burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Some here have mentioned that they can't see much difference when using different papers. "...if you can't see it, what's the point?"

The point is that others CAN see it. If you're going for an art print, or the best you can get, it matters.

I have to point out that your personal color vision is probably responsible for your ability or inability to discern differences in reproduction quality! If you've never taken a Munsell Color Test to determine your ability to discern a full spectrum of colors, you may not even know how good or bad your vision is, relative to others'.

Better photo labs test the vision of all employees who adjust color and brightness and contrast in images. Only those with perfect or near perfect color vision are allowed to make such adjustments.

Almost any paper with a coating designed for inkjet printing can be made to work in an inkjet printer, provided it is printed with an appropriate profile. That said, the printer, the paper, and the ink are designed and engineered and manufactured as a system. If you get less-than-satisfying results, ask yourself, "Am I using the entire system, and am I using it as recommended?"

If the answer is YES, your prints should be as good as their image files would allow.

PapaMike Loc: Riverside, California

I too am 70 and do a lot of printing in 8.5 x 11" format that I give to people I shoot (high school athletes, kids and parents at church, etc.). I am now printing with the new Epson ET 4500 with the attached ink tanks on the side because I print so much.

In this printer I am using Costco's Premium Glossy Photo paper that costs about $20 for 150 sheets. This is a high gloss, very substantial paper The prints are very good and at $.13 per print - very affordable. (I also must say that my two year old Epson Workhorse 845 did a bad job with the exact same paper - perhaps I never had the settings correct. My old printer didn't do any better with Epson paper either.) I have also used this Costco premium paper successfully in Canon and HP inkjet printers. I have nothing against Epson's premium photo paper - I just didn't like the higher price for the same quality.

I have heard that the Epson ink may begin to fade after a few years. Since I probably only have a few more years left on this planet - I'm letting someone else worry about how long they last (these pictures are going on someone's bedroom wall - not in the Smithsonian).

RON 11 Loc: Pittsburgh

I print with Canon Pro 9500 and am partial to Ilford Pearl and fFibre Gold. But I do have the ICC profiles for them. Do not care for Canon paper. Have had exceptional luck with Ilford. Just sayin

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

:thumbup: I don't have Costco near by but I'm not spending top dollar to give it away, if someone wants better then it's there burden. I use the continuous Ink System to cheapen it even more. I do have some better paper that I keep hidden from the wife. I must print 3 to 10 prints a day (4X6) just to review and friends. I sometimes feel like Wally world.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

There really is a big difference in all the papers ( like day & night), but I doubt that you would see much of that with the printer of yours.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Recently I had two HP photo papers, one was premium. I printed the same image on both and was surprised at how much better the HP Premium paper rendered the print.

I also was at a photo expo recently and talked with reps from Moab, Hahnemuhle and Canson. They had display binders showing images on many different papers and there is a world of differences.

A good pro photo store will have similar displays and sell sample packages of papers that are reasonably priced.

hank6595 Loc: Amesbury, MA

I have an Epson Artisan 835 printer and use only Premium Glass paper and have been satisfied with it for a number of years. At 75, I don't concern myself with how long they will last. Some have graced my walls for sometime and that is good by me.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

:thumbup: Your manufacturer's ink is specifically formulated for THEIR paper to get the best results (which also resist age fading and UV better than any other combination). Yes, some people enjoy digging around experimenting with various papers to find one equivalent to the factory brand and save a little per package, although they ended up wasting a bunch of packages to find it and actually lost money on the deal - but the easy and simple way is to use Epson ink and Epson paper for your Epson printer to get the best results. "Everyday" paper is not meant for high quality photos. Premium glossy paper is.

Personally I don't print anymore and my wide carriage 6-cartridge Epson is boxed up in the garage. Since I rarely print and all my photos, whether for personal or work, go online, I just have Costco print for me when I need it and the cost is typically less than the materials to do my own and I don't have dried out cartridges to contend with.

hank6595 Loc: Amesbury, MA

I have an Epson Artisian 835 and I use Epsom premium glossy for prints for myself. If I take photos at an event, as I did on Saturday, and the
people ask for prints, I simply give them a CD or DVD and tell them to take it to the local store and make the prints. I have ten albums of prints for the family and most of the albums hold close to 500 photos. I enjoy taking pictures.

tHANKs

:) :)