[icy]

Hi,

I consider to buy a Canon Pixma IX6560 (4 colors + 1 black for text, A3 support) or a Epson T60 (6 colors, maybe 5 +1 ?, A4 support). My purpose is to print my pictures and share them with my family, friends, and (possibly) to provide a printing service. FYI, these two systems are quite similar in price, but Epson ink system is much expensive in case I need to replace.

It's told that 6 colors are (much?) better than 5 (actually 4) colors. Unfortunately I couldn't request any local demostration. Some online reviews mention the difference but they don't have any real images to show.

My question is : are they really different? how much?

Thanks a lot!

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Last edited by icy; 12-26-2013 at 09:17 PM.

[Miguel]

Lots of variables here, including the paper you use, plus the viewing lighting conditions.
For your requirements, which are very basic, I don't think you will miss out on much if you go with the Canon. The real costs is in the consumable inks, and you've done your homework there assuming you have accounted for any volume differences between models. I'd also take into account the reliability of each printer, and the cost of the paper you would mostly be purchasing.

M

[waterfall]

Hi,

I consider to buy a Canon Pixma IX6560 (4 colors + 1 black for text, A3 support) or a Epson T60 (6 colors, maybe 5 +1 ?, A4 support). My purpose is to print my pictures and share them with my family, friends, and (possibly) to provide a printing service. FYI, these two systems are quite similar in price, but Epson ink system is much expensive in case I need to replace.

It's told that 6 colors are (much?) better than 5 (actually 4) colors. Unfortunately I couldn't request any local demostration. Some online reviews mention the difference but they don't have a real images to show.

My question is : are they really different? how much?

Thanks a lot!

I find the Epson six color photo printers and Epson premium glossy photo paper do very good prints. Epson 1400 and 2000 are both top quality. If you buy paper and ink from Epson Store online, there is free USA shipping, no sales tax and prices better than Office Depot. paper and ink arrive two to three days after placing order---never longer. The Canon Pixma is not known to me, personally and I have no opinion. But if printing photos on an Epson printer, use an Epson Stylus Photo printer.

[reeftool]

I have had good results from Canon printers although not the model you mentioned. It's probably fine for family/friends but if you plan on starting a printing service, get something better with 8 tanks and a large carriage. It's cheaper to get your prints done somewhere unless you live in the boonies like I do and have a 30 mile trip to do anything.

[icy]

Thank you all for your replies. I am still finding...

Yesterday I could request a demo of a 4-color system (Epson L300) those samples images are so wonderful

Here is a good article that shows the difference between 8C and 4C systems 8-Color Printing: What Hype and what's real? (2003). Not 6C vs 4C, though.

[Miguel]

I overlooked the part about your wanting to provide printing as a service.
Neither of these printers would serve that requirement very well. Dye-based printers like both of these are not very permanent. For paying customers you really need a pigment or dye-sub process. More expensive, of course, but a higher standard of performance.

M

[reeftool]

Thank you all for your replies. I am still finding...

Yesterday I could request a demo of a 4-color system (Epson L300) those samples images are so wonderful

Here is a good article that shows the difference between 8C and 4C systems 8-Color Printing: What Hype and what's real? (2003). Not 6C vs 4C, though.

If that article was written in 2003, then it really isn't worthy of consideration when comparing today's printers. A new high quality 4 color printer will will probably be better than anything available 10 years ago. Consider that in 2003, DSLR's were just hitting the market and cost about the same as a small car. Film still was the dominant medium.

[icy]

Hi again,

I am sorry for the belated response. I bought EPSON-L800 with the continous ink system. This printer has 6 colors, and I think that's a quite good decision. I say "quite good", because some colors and low contrasts areas are not correctly in the output.

I don't think that I can start a biz. with this printer, simply because cost of output is really high. For good R4 (4 inches x 6 inches) paper (Epson Premium Glossy), it is greater than 25 cents / copy . It will be more and more expensive for a A4 printing.

Another problem is that in Vietnam there are only two main kinds of papers: the very very good (Epson for example. Good means expensive!) and the very very bad (some thing made in China). Printing on cheap papers and low quality papers is too ugly (believe me, this is why I have to buy a printer.!)

I wonder if I can use Epson with Canon papers (which are often cheaper). I will try and keep you posted!

[Kerrowdown]

I've got here too late as you've already done the deed, I was going to suggest depending how many prints you were talking about you could use the services of an external specialist lab.

I suppose you still could for the bigger prints and specialist finishes and keep your set up for the day to day and fast turn round stuff exclusively.

[icy]

I've got here too late as you've already done the deed, I was going to suggest depending how many prints you were talking about you could use the services of an external specialist lab.

I think I will print 300 - 500 copies. I don't want to take pictures and save them in laptop ... forever; because my family can't see them.

I suppose you still could for the bigger prints and specialist finishes and keep your set up for the day to day and fast turn round stuff exclusively.

Sure