| Author |
Message |
|
|
#1342 2007-11-25 23:07 GMT |
I can't see that forum side and not think of something to ask this wealth of talent and experience so...I took photography classes during my artschool training in the late '70's but essentially used it as a tool for producing my artwork. In the last 6 months though i have had more than a resurgence in photography to making it a stand alone image maker.Because of this i am more interested in making good large prints. I have done some experimenting with my camera and am moving on there (check my other posts) and have had a a printer make me a large image with an Epson Stylus Pro printer.I can ,for $$$$.oo buy one and am considering and would be interested if anyone is using or experienced in these large jet printers(Pro 7800/7880- 9800/9880 24" and 48" resectively)
Question; Is anybody out there printing their own works on large format printers or am i an anomaly?
|
|
|
|
#1343 2007-11-25 23:45 GMT |
I print my own panoramic shots, but I cant yet afford a larger format printer. Its in my future plans to purchase an a3+ width printer that will do arbitrary length prints. For now I'm stuck with a4 width up to 23" in length, probably not quite the scale you are after but I'm also interested in how well it works out to do it oneself rather than getting a lab to do it.
|
|
|
|
#1345 2007-11-26 04:56 GMT |
I think a more pertinent question to ask in this digital age is how many out there actually bother to print at all.I own an Epson 1290 printer which is capable of printing up to A3+ size and I prefer to use it only for printing my best images at the larger sizes.For large quantities of small 7x5's etc I prefer to take them to my local lab because they can produce excellent quality prints much more cheaply than I can and in a lot less time. If you are going to invest in a large format printer then also get a decent quality monitor that can be calibrated, because sometimes what you see on your screen looks a lot different to the printed output.Your probably starting to realize right now that there is a steep learning curve with this digital stuff,good luck.
|
|
|
|
#1346 2007-11-26 05:10 GMT |
Yes, for standard size prints its easier just easier to get a lab to do it, though you might have to shop around a bit to find one that doesn't mangle photos, I've gotten some truly awful prints back from photos that look fine on the kiosks.
For panoramic prints it has worked out to be a great deal cheaper to do it myself, though it is a bit of fiddling about cutting paper to size, preparing the image etc. Getting a good colour match is a bit of trouble also, but in my opinion its worth the effort as you get what you want back not what someone else has decided is the best colour balance.
Another consideration is the time it takes to get to the lab, work their machines and wait for them to print, again for me it is actually worth the extra effort and/or cost of printing myself. Especially when you may only want a couple of prints for friends, family or a folio.
|
|
|
|
#1347 2007-11-26 05:57 GMT |
Throwing in my two cents,
For larger prints I have found its is better to use a PRO LAB. For around AUS $50 you get a 3'x3'. Large format printers, large dollars no Doubt. Running cost are also to be considered ink isn't cheap. Then with the way things are constructed these days you will be lucky to get 2 years out of a printer. As for your own colour and white balance etc. there are labs around that will allow you sit in at computer level choose your processing colours. I live near Melbourne Victoria Australia and know of at least six labs that do this. My opinion forget printing you own.
|
|
|
|
#1348 2007-11-26 06:10 GMT |
Bizzybuzzybee, I'm stuck living in Launceston (Also Australia for those not from here) and my choices for decent large format prints involves either Harvey Norman (Terrible) or sending it off to Hobart and waiting a week for it, so in certain circumstances a professional lab may not be possible.
This is slightly off topic, but where are these labs you speak of in Melbourne, I will be moving over to very soon.
|
|
|
|
#1349 2007-11-26 13:10 GMT |
Can I add a question to this discussion? I always have trouble printing photos at labs. "Mangle" is a good description of what they do. The printed image never looks the way it does on the screen. Portions of the shot get cut off. Is there a solution to this problem? Most of my prints I get done at Wal-Mart.
Thanks!
TinaC |
|
|
|
#1350 2007-11-26 13:49 GMT |
Tina; The answer to that is you must crop your pictures yourself on your computer before you let Walmart get there hands on them. There are many free photo programs available to do that. You might want to try Adorama Photo online for large prints where you crop before you upload your shots.
|
|
|
|
#1351 2007-11-26 19:14 GMT |
I can see that you have been busy while i was at work. Have read the response so far and take note.I may be a bit naive about the whole process since i have been printing on a Dell A 920 up to 8.5x17 and using refills from walmart and getting by cheaply. The purpose for me to print images is these pans tend to fail on a screen. I have a high end Dell 24" screen and i can turn the display upright for my use but still the effect is not what i like. Davles..you may have the question right though.How many do print? The lab ideas won't work for me cuz they aren't any here and i like too much of my own control. My screen has a colour management profile built in and seems to give quite good true prints.
|
|
|
|
#1352 2007-11-27 01:50 GMT |
I am assuming the above post is from bsmurray57.I also tried to print on the cheap by using off brand inks and papers but it turned out to be a false economy because I ended up wasting a lot of ink and paper trying to get my pictures to print out accurately.Nowadays I use only Epson ink and paper and my prints are turning out great,no more muddy lack lustre prints with the dreaded magenta color cast. If it is your intention to sell your work then printing with inks and papers that have archival longevity is absolutely essential. Try this great website; www.computer-darkroom.com and you will find some very useful information on all aspects of digital printing and color management.
|
|
|
|
#1354 2007-11-27 18:49 GMT |
Yes that was me davles. No idea this time how i came up anonomous???
I was printing mostly as proofs and had no longevity in mind with this cheap system. Specifically my reason for moving up, is to be able to print durable prints with the pigment base as opposed to dye which won't last a week in sunlight. Sale is of course a goal. It may be presumptous or foolish to think i could sell LARGE prints but i am aiming that way.Definite on the all or none Epson system including inks and papers. My hope (and i see no voices yet) was/is that someone else out there who uses a large printer as stated and could relate the ins and outs/horrors or whatever but the input so far has shown some of you print your own..some have a lab and some like Dewbius are hopeful like me.
Thanks bsmurray57
|
|
|
|
#1355 2007-11-27 19:27 GMT |
Interesting discussion. I have no 20 grands and when I printer 8'X1' panorama for my friend's office I did tiling. It was a major headack (choose anothe place if you want), but it came out nicely. At home - I did a panorama in separate shots done in small cheap frames tiled up together - it looks fabulous (looked, my friend took it to his home telling me that I can do another). I think now there are tiling softs that make overlapping pictures or pictures without overlap but on borderless printings. From a small distance - like 3-4 meters - you can not tell is the picture combined or from one piece. Another thing how to make an original feeding 10 meters poster - I usually use panoramas with 50% overlap and it can make 2 gigs picture - that is good enough for a huge poster. But coming back to main discussion - I think it is easier and finantiolly more sound to find some on-line producers, who will work with you permanently, make relationships, ask for discount and forget for the monsters. From another site I saw a soft that can print on the rolls, and it can convert a usual 11" printer to a panorama maker.
|
|
|
|
#1356 2007-11-27 19:35 GMT |
about inks - as I know the results of major printing companies - their inks are quite reliable - if you want better answers - you can ask the questions on something like canon.com - and have it with numbers on direct sunlight. http://digitalprintcoatings.com/ - is a solution for additional UV coating, there are some special dies, but I am not sure that it is not done from school inks by a cmart chinese in Hong Kong, but modern dies, to my surprise, are really durable, if on appropriate media.
|
|
|
|
#1364 2007-11-30 05:00 GMT |
Prints from dye based inks are quite stable provided that they are stored properly. Exposing any kind of print to direct sunlight regardless of ink type, is going to lead to fading.I have many prints made several years ago that do not display any kind of color shift.Some are behind glass and are not exposed to direct sunlight{a rarity here in the UK}and many are kept stored in storage boxes etc. I read somewhere that high levels of ozone can also lead to rapid fading of dye based prints,just cannot remember where right now.
|
|
|
|
#1744 2008-04-19 10:21 GMT |
Nice to see the face behind the dark silhouette,davles. Having just added to the "what camera do you own" forum you will notice that I did buy a good slr with the cmos sensor- the Canon 40D. ( I got a lot of direction initially from you in the " Raw vs J-Peg" forum,) I thought I might just drop this in here in response to the many advisors inputs. I did buy a large format Epson Stylus Pro 7880 and the ability to print as I want is truly liberating. A 6' tall image of one of my trees hangs in my room and the effect is to photography as realism was to painting.You have the added dimension of physical perspective with much of the image ascending up and the need to actually look up too. As close to being there as the original capture minus 3D. The Canon performs well at capturing detail, even in shadow and these newest printers have many features that have brought them to a forefront in photography printing. I have headed up the colour management learning curve and less a custom printer/paper(s)profile(which I am in the process of aquiring), I have managed to get very near the display accuracy which is obviously essential if any post capture work is to be meaningful. So I just wanted to thank all and maybe I won't be as long getting back on the site as this. Bruce Murray
P.S. I just bought Photoshop CS3 and am just beginning to work with raw in Bridge and can see unbelievable potential. It's nice to still be a student at 50 yrs old.
|
|
|
|
#1747 2008-04-21 20:55 GMT |
Because of my situation "in the bush", I use an on-line printing service for large prints. Cheap, fast, consistent, good quality, and while you don't get a chance to 'calibrate', after a couple of orders you know enough to be able to tweak your images beforehand to compensate for their processing. Don't think I'd bother taking the big step of printing my own, as I suspect it would take megabucks to get up to the quality I receive from the printing service. Good luck anyway in whatever you do!
|
|
