Have You Compared Photo Labs?
As I wrote sometime back, my Epson 2200 is almost dead and I don't think I'll get another large printer. I would still like to sell a few images and maybe even open up to having them put on various i...
Forum Discussion
For standard prints that are 8x10 or smaller I use Costco. For larger prints I use White House (www.whcc.com) and they provide a range of materials and will do the matting. With a large print having them pre-mat it protects it until it can be framed and they charge less than a framing shop.
I also use a HP Laserjet 200 color printer. No problems with clogged head and the cartridges are cheaper than the ink cartridges for an inkjet printer and it works with any type of paper.
Injet printers are more economical for prints that are 14 x 22 and larger in size. For smaller sizes the color labs are less expensive. The labs also use photo paper and the surface is more stable than inkjet prints. The inkjet people tout the UV life but UV is not the problem but chemical and mechanical abrasion. A whole wing at the Met in New York had inkjet prints damaged when the floor maintenance people switched to a new type of floor wax. Mechanical abrasion is a more common problem than you would think and the larger the print the more of a problem it is to keep the glass from flexing and hitting the surface of the print - big problem with inkjet prints in particular.
I have never been able to get a good color match with Costco's inkjet printers that they use for the larger print sizes. No such problems with WHCC that nails it 100% of the time.
When someone want a print of one of my images I will often send the file to Costco and specify a store near them for printing. They can pick up the prints an hour later at the store and do not need to be members. WHCC will also drop ship to another address any print orders as well.
I also use a HP Laserjet 200 color printer. No problems with clogged head and the cartridges are cheaper than the ink cartridges for an inkjet printer and it works with any type of paper.
Injet printers are more economical for prints that are 14 x 22 and larger in size. For smaller sizes the color labs are less expensive. The labs also use photo paper and the surface is more stable than inkjet prints. The inkjet people tout the UV life but UV is not the problem but chemical and mechanical abrasion. A whole wing at the Met in New York had inkjet prints damaged when the floor maintenance people switched to a new type of floor wax. Mechanical abrasion is a more common problem than you would think and the larger the print the more of a problem it is to keep the glass from flexing and hitting the surface of the print - big problem with inkjet prints in particular.
I have never been able to get a good color match with Costco's inkjet printers that they use for the larger print sizes. No such problems with WHCC that nails it 100% of the time.
When someone want a print of one of my images I will often send the file to Costco and specify a store near them for printing. They can pick up the prints an hour later at the store and do not need to be members. WHCC will also drop ship to another address any print orders as well.
