digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

hello, there!"Amateur". When you consider paper and inks and photo quality printer initial cost.....As an Amateur, myself, I can't see any real sense in forking out the kinda funds you would have to, to print a book or anything else. I use "SAMS" they use epson and Are very inexpensive. RJM There are specialty processors also, on the web..

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Our best luck has been with Canon IP series, reasonable cost and good results, paper Canon, Red River, and BJ's, we only use Canon ink. Bob.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

If you plan on printing much then ink is $$$. I have used a CIS continuous ink supply system, successfully for years. On my old Epson over a 5 year period, saved estimated $2000 over OEM. Printer failed but not associated with the ink system. (not sure if Canon pro 100 has CIS yet, mine is waiting for one... I paid $100 for the pro 100 after rebate, printer not yet used.)

Check out and choose your Epson based on the CIS availability, not that you will use one right away... but eventually will use refilled or CIS when you get tired of the cost of OEM carts. Epson Artisan 837 CIS below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL8kzWC4cxk

ABJanes Loc: Jersey Boy now Virginia

I am working on a workshop for our Photography Club (team effort) which will include printers, paper and calibration. We are focusing on Canon, Epson and HP. They all have a complete range of offerings, in all price ranges, with paper that is made specifically for their system. I would suggest only using their (OEM) ink and not cheaper refill companies. HP just had a sale 20% off. I have an HP all-in-one OfficeJet Pro 8600 and have been amazed with the photo print capabilities. Probably best to use the OEM Paper as well. Epson promotes that their ink has fade resistant capabilities that far exceeds their competitors.

Impressionist

There are a few issues presented here. Limited funds, creation of an album, and time to spend. Printing isn't cheap. it is fun to learn but each print costs. You have an idea in your head for the album you want to put together you might want to look into on line services like Adaroma Pix and others. This can serve as a template as you learn to print.

A good all purpose printer like Canon's MG 6320, 7520, and 5620 or Epson XP 420 are cheap to buy and will come in handy for other tasks. Have used all but own the MG 6320. Being able to hit print from what ever device I am using and being confident in the results the printer will produce is comforting. You can certainly learn on one of them.

Again cheap isn't a word I would use for printing photographs. Printing is a separate art. It needs to be learned. You have enjoyed the process of taking and making images with your camera. The process of learning printing will be rewarding.

Budget in time and money you want,(have), to devote to this. Have your album started by a professional lab. Take it from there. We here have faith in you.

coyotecall Loc: New Mexico

I'm on "low income" to (S.S.) and I've gone this route, an Epson XP-610, ink from "InkSupply", paper from Costco. Anything larger than 8x10 I go to Costco. In fact it's cheaper to print any size by using them...but in-house I do my own for the most part. I've had Canon printers (they use a lot of ink) Brother printers (not as fine a quality for photos) and HP (ink too expensive). I've used several aftermarket ink people and so far the one noted has been the best quality and lowest price. As for long lasting prints, if they are not exposed to light, as in being kept in a book, they will hold up just fine. But if they fade faster than you do, just re-print from the saved original. By the way, it's worth buying a Square Trade warrantee on any printer. I"ve replaced a few at a relatively low cost by using that strategy.It's cost effective in the long run.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Hi I started a thread on the alternative to buying a printer to create an album which is to get the album printed professionally.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-319167-1.html

There are a lot of good replies in that thread and a number of suppliers

Seems that for the 8 by 10 size you would probably spend around $60, smaller sizes can be $15 ish a big A3+ sized book / album 100 pages , maybe $100 ish turn around time seems to be 1 to 2 weeks in general.

Going this route allows you to concentrate on the image and layout and you don't have to worry about all the printing niggles.

It has to be the most economical option and you get a high quality pro product.

Of course for many people its the producing that is most enjoyable the waiting for the print to appear rather than the end result. It doesn't seem so creative sending away for the album, even though you are responsible for its content and layout.

paul06

As was previouslty mentioned several times, ink is the largest expense. There is a new technology out there called CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) which uses large quanties of ink to feed the printer, therebu reducing the cost of ink. These are available as a add on for printers or you can buy a printer allready setup with CISS. Just a thought.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cis&rlz=1C1CHHZ_enUS512US512&oq=cis&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i65l3j69i60l2.1799j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=cis+continuous+ink+supply+system

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

I was able to get a lightly used Canon PIXMA PRO 9000, MK II a few years ago from a friend and fellow photographer. I love it and don't find the ink costs to be excessive. It has eight cartridges and the cost of ink isn't outlandish, but it has gone up. A box of eight Canon inks, one of each color, is about $100 from B&H. The printer has since been replaced by a model 100 which is often on sale.

Use what ever paper is sold by the printer manufacturer as they will have built in the ICC profiles for their printer, or you can buy Red River Paper and download their profiles (free) for what ever printer you are using.

The thing I like most about printing my own is that I don't have to wait for the prints or drive somewhere to get them done. You can also make a test print on 4x6 paper to insure that the colors are correct rather than experimenting with 8x10 or 11x14 paper.

coyotecall Loc: New Mexico

Note: A hundred bucks is a lot for someone on "low income".

philo Loc: philo, ca

I do a lot of printing and love my canon 8220 for 8x11 and smaller. I use third party ink and get great results.
for larger prints i have the canon pro 100 again i use third party ink which is about half the price and love it.

Paul L_S Loc: Lithia Springs GA USA

An option I did not see in another response. HP printer and Instant Ink. for $3.20/month you can print up to 50 pages. Unused pages will roll over to the next month. When the ink starts to get low they send you another ink cartridge. Look into it. In my case I think instant ink is cheaper than going to the store and buying a cartridge

photodad34

I have used HP, Canon and Epson printers. My choice by cost and long life is Epson. You can buy a refurbished Epson inexpensively from their website and also have it shipped free. For inks, I buy from amazon OEM quality refills, and paper from Sams.
I prefer printing on 110 pound cardstock rather than glossy photo paper. For durability if necessary, I spray with a clear lacquer.
The Epson is low enough in price that if one should stop functioning properly, junk it and order another one rather than pay exorbitant prices for OEM ink cartridges. Your cost will still be less, and you can still make a good quality album.

Don Fischer Loc: Antelope, Ore

I think I've had three HP's. An 8 1/2" a 13" and a 4x6 printer. The 8 1/2" was a really nice printer. Lost it to a power surge. The 13" printer nice photo's but was very noisy and didn't last long. I've had three Epons, two 8 1/2", neither was any good, returned them both. The third was a 4x6 and it was made very nice. Unfortunately it's life span was very short. I've had three Canon's. First one replaced my 8 1/2" HP. It was a $49 printer from Bi Mart. One color tank and one black, ink was expensive because I always threw away color ink when one color ran out. My 13" Canon replaced my 13" HP. Extreme quite and individual ink tank's, cost's a bit under a penny a sq in for ink. I also have an 8 1/2" Canon iP 100. Does a great job and I can print with it where ever I go. Very small and light. Only one color tank and one B/W but for the portability, I'll live with it. Recently got a couple new color tank's from Ink Farm to try out. About $7 each rather then about $21 for Canon ink. Haven't done enough yet to decide if I like them but no complaint's yet.

I've tried different paper's, mostly low cost paper's and manufacturer's paper. Nothing wrong with manufacturer's paper that I've used. For mat paper I've used a lot of Staple's double sided mat. Really like it and it's inexpensive. Used a bunch of different gloss paper's and they all gave me nice photo's. I shopped by price preferring the middle range in price. Several month's ago I tried some Red River paper. Love the stuff and when I'm out of the Canon and Ink Press paper I have I'm switching to all Red River. I don't print mat photo's any more either. I use mat for making business cards and note cards. No more gloss either. Canon luster and Red River Satin I really like! Draw back of Red River is you can't buy it local, has to come right from Red River. I simply keep enough on hand to not worry about it.

For a priter I'm going to suggest a Canon because I've had such good luck with Canon. I would not get the inexpensive ones given a choice because they have a color tank and a black tank, to expensive on ink if you print a lot. If you want a portable printer then, I'd suggest something like my iP100. Only two tanks but the trade off in portability is worth it to me. That printer is now called a Pixma iP110. Mine was about $250 but I got it on sale for around $150, worth every penny. I'd also suggest one larger to keep at home. The Canon Pro 100 seem's to get really good review's and recently with discount's and money back from Canon I read where one guy claimed he got his for free! Run's $398 normally but seen a number of sales lately for only $299! it's a 13" and it's what I'd get. Has I think eight ink tank's and they run about $17 ea. If you never want to print anything over 8 1/2 x 11 I'd suggest you look at the Canon Pixma iP 7220. Has 5 color ink's, one of them black. I have had the printer's with only five inks and they did better work than I'd ever need. Don't know what their ink run's but far less through Ink Farm.

About ink, unless you are really persnickety about color, you don't really need a whole lot of ink tanks. Myself, I can't tell the difference in them. Pretty much cutting hair's about quality I think.

glblanchard

There are a lot of good printers out there today. And some really good prices too, I might add. To my knowledge...and I've done a lot of looking...the best place prices for ink & paper supplies, and I'm not talking generic, is Atlex.com. If anyone finds a cheaper place, let me know.