Printing myself or using a service with non standard print sizes?

mipevo6 · 4 Oct 2015

Folks,

Our HP B9180 A3+ printer has finally given up the ghost.

Printing at home is expensive but gives lots of flexibility and instant results to be able to tweak your final image which we have really appreciated.

We are used to being able to print any size we want without having to worry about print ratios etc..

The question:-

Does anybody allow non standard print sizes so we don't have to mess about extending canvas sizes etc.. ?

Or

Do we just buy a decent A3 / A3+ printer? (struggling to find one that reviews well and gets rated as relatively trouble free)

Not a very clear question i know sorry....

Thoughts?

asaspasas6 · 5 Oct 2015

if you won't need bigger than A3+ you can have a look at Epson P600 maybe?

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-...igpixfcaw3devyux8qwrubz_9qyduv1v00hocsndw_wcb

not sure about online printers (don't like the idea as i want to see it straight away if colour/exposure right on prints and dont like waiting till it will be delivered)

pretty sure many people use online printing so somebody will give some advice on it

asaspasas6 · 5 Oct 2015

all depends on budget and volume of prints you planning to do

maybe it's just better to get epson 4900 pro (second hand, currently saw one on ebay for around £900 and pretty sure you could negotiate the price)

mipevo6 · 11 Oct 2015

asaspasas6 said:
all depends on budget and volume of prints you planning to do

maybe it's just better to get epson 4900 pro (second hand, currently saw one on ebay for around £900 and pretty sure you could negotiate the price)

hey, thanks for the replies....

I bought A Canon Pro 1 in the end....

chadpowell · 12 Oct 2015

mipevo6 said:
hey, thanks for the replies....

I bought A Canon Pro 1 in the end....

Awesome! I'm in the market for a Pro 1 too but am totally new to printing my own images, I'd love to know what you think of it? Inks are pricey but have 3x the typical amount in an A3+ printer. I've found a full set for £200 online (RRP £350)

mipevo6 · 12 Oct 2015

chadpowell said:
Awesome! I'm in the market for a Pro 1 too but am totally new to printing my own images, I'd love to know what you think of it? Inks are pricey but have 3x the typical amount in an A3+ printer. I've found a full set for £200 online (RRP £350)

I had a HP B9180 that did well until it "died" after 5 years of usage.

I print for competition with my local camera club and the Chiltern Association of Camera Clubs (CACC). I am also a certified judge for the CACC.

I plugged the printer in, set it up and just printed my first 6 images without calibrating it.

It was smooth quick and the print output is excellent for both colour and B&W and I don't think I will bother calibrating.

I would certainly be very happy as a judge with the quality of the printing

Amazon sell the inks for about 200 so its not too horrendous

It is however huge and needs a big space around it in the front and back.

Martin

chadpowell · 20 Oct 2015

mipevo6 said:
I had a HP B9180 that did well until it "died" after 5 years of usage.

I print for competition with my local camera club and the Chiltern Association of Camera Clubs (CACC). I am also a certified judge for the CACC.

I plugged the printer in, set it up and just printed my first 6 images without calibrating it.

It was smooth quick and the print output is excellent for both colour and B&W and I don't think I will bother calibrating.

I would certainly be very happy as a judge with the quality of the printing

Amazon sell the inks for about 200 so its not too horrendous

It is however huge and needs a big space around it in the front and back.

Martin

Thanks for this

I originally planned to have it in my cupboard with limited spare room, why would you suggest room in the back? For manual feeding?
Kind regards,
Chad

mipevo6 · 20 Oct 2015

chadpowell said:
Thanks for this I originally planned to have it in my cupboard with limited spare room, why would you suggest room in the back? For manual feeding?
Kind regards,
Chad

The paper is fed in from the top and the feed tray leans out the back by about 8-10" and the paper tray sticks out the front another 8-10" so it gets pretty big

Martin

chadpowell · 20 Oct 2015

mipevo6 said:
The paper is fed in from the top and the feed tray leans out the back by about 8-10" and the paper tray sticks out the front another 8-10" so it gets pretty big

Martin

Oh really? Would you say it's possible to feed it with a roll of paper using the manual feed and a make shift roller fixed to a wall for example?

mipevo6 · 21 Oct 2015

chadpowell said:
Oh really? Would you say it's possible to feed it with a roll of paper using the manual feed and a make shift roller fixed to a wall for example?

Possibly....

Alignment would be key of course

The manual tray opens about 2" and is at about a 45 degree angle to the back when open