What's required to print on location?

Hey all,

Not the most informed in the world when it comes to printing (as I always just get my stuff done in the same place) but I may have an upcoming event where printing on the spot could prove financially beneficial (or at least cover the costs of the printing equipment, with a bit of luck).


Event will be a one-off and if I'm lucky I may get about 40-50 prints sold (if I can offer to do it on the spot).


However, after a little Googling around it seems that there's no end to the amount of printers that can do the job, and no threads I find seem to discuss paper or ink.

So I thought I'd turn to ye fellow Boardsies.


I know there are a few on here who do on-location printing (I believe Borderfox and Oshead do it?) so I figure there may be some coherent knowledge on here amidst the members.

Pretty much, as far as I was aware, to print on location you need;

1 - Printer
2 - Power supply (I assume all printers need to be plugged in? Are there any that run on batteries or have power packs or such? The event will be outdoors...)
3 - Paper (I believe this is usually bought in the size you wish to print to? I'd be looking to print 8x12 as I reckon 8x10 could be more hassle with the cropping required before printing)
4 - Ink (I imagine these brand-compatible and a Canon ink won't work in a HP Printer, etc?)


Would anyone have any idea where to even start looking to purchase this stuff? Is there anything I'm forgetting or leaving out?


Some forum seen a recommendation of an Epson R1900 appear. Amazon reviews are favourable also, but it's out of stock (and no price guideline either).

As this is a one-off event, I'd obviously like to try and keep costs down, though not to the extent where it sacrifices print quality.


Anyone any ideas?

Cheers

Prenderb

Deleted User wrote: »

Hey all,

Some forum seen a recommendation of an Epson R1900 appear. Amazon reviews are favourable also, but it's out of stock (and no price guideline either)

I've no experience with this printer, or this idea of on-site printing, but I'd be wary of a printer that has 8 colour cartridges - maybe I'm wrong (frequent enough!) but you could find yourself swapping those very regularly. That really is only 2c compared to the question you've asked...!

stcstc

i would suggest a dye sub printer

its the pro way to do events

cost per print isnt bad, and speed of printing is very very good

i know a couple of photographers have hired them for events etc

but you need power, and a laptop or something

although there are some with memory card readers, but you wanna have some control i would suggest the laptop is a better idea

Well what's a dye sub printer? You mention them being hired, which doesn't instill confidence in me (they must cost a fortune?).

I'd be using a laptop, yeah.

PCPhoto

to print on site ... dye-sub printer (either 9x6 or 10x8 are the main ones), either one which can print direct from memory card or hooked up to a computer.

method of getting images from camera to printer (tethering by cable/wi-fi or transfer memory card to computer or printer to print direct)

Some form of advertising - how will people know you are providing prints unless they are informed (it can be as simple as the organisers telling people in advance that photographs can be purchased on the night or someone handing out flyers/cards telling people where to purchase/view the images online*)

* = its been mentioned before on boards that the online/aftersales section is very little compared to onsite sales where you have the impulse purchases.

someone to perform the actual sales is a good thing - while you are taking photos you can me making money.

In Summary
It can be done as simple or as complicated as you want - from one person turning up, taking photos and telling people you will have the prints available at the end of the night or during the night and running off and getting everything printed returning with images in paper frames/plastic sheets and hope for sales.


Dye-Sub printers print images fast - you can do a 10x8 in 30seconds - these printers are expensive and you also need media* (the printers operate by using a roll of printing paper so the images are ready to use pretty much straight after being printed)

there is a 3month old dye-sub printer on Photography Ireland for €1200 (original price was €1800 according to seller) or if you want to rent one I know someone who has one - I think I know 2 people.

PCPhoto

PCPhoto wrote: »

to print on site ... dye-sub printer (either 9x6 or 10x8 are the main ones), either one which can print direct from memory card or hooked up to a computer.

method of getting images from camera to printer (tethering by cable/wi-fi or transfer memory card to computer or printer to print direct)

Some form of advertising - how will people know you are providing prints unless they are informed (it can be as simple as the organisers telling people in advance that photographs can be purchased on the night or someone handing out flyers/cards telling people where to purchase/view the images online*)

* = its been mentioned before on boards that the online/aftersales section is very little compared to onsite sales where you have the impulse purchases.

someone to perform the actual sales is a good thing - while you are taking photos you can me making money.

In Summary
It can be done as simple or as complicated as you want - from one person turning up, taking photos and telling people you will have the prints available at the end of the night or during the night and running off and getting everything printed returning with images in paper frames/plastic sheets and hope for sales.


Dye-Sub printers print images fast - you can do a 10x8 in 30seconds - these printers are expensive and you also need media* (the printers operate by using a roll of printing paper so the images are ready to use pretty much straight after being printed)

there is a 3month old dye-sub printer on Photography Ireland for €1200 (original price was €1800 according to seller) or if you want to rent one I know someone who has one - I think I know 2 people.

€1,200 is a bit more than I'd like to be investing in this! Slower printing times aren't that big an issue for me (so long as you're not waiting 10 minutes for an 8x10 it doesn't seem too bad).

All the other stuff (having someone to sell, letting people know about the prints, etc.) will sort itself out, it's just the actual printing I'm confused on.

I'd plan to tether to a laptop and print from the laptop (so people can have a decent-size preview of the photos before they order).


It's just the actual printer, paper and ink that'd confuse me. I wouldn't be against hiring if they also gave you X amount of paper and ink to cover so many photos (that is; for €xxx you get the printer and enough paper/ink to make approximately 100 8x10 prints).

kelly1

I'd drop oshead a PM. He does this all the time.

PCPhoto

well... renting one from a photographer you will more than likely get some media (roll of paper) with it.

if not, you can buy media or order media for the printer you rent/borrow and give or sell the remaining media to the person who you rent from.

with dye-sub printers the media is extremely specific - if the roll says you will get 100 9x6 images ... then you will get exactly 100 no more no less, so ensure you have extra media - nothing worse than offering prints and running out of "paper"

Ah, things always have to get complicated, don't they.

It'll be a while before the event, but looking at it I may probably be better off just offering prints afterwards insteadm rather than offering them at the event.

Borderfox

If you sell at the event you will most likely sell 4-5% and when it is only online then this drops by a huge amount less than 1%

Hiring the dye-sub is the best option and an additional operator to run the printing section with suitable software to show pictures, also an external screen keeps the punters from being the same side as you.

If your going to sell 40-50 pictures then the dye-sub will pay for itself very quickly

Will it though? Where does a person go to hire one out? And what do you generally pay?

I want to keep prices low to make things affordable (but also make a few Euro for myself, of course). Hiring a printer, paper, ink, etc. all seems like it'd be cheaper to print and post at a later date?

Ballyman

You've already been told by three people and I'll tell you again as well.
Get yourself a dye sub because you will not make a bean if you are relying on web sales.
You can try and do it with an inkjet printer but they take too long to print and people will not hang around and wait if they have to queue.
And forget about low prices, that's the wrong outlook to have on it. Charge the going rate for a print on the night and printer will pay for itself in no time.
The easiest solution for you is to ask for help from someone who does this all the time. Pay them to help you out on the night as they have all the gear and you can see how it's all done. All you have to do is take pics.

Ballyman

Just another thing as well - you've only asked about a printer so I presume you have a set of lights, laptop, hilite/background, tethering cable/eyefi? etc etc!! There is a lot more to think about for onsite printing.

Ballyman

Ballyman wrote: »

Just another thing as well - you've only asked about a printer so I presume you have a set of lights, laptop, hilite/background, tethering cable/eyefi? etc etc!! There is a lot more to think about for onsite printing.

Yeah, I already have all that equipment. It's just the printer itself that's throwing me.


I don't sell on my website, for any event, really. In my experience with those who do, it's rarely worth the hassle. What I've heard is a good approach is to, say you're doing a debs, for example, take the photos and charge the people, and then deliver the photographs to the school/college/etc after the event (or post them to the persons home, but this again obviously drives the price up).

I'm aware too, that people will likely buy more if they can have the product instantly. Generally speaking, people are impatient, so it makes sense. It's just the additional hassle.

Printing on-the-spot has it's ups and downs, but just trying to get my head around it first, before deciding when/if it can be beneficial (and the lack of being able to find even rough costs (I've done a bit of googling) makes me not want to bother with the additional hassle it'll bring with it).


If anyone on here rents that kinda stuff out and wants to PM me a price/s I'd be happy to look at them, all the same.

Ballyman

Event photography cannot be done correctly on your own.

Best of luck.

The Snipe

Selling on site is important, because you can sell on impulse. And as you mentioned debs and the likes, I personally prefer doing it for those too, as when alcohol is involved, they are more likely to buy, and let go of their money. I know it might sound exploiting, but its true.

hoganpoly

Maybe an idea OP ,do ask someone who does event photography if you can assist or observe ,also lastolite.com have a good insight tutorial on the subject...