Printing and selling my photos

[imagemaker46]

Archive quality home printers, total control on the images, capabilities of printing almost any size images, high quality heavy weight paper. 13x19 prints that are selling for $750 each, doesn't take long to pay for all the supplies and printer. It all comes down to volume and how much control you want over the printing.

 

[Balmiesgirl]

I started printing all of my own prints about a year ago. It's more expensive but having control of the final image is worth it!
I have an Epson 7890 and it can print up to 24 inches wide. I have only had to get a larger print once since I got this printer. I print on Moab luster paper and their new slick rock metallic. The prints are gorgeous and my clients love them.

Printing on my own did take some work though! I had to get my monitor and printer color calibrated and learn the little nuances of my printer to get consistent results. It was definitely worth the work and learning curve.

 

[BlueMeanieTSi]

I noticed if I print using the Adobe RGB profile through the printer then I get the exact image color from my monitor. IF I try to use the profiles from Epson I get more of a purple in the blues. IT's just the blues (which most of my photos have sky in them) and was irritating.

I understand your grief with the setup it took me almost a year to get it to where I was happy but WOW are the prints amazing. I still print on epson papers though I have not ventured out to any other brands yet but I might look into what you mentioned.

 

[joycezhou]

you may choose photo paper with HP and EPSON printer.

 

[weepete]

I smell zombies

 

[imagemaker46]

Many pros think it is in fact wrong to 'get a nice home printer' and do your own printing, for a number of reasons.

Here are a few of them:

Limited print sizes.
Limited home type printer resolutions.
Limited print types.
Limited print products.
Expensive inks/dyes.
Have to stock different sizes, grades, types of paper.
2 printers needed (1 for backup).
Time more productively spent doing business tasks or photography.

I do all my own printing at home and have always been happy with the results. I don't do a great number of prints though, so my costs aren't that high. I usually print and frame 13x19's. The 8x10's I do print for sale are on high quality paper as well.