sissil

I now have space which will be used exclusively for editing, printing, and enjoying my passion for photography. I would like advice from more experienced members what equipment I need. I am planning on getting a computer dedicated to photo editing and a monitor/screen. I have an older modelEpson Stylus PHOTO 2200 that is brand new, but purchased 10 years ago and a Canon Pro Printer purchased 3 years ago requiring Windows 8.x/OS or v10.7MacOS X. Ideas? to help me get started. I have over 4,000 images on memory cards and have never printed my own work, but want to start.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Sissil,

You will get many different opinions and point of views. i switched from Windows to Apple. I started with a MacBook Pro with Lightroom and Photoshop.All my images reside on 3 external hard drives. Other option is a IMac with a nice large screen and keep your images on external drives. I do not print anymore my own images. I found it not cost effective and chemical prints on Fuji paper is better than ink jet IMHO. I use Costco for 4 x 6 and 5 x 7 and other labs for large prints.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1190385-REG/apple_mk462ll_a_27_imac_with_retina.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1190385-REG/apple_mk462ll_a_27_imac_with_retina.html

Lowrider Loc: Kennesaw, GA

No matter how you decide to store your images, put a copy on the cloud. Any internal/external storage is subject to failure, theft, fire, lightning etc. I had the same issues you are facing and I chose to go with a high end gaming laptop. That gived me the capability to process on the road. It has all of the attributes for fast photo processing without breaking the bank. I got what I need for around a grand. You can literally spend thousands on a computer and monitors. Unless you are going to publish it is a waste of good money that could be spent on equipment to TAKE the pictures. I agree on the printing issue using outsources. But I don't print a lot of pictures either.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

As to computer and printer: I have a desktop with lots of memory, and and external hard drive dedicated to photos. A fairly large monitor, and am hoping to get a second monitor to use the two side-by-side (one for the program, one for the photo) in the near future.

So, what are you going to do with the photos when printed?

If you plan to put them into albums, you'll want to look at shelves or a bookcase to hold the albums.
And a table where you can keep the album you're working on, together with "stickies", a pen to write text with the photos, even some stickers as used in scrapbooking for decoration (visit a scrapbooking store to find ideas).

If you plan to frame them, and make your own frames... well, that's a whole new ballgame: sturdy table, mat-material, mat cutter, frame material, frame cutter (there are specialized saw set-ups to cut framing material at exact 45 degree angles.... etc., etc.
Because of the cost of framing, I only put some special photos into frames: wedding photos of the boys, grandparents' portraits...

For myself, I have deliberate chosen not to do my own printing, as having it done proved to be less expensive than doing it myself, considering the cost of ink (especially if it takes 2 or 3 or more "tries" to get the picture the way you want it.

Till I discovered digital scrapbooking... I now also use the computer to make 8 1/2 x 11 digital pages to put the photos, text and some "decorations" on, and when I have enough for a book I submit them as full-bleed pages to have printed.

Having said all that, I think your very first step is not to get equipment, but to really think through what you want to do with the photos and only then start thinking about equipment you need to achieve that goal.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You have a lot of decisions to make. Windows or Mac? A Core i5 processor is sufficient, and 16GB of memory is good. I now have 27" monitors (Dell SE2717HX), and they are big improvement over smaller ones. An SSD as your C drive will get you up and running fast. My desktops have a second drive (HGST Ultrastar) 3 or 4TB for data. I have several hard drive that I use to backup seven folders that I don't want to lose.

Let us know how this develops.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

One of the most important things to know about printing your work is that all papers come with an ICC profile. Normally your printer software will install the common ICC paper profiles for that manufacturing in the computer. So, your basic Canon profiles will be there. If you order a speciality paper from Red River or a different company you can download the profile from that paper from their website. Be sure to select the profile in the printer box when you are setting up the printing specs.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

If color accuracy is critical, then a Windows system with a wide gamut display and graphics card, and 16 bit printer drivers with wide gamut ink loaded in your printer, and your space should be darkened, painted and illuminated in accordance with ISO 12646.

If Standard gamut is your goal, then either platform will suffice, a dim room, really nothing else all that special.

Apple products do not support photo-industry standard wide gamut devices for processing, viewing, projecting or printing. They do support video projection standard wide gamut but it is contoured towards xenon bulb color curves, and in my opinion, not at all suitable for photo editing and printing on your typical printer or by your print lab.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4052120

If you have a lot of $$$, and don't mind working in standard gamut, then Apple stuff might be appealing, if you want the most bang for the buck, wide gamut workflow, and often better performance, then custom-built PCs and laptops are what you ought to be looking for. Keep in mind that a fully maxed out flagship MacPro, is only in the middle of the pack as far as what you can get in terms of flat-out performance configuration options for true, workstation-class systems. And you still need to buy a bunch of external drives for system storage, since it is not Apple's philosophy to include more than the barest minimum in internal storage.

Be aware that Apple is primarily a phone company, and computers only account for around 10% of their sales volume, which explains some of their recent business decisions and shifts in priorities.

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2017/05/apple-reports-second-quarter-results/

For pete's sake get those images copied to several hard drives before something goes wrong.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"Standard gamut" sounds like some of the breeds of bird posted here, so I Googled the term. Sure enough, I got "Standard Gamut Bird Images."

https://www.google.com/search?q=standard+gamut+bird&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS726US726&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj55b6b9IPUAhWC6iYKHVWoBTUQsAQIIw&biw=1920&bih=950

Lowrider Loc: Kennesaw, GA

I'm so confused!!

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

For your printers see if there are updated drivers for whatever system you want. Even if the web site says the model isn't supported on a latest OS version they may well work. Some Windows 8 drivers - even Vista drivers will work on Windows 10.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I would go with a laptop for portability. A 12 gb ram and a 1 tb hard drive can be had for under $800. If you want a big monitor just use the HDMI port and use the laptop. That's what I do. I do my own printing, but if I want a large(16X24)print I use a commercial print service

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

This. Note the Manhattan on the right: Critical Equipment

(Download)

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Nice Glass! Definitely an aid to interpretation!

MW

Apart from equipment, ambient light in your workspace cools be a big issue. If there is a window, figure out a way to totally block external light. Nothing wrong with daylight except that it changes. I find inconsistent ambient lighting to be s big pain in the u-no-what.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Make a monitor hood from black foam board ... sides support the top and all is attached with Velcro.... best to reinforce the attachment edge with small wood... like from ACE or Walmart hobby/craft area... otherwise removing would bend at the Velcro areas. Soot black... do not fall for the fool who would argue 18% gray!!! Sorry, not fool, just ignorant and ill informed and flunked 8th grade science like the new EPA head [or is he, Scott Pruitt, not the head, but the EPA ass... breath fresh air while you can; that will change] !
http://www.diyphotography.net/the-5-minutes-5-dollars-monitor-hood/