[Picturesque]

Currently I have a HP photosmart 2575 all-in-one printer and it does a decent job of photo printing. If I am going to print a photo that's going to get framed then I like to use the printers at Walgreen's. I can't figure out why they always look better from the store. I have been thinking about getting a new printer but I am not sure the at home models have caught up to what is available commercially so I have been holding out. Or is it more a question of the ink that is available for the at home printers maybe? Just looking for some suggestions and getting a some thoughts on what others might think.

[Bobb42]

I have 2 Epson Photo Printers and recently have seen the same results. The quality that was there 6 months ago is no longer good. I took some photos to WalMart for printing and they were of exceptional quality and color. I have contacted the manufacturer, but so far nothing has changed.

[williamting]

The saying goes... you get what you pay! It would be suicidal for any company to provide same quality for product priced at $100 and those priced at $1000. In the same way, you don't expect a $500 camera to be of the same quality as one that cost $5000 even though it has more pixels. This applies to printers. Specialised store use specialised printer. They probably calibrate their monitor and printer everyday. They have the volume to justify it. Therefore, if you want anything well done, let your trusted professional do it.

By the way I never print my own photo if my customer is going to pay professional market rate.

[photoprofx]

Epson R3000...
Also.. it is all about the paper! The photo can be world class and if you print it on the wrong paper it looks ordinary. Go look at Red River Papers.. your education will really start happening.
Also, the types of inks, pigment inks are the VERY best.
I have found photoluster and Polar Chrome papers to be just over the top when it comes to quality professtional images.
PhotoProFX

(08-02-2011, 03:00 AM)Picturesque Wrote: Currently I have a HP photosmart 2575 all-in-one printer and it does a decent job of photo printing. If I am going to print a photo that's going to get framed then I like to use the printers at Walgreen's. I can't figure out why they always look better from the store. I have been thinking about getting a new printer but I am not sure the at home models have caught up to what is available commercially so I have been holding out. Or is it more a question of the ink that is available for the at home printers maybe? Just looking for some suggestions and getting a some thoughts on what others might think.

[vedwardsphotography]

I work at a major retail chain... Simply---it comes down to maintenance!!! That could be the reason you got better results when the equipment was new and not now...
Even at the major retail chains you will see a difference in quality from outlet to outlet in the same chain... cleanliness is the key..

I hope this helps,

Vince

[photoprofx]

(02-19-2012, 02:27 PM)vedwardsphotography Wrote: I work at a major retail chain... Simply---it comes down to maintenance!!! That could be the reason you got better results when the equipment was new and not now...
Even at the major retail chains you will see a difference in quality from outlet to outlet in the same chain... cleanliness is the key..

I hope this helps,

Vince

You have to be kidding! You may work for a major retail chain, but it is apparent you don't have a clue what causes the photo to POP when it comes to the end product. It's all about the paper!
Putting the blame on the printer for poor quality because the head are dirty is a valid point... then you clean it, recharge the inks and you still get lousey results is about the paper. (Given the photo is in the ballpark for quality).
Everyone, I am not trying to be rude but this is true. You take an HP printer that has good resolution and lays down the ink in 2 to 3 pico liter drops and you put that on copy paper you are going to get a result that is ... well you just wasted ink. You take and put in HP Premium Gloss, for an examply you are going to get a totally different result.
Paper, Paper, Paper is the answer to getting better results along with a calibrated monitor(s), being in the right color space and having the right ICC profile set up on your printer.
ICC profiles are built into most printers as they ship with the sofware, however, that being said upper end printers want custom ICC printer profiles that tell them how to handle the paper and how to lay the ink down on that specific paper. HP has this built in, it will ask for gloss or matt that sort of thing - these are ICC profiles built in to the printer software.
Just a suggestion, read up on ICC profiles & stop blaming the printer for bad quality... sometimes it is the short behind the keyboard or the wrong paper.
PhotoProFX

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(02-09-2012, 03:01 AM)williamting Wrote: The saying goes... you get what you pay! It would be suicidal for any company to provide same quality for product priced at $100 and those priced at $1000. In the same way, you don't expect a $500 camera to be of the same quality as one that cost $5000 even though it has more pixels. This applies to printers. Specialised store use specialised printer. They probably calibrate their monitor and printer everyday. They have the volume to justify it. Therefore, if you want anything well done, let your trusted professional do it.

By the way I never print my own photo if my customer is going to pay professional market rate.

William.. is right! You do get what you pay for! Me? I was an HP fan for a long time, had bad experiences with EPSON.
Just a couple of months ago I put an EPSON R3000 Ultra Chrome K3 on line and the results are stunning!
Like William, I jobbed my work out to a printer at some fairly high rates, that has stopped. 13x19 is as big as I go, really no need to go larger most of the time.
I don't expect everyone to run out and drop big money on equipment because you simply don't have it. But there are a few area where you can't skimp, a Good DSLR, a fast glass (F2.8) decient studio strobes and the knowlege or the thurst for knowlege to go after quailty.
Taking snaps at the beach is one thing, photgraphing for money is another.
PhotoProFx

[williamting]

PhotoProFx, I agree with everything you said. Just add in two more items, right focal length for the job and right white balance.

I was beating my chest for the poor quality CD labels I made until I decided to buy a new batch of CD labels. Slightly more expensive but the result stunned me!

So, to summarise (not in order), paper quality, pigment ink, calibrated monitor, right colour space, use right ICC profile for the printer, good DSLR, correct and fast glass for the job, right lighting, right white balance.

I am lucky that I got wholesale price for my prints. That is why I am not motivated to buy my own high end printer. I also require every large print to be laminated. So, dirt free is crucial.

I am struggling with correct white balance. Any tips from anyone? I am looking at http://www.lastolite.com/tribalance.php and http://www.qpcard.com/. Anyone has experience with these before I part with my hard earn money?

[Slynky]

(02-20-2012, 06:30 AM)williamting Wrote: PhotoProFx, I agree with everything you said. Just add in two more items, right focal length for the job and right white balance.

I was beating my chest for the poor quality CD labels I made until I decided to buy a new batch of CD labels. Slightly more expensive but the result stunned me!

So, to summarise (not in order), paper quality, pigment ink, calibrated monitor, right colour space, use right ICC profile for the printer, good DSLR, correct and fast glass for the job, right lighting, right white balance.

I am lucky that I got wholesale price for my prints. That is why I am not motivated to buy my own high end printer. I also require every large print to be laminated. So, dirt free is crucial.

I am struggling with correct white balance. Any tips from anyone? I am looking at http://www.lastolite.com/tribalance.php and http://www.qpcard.com/. Anyone has experience with these before I part with my hard earn money?

EEEEK ! That's a lot of worry! LOL

[photoprofx]

(02-20-2012, 01:45 PM)Slynky Wrote:

(02-20-2012, 06:30 AM)williamting Wrote: PhotoProFx, I agree with everything you said. Just add in two more items, right focal length for the job and right white balance.

I was beating my chest for the poor quality CD labels I made until I decided to buy a new batch of CD labels. Slightly more expensive but the result stunned me!

So, to summarise (not in order), paper quality, pigment ink, calibrated monitor, right colour space, use right ICC profile for the printer, good DSLR, correct and fast glass for the job, right lighting, right white balance.


I am lucky that I got wholesale price for my prints. That is why I am not motivated to buy my own high end printer. I also require every large print to be laminated. So, dirt free is crucial.

I am struggling with correct white balance. Any tips from anyone? I am looking at http://www.lastolite.com/tribalance.php and http://www.qpcard.com/. Anyone has experience with these before I part with my hard earn money?

EEEEK ! That's a lot of worry! LOL

White balance usually is set in the camera. NOW, that being said shooting on Full Auto is on setting on my camera that I never use and I mean never! IF you want to get perfect white balance EVERY time you can use a 18% gray card, available online for a few bucks.
The other alternative is, if you are using PS or Lightroom then get the white balance eye dropper and look for a light patch of gray in the photo, that will put you in the ballpark. Warm it up a little if you
want some great ideas and want to look at photographers from all over the planet check out 500PX.com. this latter suggestion shows you some of the most creative uses of the camera you will ever see AND it gives you, most of the time, the camera settings.
Photography is an expensive hobby, sorry it just is, and you need to get the knowlege to leverage the equipment you buy. It is NOT in the owners manuel.
White balance is the VERY first step in any processing of ANY photo to get it right, from there you can do most anything.
Good Luck
PhotoProFX

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(02-20-2012, 01:45 PM)Slynky Wrote:

(02-20-2012, 06:30 AM)williamting Wrote: PhotoProFx, I agree with everything you said. Just add in two more items, right focal length for the job and right white balance.

I was beating my chest for the poor quality CD labels I made until I decided to buy a new batch of CD labels. Slightly more expensive but the result stunned me!

So, to summarise (not in order), paper quality, pigment ink, calibrated monitor, right colour space, use right ICC profile for the printer, good DSLR, correct and fast glass for the job, right lighting, right white balance.


I am lucky that I got wholesale price for my prints. That is why I am not motivated to buy my own high end printer. I also require every large print to be laminated. So, dirt free is crucial.

I am struggling with correct white balance. Any tips from anyone? I am looking at http://www.lastolite.com/tribalance.php and http://www.qpcard.com/. Anyone has experience with these before I part with my hard earn money?

EEEEK ! That's a lot of worry! LOL

White balance usually is set in the camera. NOW, that being said shooting on Full Auto is on setting on my camera that I never use and I mean never! IF you want to get perfect white balance EVERY time you can use a 18% gray card, available online for a few bucks.
The other alternative is, if you are using PS or Lightroom then get the white balance eye dropper and look for a light patch of gray in the photo, that will put you in the ballpark. Warm it up a little if you
want some great ideas and want to look at photographers from all over the planet check out 500PX.com. this latter suggestion shows you some of the most creative uses of the camera you will ever see AND it gives you, most of the time, the camera settings.
Photography is an expensive hobby, sorry it just is, and you need to get the knowlege to leverage the equipment you buy. It is NOT in the owners manuel.
White balance is the VERY first step in any processing of ANY photo to get it right, from there you can do most anything.
As a suggestion, Kelby Training, or go over to Adorama.com for their view series (free)
The bottom line... get knowledge then get creative. Knowing what a camera is and knowing how to leverage it is a must.

Good Luck
PhotoProFX

[williamting]

(02-20-2012, 07:43 PM)photoprofx Wrote: White balance usually is set in the camera. NOW, that being said shooting on Full Auto is on setting on my camera that I never use and I mean never! IF you want to get perfect white balance EVERY time you can use a 18% gray card, available online for a few bucks.
The other alternative is, if you are using PS or Lightroom then get the white balance eye dropper and look for a light patch of gray in the photo, that will put you in the ballpark. Warm it up a little if you
want some great ideas and want to look at photographers from all over the planet check out 500PX.com. this latter suggestion shows you some of the most creative uses of the camera you will ever see AND it gives you, most of the time, the camera settings.
Photography is an expensive hobby, sorry it just is, and you need to get the knowlege to leverage the equipment you buy. It is NOT in the owners manuel.
White balance is the VERY first step in any processing of ANY photo to get it right, from there you can do most anything.
Good Luck
PhotoProFX

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Thanks for your pointers. Surely I will pay them a visit. I am learning new thing everyday!
In certain situation, I am using manual mode to shoot all my picture. I can't leave important assignment to the auto mode.
Do you agree if I say that a gray card is a gray card? They are all made (almost) equal and there is no point to pay more for a perceived advantage (due to brand or whatever).
Photography is an extremely expensive hobby. I found that out when I was only 14 years old!