K.Cole

I am about to embark on a business using some of my photography work as part of another product. I'm looking for a printer that will do up to 8 x 10 (maybe larger) and will deliver good quality prints in both glossy and matte finishes but won't break the bank.

OR

advise me on the best places to get prints made at reasonable prices if you think that will be more cost efficient considering the cost of printer, paper, ink/toner.

In the beginning, my products will use primarily sunrise and sunset pictures I have taken, but may evolve into other subjects. I am attaching just a few of the early considerations for the launch.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

I use a canon pro 100 and buy paper from Red River Paper. I do not print enough to send my printing out, but you may want to look into that and consider the cost of paper and ink before buying. A lot of pro photographers outsource to save money and time, when you buy a printer it will need to be maintained, ink refilled, and the whole system replaced periodically.

sealeah

I have the canon pro 10. it prints 13 x 19 prints and does a great job. it also cost (when on sale) about 150.00 us dollars. it looks like you live in Texas and Walgreen was rated number one. I have had some good and bad outcome when I have had prints done by Walgreen. the great part is you can have them redo them. good luck

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Yes, I had the Canon Pixma Pro-100 too. Very fine printer. You can buy them from B&H for $369 and after mailin rebate it's final cost is $119. Ink is cheap if you buy it from eBay and it will print up to 19x13 prints.

Or, for about $8.50 per print you can have them printed at Costco (depending on the size).

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I'm looking at this from a business standpoint and based on that I'd suggest you start by having prints done. I've found that a few Walgreen's have wide printers and the costs are not bad. I had to go about 10 miles to get to one that had the wider printer. There are internet companies also.
Once you see if there is a market for your work, and get an idea of the market price, you can determine what you can spend for equipment.
You really don't want to burden your new business with big expenditures.

K.Cole

great feedback so far, thanks everyone! keep it coming.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Canon Pro-100 absolutely, and try Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper or Hahnemuhle Fine Art Glossy

alolewis

I found that I do not print enough to justify an inkjet printer. Price of ink can be very high. I usually send my photos to Bay Photo to be printed. If I upload on the weekend I typically get them in the mail on Tuesday but then we are less than 50 miles from Bay Photo's lab.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

During a tornado last year a house was blown away, but the Canon Pro printer did not move, it's weight insured it would require a fork truck during clean up. Yes, I have one of these 43.2 pound monsters; a give away with the rebates, $100 final price including free, $50 worth of paper ! ! How could one resist? ! Most used by me is my Canon TS9020 8x10 with low-cost cart replacements. My wall has room for many 8x10s, but big prints eat space and require the proper viewing distance. And those lighting bulbs? What temperature degrees K? How much natural light... OUCH complicated... too complicated and often beyond the eye/brain's ability to differentiate.

rgrenaderphoto suggests Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper or Hahnemuhle Fine Art Glossy both excellent papers I am sure. The most important thing when you have a good printer is the choice of the paper. To look at the monitor screen and judge which paper to use is an art in itself. Redriver Paper sells a sample pack that is where I found and fell in love with the Metallic Pearl luster.

Once you settle on a printer to fit your purse [ink is the cost], and size for display on your brag wall, then I suggest you make a stripped composite photo of a wide range of photos, you beautiful red sky, another of a darker scene, etc... thus you can print on the sample sheet and see what paper works best for what type of photo.

To be practical use a printing service. Walgreens near me has an excellent machine, good price, and the woman who manages that department is a retired photo pro. There are a lot of depends and iffins in your photo world. Most important is to enjoy your photography and look at your wall and admire and critique your photos for growth.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Canon Pro 100.

Kuzano

Time is money. What hourly rate do you charge yourself for configuring your in house printing, plus maintenance time, constantly calibrating your system, and running for supplies. These are all costs absorbed by out sourcing printing, once you and your printer are on the same page.

Some have said, you cannot do it for less expense in house. I agree with that logic once the system is in chosen. Out sourcing is less expensive and more efficient. Do you want to be the photographer, or the printer?

Shutterbug57

I got my Canon Pro 10 for $100 after rebates. Ink is $145 for the full set, but Canon throws in a pack of 13x19 paper for free. If you buy 3 cartridges (yes some go faster than others), Canon throws in a pack of 8.5x11 paper.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I got an email from Consumer Reports about my renewal and a report on photo printing services. In order, with scores: Walgreens 98, Adoramapix 97, Walmart 91, Amazon 88, CVS 88, Shutterfly 81, Snapfish 81, Costco 71, Nations Photo Lab 68, Mpix 54.

jtwind

Learning to print is part of the program in my mind. I bought a Canon Pro 100 off craiglist for $150, new in the box with the pack of 13x 19 paper they usually come with. The pop up all the time. I've seen promotions where they cost $100 or less after rebates! Great printer very happy with it, stick to factory ink, I tried others and it was a serious fail, though I've heard folks have had good luck with the precision ink refill set ups that's looks like a big effort. Experiment with papers it makes a big difference. Have fun!

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

I am also in the Canon pro 100 camp. It also makes great B+W prints.