to fine tune the final results. It seems like everyone wants the first print to be perfect out of the printer. It seldom was in the old damp days. Making that perfect print at home was done over several days, because of the dry down time and life processes getting in the way and if chemicals changed or temperatures drifted, it got more involve. A new pack of paper was recalibration time.
Something that I picked up from a Leica forum thread is that a 28" X 42" world class digital print by someone like David Adomson in the Wash DC area would cost around $400 to $450. That certainly changed my economic thinking about my hobby. My color enlarger, now unused cost twice what my photo printer cost, all about the price of one world class print.
Bob
My wife and I are primarily artists and I only really got into photography through purchasing a cheap 10MP camera for making prints of our art work. But as ever one thing led to another and I have developed an interest in photo-imagery and have recently printed a few of my photographs along with the art prints.
I use an old 1290 I got off ebay fitted with a CIS and filled with MIS Pro pigment ink.
It seems to do the job ,as far as colour prints go anyway and the setup didn't cost an arm and a leg. Ive sold enough prints to cover the cost of all the gear and supplies and am making a profit .So if your willing to take a chance and get stuck in it can pay.
To illustrate my previous post. It was suggested elsewhere that that picture of the Tortoiseshell on a dahlia would make a nice print. So I blew it up in elements
and printed it on A3+ @ 14.5" x 12.5" (my standard for a 16" x 20" with mount)
It now measures 12" across the wing tips 6X normal size and is sharp enough
for me.
http://dpnow.com/galleries/data/500/Tortyprt.JPG
Horacio
13-10-08, 12:02 AM
I do my printing at home. I use a canon i9900 and I get tremendous results, in color and b&w, similar or sometimes better than those given by commercial laboratories. I prefer to depend on my own judgements for calibrations and final ouput.
It is part of the joy and exitation, like when I had the classic and personal darkroom lab and the image was appearing under the red light!!! Now it happens at the end of the printer tray!!! As a hobby, I prefer to use part of my free time (which is limited as I still have to work!) covering all the steps of photography. It is a very enriching experience!!! Horacio