Top quality home printing?

humberklog

Can you achieve gallery standard printing from home?

When I Google for info on top quality home printing I get a lot of pages that I'm unsure of their independence of review. Even magazines seem to only recommend printers from companies that advertise on their sites.

I'd like something reasonably compact as I live in an apartment.
I'd like to be able to print up to A3 on a number of different papers such as Hahnemuhle or St. Cuthbert Mill etc.
I'd like to print at home to the highest possible standard, but what standard can be achieved at home?

If cost wasn't an issue what would people here recommend?

Or is top quality really only achievable by going to professional printer?

Adrian.Sadlier

I do all my own printing. I use an Epson 3880 (A2+ size) printer with genuine Epson inks.

I'm happy with the results, on a wide variety of papers. As long as I use the correct printer/ink/paper profiles I get consistent results. It's only my choice of paper that lets me down.

You definitely need to have your screen calibrated before trying this

EyeBlinks

Absolutely can.

Like yourself I have limited space but that's the only restriction. Only need for a "professional" is to exceed the size limit of the printer or to print on weird surfaces if that was needed.

Balfey1972

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

I do all my own printing. I use an Epson 3880 (A2+ size) printer with genuine Epson inks.

I'm happy with the results, on a wide variety of papers. As long as I use the correct printer/ink/paper profiles I get consistent results. It's only my choice of paper that lets me down.

You definitely need to have your screen calibrated before trying this

Same as Adrian. Great printer and results. I use alot of the Canson paper with great results.

humberklog

EyeBlinks wrote: »

Absolutely can.

Like yourself I have limited space but that's the only restriction. Only need for a "professional" is to exceed the size limit of the printer or to print on weird surfaces if that was needed.

What do you use yourself Tommy?

I get what you say re size and material, it was what i was hoping to hear.

I was looking at some Amelia Stein print on some sort of beautiful paper (I shoulda asked) and I need to achieve that level of quality for something coming up but I want to do it myself.

I don't like my pics being printed big and kinda have a proper size in mind for some pics. I figured that I'd rather experiment and perfect it from the comfort of home.

EyeBlinks

I use an Epson r3000, so only prints to a3+.

Most paper producers sell sample packs with different papers, so it's easy to get a feel for what might work with an image.

RoryW

+1 for the Epson 3880
Great printer

Now to print out the photos.....

stcstc

both canon and epson make great printers at A3+ size that can produce stunning prints

they use the same inks as the big brothers printers for example the epson use the same as the printers that produce 44 inch wide prints etc


some of the best prints you will see are not about the printers but the person driving them and their understanding of getting the best from the printer and paper combination

some of the issues you might have though are:

for some of the more esoteric papers you might not be able to get a profile from the mill, as they concentrate of the bigger printers, and so may have to create your own profiles, which means another bit of kit and understanding

the cost per print on the smaller printers is higher as the cost per ML of ink is higher


BUT


the magic of being able to see your images appear out of the printer in stunning quality is worth the greif to get there!!!!

ValueInIreland

If you have the funds the Epson 3880 is great, but is a bit bigger than the A3+ machines. The upside is that it uses large 80ml cartridges, so the running cost is low. If you are likely to print a lot, it will save €€ in the long run. The new Epson P-600 (A3+) will produce as good or better quality, is cheaper to buy @ €750.

jonathan mark

i bought canon pixma pro10 very pleased. you can replace the head and has many injets so if one blocks another takes over!!!

humberklog

I was considering the Canon ip8750. Has anyone any experience of that printer? It's the right size for my apartment and looks nice.

Whammy!

humberklog wrote: »

I was considering the Canon ip8750. Has anyone any experience of that printer? It's the right size for my apartment and looks nice.

I have both the Canon Pro-1 (A3+) & the Canon iP7250 (A4)

The Pro-1 is an amazing printer.
But the iP7250 can also get gallery quality results.
Both prints compared side by side will show up differences with the Pro-1 being obviously better.
But with that being said the prints from the iP7250 are still really good. When you view them at the typical viewing distance they look great.

Here is an example of a digital photo and its print.
Colors may be different but when you take a photo of a photo things may not be the same.

Original photo


Print from Canon iP7250 with Canon Pro Luster paper