bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

Looking for recommendations for a printer to print pictures (up to 8x10 or maybe 11x14) from my computer. I have an older Epson XP-310 that I can't seem to get the colors right.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

What have you done so far to help the 310 printer - calibrated your monitor? Use the printer/paper ICC profiles?

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The Epson XP-310 is NOT a photo printer. It is an "all in one" office printer/scanner.

Photo printers use 6 or more colors. The XP-310 is only 4 colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). It will never give very satisfactory photo prints.

Below is a link to the inkjet photo printers currently being offered by B&H Photo. I used their website only because they carry pretty much everything. You are free to buy wherever you like.

B&H shows a total of thirteen inkjet photo printers in 8.5", 13" and 17" widths. You will need the 13" if you want to make 11x14" prints. If you want another all-in-one style printer, there are only two that are able to offer true photo quality and they cannot print 11x14". (Note: There are also even larger photo quality inkjet printers. Those aren't included at the link below.)

There are two different types of inks used in these printers... dye-based and pigment. Pigment inks are the most permanent type, with the longest life expectancy (over 200 years). Dye inks used to be pretty short lived, but today's formulations are a lot better (usually 100 years +).

With any of these printers you should look into the cost of supplies. Inks ain't cheap! Quality paper isn't cheap, either!

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/Inkjet-Printers/ci/1109/N/3752166111?filters=fct_ink-cartridge-configuration_4583%3A10-cartridges%7C12-cartridges%7C6-cartridges%7C8-cartridges%2Cfct_price%3A0..1500

bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

Thanks for the information. Ink cost was my main concern. I have a good photo lab with reasonable prices that I use and may just continue using them instead of printing at home.

bobburk3 Loc: Maryland

Nothing since I don't know how.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I used to use HP printers, but got tired of them failing. Now I use Canon printers (both standard and extra large size) and am very happy with the results I get printing pictures. It is cheaper to have pictures printed, but sometimes I want it NOW without having to either wait or drive somewhere.

Teacher22 Loc: Texas

I’ve used the Canon
Pro100 for a number of years but it finally gave up and now using the
Pro200 and pleased so far. Both can print up to 13x19 very well. I think ink is going to be costly no matter the brand unless you fill your own.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

I gave up on inkjet printers about five years ago; always had plugged print heads. I opted for a large dye-sub printer and find it a wonderful upgrade!

bwa

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Which lab do you use?

MJPerini

If you only want an occasional print, and you have a lab that you like, you should stick with them.
Any other route requires you to spend money on a printer, and the ongoing expense of ink and paper.
Printers also work best when they are used regularly, and getting good prints has a learning curve which can consume time and materials.
I do not say any of that to discourage you from printing, but merely to help you decide if it is something you really want to do.
Personally I am an avid printer of my own work and very much enjoy the ability to do so and look at it as the completion of the process, just like I did with Film. For me, ' it is not really a picture unless it is a print '.
I fully realize I am part of an ever shrinking minority who hold that view.

I say that, to say this, there are lots of ways to enjoy photography, and no 'right' way. If you are happy with an occasional Lab print, that is probably the best way to go, because while Printing can be very satisfying, producing better prints than you get from your lab is neither quick, easy or inexpensive.
I hope this helps

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Whether using a lab or printing your own at home, getting correct color and density in a print requires:

Monitor calibration (linearizing the monitor output so it makes gray at all brightness levels between red 0, blue 0, and green 0, and red 255 blue 255, and green 255 (on an 8-bit scale).

Monitor profiling (creating a lookup table for your CALIBRATED monitor that matches its color output to an international standard.

Both the above are accomplished with a kit from Datacolor or Calibrite. The kit includes a "puck" (colorimeter or spectrophotometer) that connects to your computer, and software that guides the calibration routine and performs the profiling.

The result is a known-accurate monitor that allows you to adjust your images in software and know that your lab or printer will produce an image that looks very close to what you see on the monitor.

My recommendation is that unless you are willing to buy and use a calibration kit on a monthly basis, that you not adjust images and that you not print your own work at home.

Printing great color requires using either the manufacturer's own photo papers and inks, or using third party photo papers with ICC profiles that you download and install in your operating system. Printer manufacturers supply generic ICC profiles with their printers for each of their own papers, and usually install them along with the printer driver software. Red River, Hahnemühle, Moab, Magic, and other third party paper vendors have downloadable profiles on their web sites for most popular PHOTO printers. They also supply instructions for installing and using those. Remember, you need a different profile for every combination of printer model, ink set, and paper surface you intend to use!

Better labs (commercial color labs) will supply you with profiles for their printers, so you can make final adjustments to images while doing "soft proofing". Soft proofing applies the lab or printer/paper/ink combination profile along with your monitor profile so you see the closest simulation of color in your files.

If I were going to print very often at home, I'd probably get an Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 ($800), which uses six dye inks sold in pretty good-sized bottles. The Canon Pixma Pro 200 ($600) is another good choice, but it uses dinky little cartridges that tend to be very expensive.

edmixon Loc: Orange County CA

Canon pro 1000.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

Printing from home is not really to save money for the average person. I highlight AVERAGE. It is for convenience and speed of attaining the print. If you want to print from home you will need some other equipment also. Look at JTOOLMAN videos on Utube to get an idea of what you are getting into.

11bravo

For myself, I gave up inkjet printers long ago. For my needs, laser B&W sufficient. The problem with inkjets is unless you print frequently, the heads get clogged or the ink dries up. I'd ask is the cost for occasional photo printing worth it compared to using a commercial shop? Only you can decide. And for accurate results, calibrating your monitor (cost of hardware to calibrate) also a consideration.

Harry13

I started printing photos with Epson, then switched to a Canon Pro 100 (not a Pix) and have been really pleased with it. I've never calibrated anything but color is great and also accurate if memory serves. Harry