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10/08/2008 08:45:18 PM · #1 |
How much would you say it costs for you to make each print for clients, including paper and ink:
4x6?
5x7?
10x12?
etc
Message edited by author 2008-10-08 20:46:40. |
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10/08/2008 08:51:11 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by peterish:
How much would you say it costs for you to make each print for clients, including paper and ink:
4x6?
5x7?
10x12?
etc |
I do my own 8x10ish prints out of an HP 3210 at about $0.85 per by buying the paper 100-200 at a time, ink at Staple's where I get a rebate, and enough quantity that it comes out to that amount.
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10/08/2008 08:54:28 PM · #3 |
Don't forget to allow for your time - time to print, calibrate, run to staples for ink, wear and tear on equipment, etc.
I find it's much easier to use a lab and they offer a lot more product options.
Large prints (17 or 24") are often cheaper to do yourself - IF you do enough volume to justify the cost of the printer!
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10/08/2008 09:14:09 PM · #4 |
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10/08/2008 10:08:54 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Don't forget to allow for your time - time to print, calibrate, run to staples for ink, wear and tear on equipment, etc.
I find it's much easier to use a lab and they offer a lot more product options. |
So far I've been pretty lucky in that respect. I bought this printer about four years ago, and I've run something like about 2500 prints through it and nary a problem. Once in a great while it'll pitch a hissy and spit ink on a print, or just not want to get the color right, but that's maybe one in a hundred or so prints. I buy enough paper, ink, and get bigger prints done that I really rack up the bonus dollars, they give me a $3 refund on the empty HP cartridges I buy for $10....and they're on my way to work, so travel time's not really an issue.
(Of course, now that I've said this, my printer'll take a sh*t, and Staples'll burn to the ground. LOL!!!)
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Large prints (17 or 24") are often cheaper to do yourself - IF you do enough volume to justify the cost of the printer! |
I've seen a decent sized HP for about $500...... a friend has one and I'm keeping an eye on it for reliability.
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10/09/2008 08:04:22 AM · #6 |
I'm still nervous about inkjet prints though. I had several bad experiences with inkjet printers in the past (admittedly cheap models, but name brands). Canon printers have been good though.
I've had inkjet prints lose their ink if they get any water on them - like a drop of water - people spit when they talk, set prints on wet tables by accident, etc. I don't they they all do this, but I know of a couple that did.
Color fastness over time is a concern. Most album companies won't take inkjet prints so a)it's an issue for me as a wedding photographer and b)makes me wonder why.
I have some banners printed on fabric by an epson and they've been fine in all respects for a couple of years now. I have a 24x36 from staples, an HP print, that also seems just fine (but it has a saran wrap cover or somethting like it). The big canvas companies do inkjet and they don't see to be having issues as far as I know.
But then I use a lot of 'press products' from labs which is realy a high tech color laser, sealed with heat like any laser's fuser. I've only had one problem, and it even baffled my lab. A proof book left in a car (140 degrees?) had the toner all melt together sticking the pages together. But I don't hesitate to sell a lot of these type of products, but then, except for coffee table wedding albums most are not meant for long term keepsakes (as in grad cards, save the dates, proof books, etc)
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