typical digital printing for enthusiasts - where, how?

Nass · 08-04-2009, 06:29 AM

Hello,

I'm new to digital and I was hoping to get a feel what the typical enthusiast does regarding printing. I've got this great camera & lens with excellent optical qualities. So I've taken some images and done PP work and have 10 10meg files I'm happy with. Some are mono, some are pano etc. What then - do I go to some specialist printer, or photo shop to get them decently printed on decent paper, or do digital photographers generally own their own printer? Or is it done online? What about unusual sizes, can you specify these?

Sorry, probably dumb questions - digital n00b here

Many thanks

*Wombat* · 08-05-2009, 01:21 AM

Hi again, Nass. There are no dumb questions on this forum. Lots of us here have, like you, been shooting for many years but still have large gaps in our knowledge, which we slowly fill as we help each other.

I do all my own printing. It works out cheaper and gives me maximum control of the print from the moment I click the shutter to the moment I put it in a frame or do whatever I finish up doing with it. These days you can pick up reasonably priced printers that give excellent archival quality prints at low cost. Like darkroom work, it's a steep and long learning curve, but that learning process is priceless in terms of what it can do for your enjoyment and the end results of your efforts.

I was lucky in getting hold of a very good used pro printer (Epson 2100) for only $50AUD (25 quid to you) from a local government department that was going to throw it out, so look around, ask around, send the word out. You never know what might fall into your lap (though you wouldn't want a 2100 to fall into your lap - it could do you some serious damage).

Nass · 08-05-2009, 03:06 AM

You're a star, thanks very much for helping =)

**Marc Sabatella** · 08-05-2009, 12:58 PM

It's hard to know what kind of printing demands you'd have, but inkjet printers are amazingly cheap; I'd assume most digital photogaphers own at least one and use it for some of their prints. Although while purchase cost is low (can be under $100 for an all-in-one that also scans, copies, and faxes!), cost per image is usually higher than sending them off to the local photo place (especially the ones in discount stores like Costco, Walmart, etc in the US). This is ll just for basic snapshots we're talking about, though - if you're looking for larger gallery-quality prints, one would normally have them done more professionally, perhaps using one of the online services like Mpix.

Gooshin · 08-12-2009, 07:18 AM

Wallmart!

Online!

Delivered to your door!

cheap, easy, good enough quality.

*graphicgr8s* · 08-12-2009, 07:29 AM

Well I have 2 inkjets I never use because it is so bloody expensive. I can go to toner based printers at work and still don't print a lot. Not even of the son yet. I bought one of those Kodak all in one printers (I got the cheap one that had the scanner, printer. No fax) Have to say I am amazed at the quality of the output. And the cartridges are a lot less than my other ink jets.

For my professional stuff I use a lab that's local but they are also on the net.