gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

Many people that prints at home are afraid to use generic paper and generic inks because the output will be different on what they see on the monitor. Custom ICC profiles is a mix of the printer's characteristic, the ink's characteristic and the paper's characteristics. The only way to make profit at home selling pictures is using a good quality generic paper and good quality generic ink along with a custom ICC profile for that combination. If you change any variable in the formula, then you need to re-do the ICC profile. If you use 5 different papers in two different printers, then you need 10 differents profile loaded in your computer even if the two printers are the same models. I'm an Epson certified large format printer technician, and when I fix one printer on a large customer that use same models, I have to calibrate the printer with the colorimeter to be sure the customer will have printing consistency between printers. I have a continuous ink system installed and I'm using Costco Kirkland Pro photo paper in my Epson Artisan 1430 printer getting excellent results using Datacolor Elite printer/monitor calibrator. If you wants to drop down your printing cost, drop me a note and I can help you moving to the generic world and also making your custom ICC profiles without buying the $600.00 colorimeter. Hope this info help someone.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I did not have to spend $600 on a colorimeter and I'm doing just fine, but it is a nice offer!

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I do have a colorimeter, and finally have prints that match what I see on the screen. Not a bad investment.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Deleted

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

While I agree that a colorimeter and the correct ICC profiles are necessary to obtain a good print, I totally disagree that either a 1430 printer or non-oem ink will produce great results especially with some off brand paper. In that Kirkland box might be one paper at one time and a completely different paper the next time. Sounds like a lot of work to me, especially when someone can get a decent 4 x 6 print from many sources, Costco included, for under $ .10. I do make and sell prints, but charge much more, which is needed just to be profitable. I use only OEM inks and only Red River Paper and sell prints from 5 x 7 to 16 x 24, made in house. My reason for this is that I have complete control over the printing process, choice of paper, etc.. Anything bigger goes out to a pro lab for which I also have a profile. I'm not only selling the print, but I'm selling a copy of my image -- big difference. I have no interest in getting into a price war on prints with the local drugstore nor making prints to sell for pennies. YMMV. Best of luck. Finally, why is this post in the 'For Sale' section? Do you have something to sell?

gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

Management moved my Post:

This is an automated notice.

Your topic "Let's talk about custom ICC profiles" was moved
from "Photo Analysis" section
to "Members Buy/Sell/Trade -- Classifieds" section.

Action comment: no comment

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

The new Bot that moves posts to other sections is named "Murphy".

digitalbill

I have owned a graphics shop for over 21 years, I only use OEM inks and quality branded media. If the media is from a respected source they will have ICC profiles available.
The days of paying for profiles is long gone. I do create my own profiles when printing to odd substrates such as wood veneer. Using cheap inks and paper might save you
in the short term but if you want a solid customer base with repeat business give them quality from start to finish. I have not had one customer complaint since I opened
my doors. Plus the only way to make a profile is directly from your printer with your media and your ink and your print driver. A little hard to do off site with all the variables.
This is what I have learned over two decades.

Dewman Loc: SW Idaho

I have no need for anything you're hawking, sir. I print all my images on a "cheap" $119.00 Epson XP-610 and HP Advanced Photo Paper. I get some award-winning prints from it! True story! Thanks, just the same. Sometimes, you can get remarkable results without having to mortgage the house or tap into the kid's college fund!

gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

Deleted.

gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

I send to you via email 7 pages that you have to print using (of course) your paper, your ink and your printer. You ship them back to me and I create yor custom profile. Then I send it to you via email. You install it in your computer and test it. If you are fully satisfied, then you paid me $25.00 via Paypal. That's it. If you are not fully satisfied you don't pay. But that way you don't have to buy an expensive colorimeter and you can find if a colorimeter is a solution for you before buy one. Basically I making you a favor. My effort worth more that $25.00 bucks.

Dewman Loc: SW Idaho

So, let me get this straight. Out of the goodness of your heart, you're going to go to all this trouble for someone you don't know, that involves a process that is a losing proposition for you? What a wonderful business model you have, sir!

I was born at night, but it sure as heck wasn't LAST night! I smell a troll or someone who's trying to sell me a bridge!

Hmmm.... do I sound skeptical or somewhat rude? Maybe, but that's just me being me. My Mom always told me, "You don't have to step in BS to know what it is!"

By the way, you wouldn't happen to be from Nigeria, are you?

gmartin4 Loc: Puerto Rico

I'm a US citizen helping US citizen that are in the same hobby. Photography is my hobby, not my business. I 'am an Epson certified Electronic Technician tha repair the large format printers up to 64" wide. I know the Inkjet industry inside and out and service is my life. That's why I like help others.