ET 8550 greeting cards - using different types of card and how they affect quality
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- Опубликовано: 6 авг 2021
- Following on from Keith's detailed review of the Epson ET-8550 Ecotank A3+/13" printer, he looks at more aspects of creating your own greeting cards, including borderless prints at unsupported borderless print sizes.
This video follows on from a look at scanning artwork and using the image for printing cards: • Epson ET-8550 scanning...
The profiles for the papers tried in this video are available on direct request at the Northlight images website for experimentation.
All profiles and additional information about using the printer are covered in the main written ET-8550 review:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/ep...
The cards tested were from Keith's local (Leicester UK) supplier at
www.paperspectrum.co.uk/blank...
Pinnacle Semi Gloss 300
Pinnacle Photo Gloss 240
Pinnacle Double sided Matte 300
Pinnacle Etching 310
Similar cards should be available from specialist photo paper suppliers in other locations.
The main thing to remember is:
Cheap non-inkjet media = awful prints ;-)
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Thanks so much for your hard work, Keith. I am so grateful to have found your channel, and offer this small token of appreciation. Your insights and advice are invaluable.
Thanks - that's really appreciated.
Let me know if you've any specific questions...
Can't believe I stumbled upon these videos just now. I was discussing of buying this printer with my sister with the plan of starting to print our designs as greeting cards so this video gave a good insight into the process. Thanks!
Excellent - glad they are of help!
I'd suggest looking at the cards info for other printers I've reviewed as well, since I don't always duplicate content for every printer
I got my ET-8550 tonight and I am thrilled!! My hubby asked.. can I print ordinary office stuff on this one? Yes you can. And he got a big smile on his face.
Then I showed my daughter all the templates she could print and also scan and play with all her creative projects. She was jumping up and down in exitement.
Then I installed it and tried it. And I felt some kind of freedom. With my pro printer there is expensive paper and ink. of course the feeling when you hold such print in your hands is incredible. But with this printer I just wanted to play and have fun. And I need that. I played and I printed without any thoughts about the cost of using it. I immediately saw that this motive was too big and so on. Like learning by playing. And just having fun. I have failed so many times in what looks great on the screen in procreate and it simply does not work on print. Some painting techniques does not work digitally. Now I will print, play and test.
I only had luster paper in sheets and see there is less choices than the pro printer. But that is expected and I chose semigloss. Ill enjoy the rest of the evening watching your videoes 💕
Thanks - it is a very versatile printer!
@@KeithCooper yes indeed it is 😄 Tanks are big too. Explained the printer to my hubby wich is not techy at all. He wants to press print and not learn anything. So I showed him the app and I saw a little spark in him that he might want to play and be creative too 😁 Thats a new one 🤣
Yes, any 'just press print' process rarely leads to ideal results ;-)
Hope the gentle prodding works!
Lovely, helped me a lot trying to print my first cards - thanks a million!
Glad it helped!
Thank you for your input on the 8550. I bought one for my wife who loves taking pictures.
Glad it's of help
If you've not seen it, do check the main [written] review - it links to all my 8550 articles/videos:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Thank you - extremely helpful advice, much appreciated 😊 Love your videos - you’re clearly very knowledgeable about printing and photography
Thanks - glad it's of interest
I have recently purchased this printer and wanted to print some a6 cards (folded from a5) for which I have the papers. Although A5 isn't supported, it is possible to print a borderless image using an a5 sheet creased for A6 by simply adding a user defined paper with A5 dimensions but in landscape, and feed the paper into the printer long edge first.
Once you have this set up and have worked out the correct orientation for your print, it works perfectly. The printer's restriction is with the paper width, so effectly the printer is treating your custom paper as A4 width so will allow the borderless option to be ticked.
Yes, if I was printing 2 or more of the same card, then I would get the vertically creased A4 and cut it up, but for one offs, this works fine.
That's a good work round for some borderless limitations
Thanks for yet another invaluable clip, Keith. Though I have no desire to print greeting cards one never knows what the future brings and one of the samples you showed (at around 2 minutes) made me think that if I could put an image of my wife's and my faces on the leaves that could be an interesting way to go. There is another user (whose clip I saw prior to yours) who has decried the printer for leaving roller marks on the stock, and somewhat unpleasantly put the blame on the printer. I feel that if you were getting roller marks, you'd have noticed and mentioned it. I also made note of your statement regarding getting good-quality stock: the adage that "quality doesn't cost - it pays!" perhaps seems quite apt here as well as in most things in life.
Thanks
This printer does seem varied in its acceptance of thicker media - I may have been lucky, but the cards I made seemed fine.
If a brand new printer made marks on media within its specification, I'd want a replacement...
Thank you Keith! Very informative 👍😊
Thanks - my observations apply to all of the desktop printers I've looked at in the last year, both Canon and Epson
So glad you’ve done a video on this topic. Want to print out custom birthday cards with a photo ollage :)
Thanks
Hi! I've been trying to print greeting cards borderless through the rear feeder but I've been having a bit of trouble with white edges (they sometimes appear on the last edge that is printed on) and the centre of the card is off slightly. I saw your other video about borderless printing on this printer (and you removed these edges by clicking "Expansion" on Epson Print Layout) but I can't really do this as it would misshape the greeting card. Have you found a resolution for this? Thanks - Emma :)
Make the image oversize and adjust the settings for prints - I'd still use EPL for this [practicing on plain paper and an image with nothing in the centre, to save ink.
However I've not had one of these printers since the review, so I've no new info...
love your videos,
can i ask what paper size you feel is thickest allowed in rear feed vs cassette? i have the et 7750 and it has a hard time with 160lb cover DT in read feed and will always jam in cassette. wondering if this is worth the upgrade as it mentions 1.3mm thickness
Thanks - Unfortunately '160lb cover DT' is not a term used outside the US - but the paper cassette is effectively useless for much beyond plain paper.
All the cards I tried are in the 330-400 gsm range and fed via the top feed.
See the posterboard example for the thicker rear special straight through feed
Best place to start is the main [written] review at
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Thank you Keith!
Glad it was of interest!
Thanks Keith I love all your videos on RUclips, very helpful, I have finally after looking at your content bought a ET-8550, I print alot of greeting cards, but I cannot get the image to centre on my card, I use a border so it has to be centre properly, I am printing from a mac from illustrator software and it worked good on my older eco tank. I have created the defined size and gone through the printer alligement but still no joy.
Try EPL for printing
i have the same issue since I got my ET-8550 and would be interested in a reply too!
.Epson Print Layout - It what I use in a lot of the reviews
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Have been watching your videos on the ET 8550 and purchased one recently. There are marks that look like roller marks on 260gm gloss paper I put through the rear tray and was wondering is this common? Just trying to work out if common or just my own. Maybe it's a case of trying different paper stock.
Yes - this seems to vary by printer and by media type.
You can see the papers I tried in the main [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Make sure the firmware is up to date as well
Thank you for the very useful videos, please could you tell me if there is a way to print a square (14x14) greeting card borderless on the ET 8550? I've seen the pre-creased 28 x14 cards available on Marrutt but I can not find or work out how to create a template, would I have to use A4 and trim it if I wanted to do borderless, I've not seen 28 x14 as an available paper size to use on my printer software, am I missing something obvious? thank you in advance for any advice.
Custom page size is the way to go, but custom sizes are not supported borderless
See my main [written] 8550 review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
The beauty of ISO paper/envelope sizes. Very little hope for me in the U.S. for ever getting consistent ratios.
Whilst that is so, I'd note that the specs for this printer do include quite a lot of paper sizes in inches, but miss out A5/A6 for borderless.
Hi Keith, I'm trying to figure out how to print on 80lb 12 x 12 cardstock. Would that cardstock go in the rear paper tray or though the back part? I'm really have difficulty with this printer. It's the most complicated thing I've ever used.
Ah - 80lb doesn't mean much outside the US I'm afraid?
The rear straight through feed is for thicker stiff media
See more details in my main [written] review - the printer specs refer to the media thicknesses for different slots (in mm)
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Card printing quality depends a lot on the media coating and media settings
I have the et-8500 and print on 140lb cardstock. Can you use the premium presentation matte paper setting and use the rear paper feed slot? I've tried it on Velvet and it works great but it takes 5min just to print on 8.5x11. I've tried the premium presentation matte setting on 110lb cardstock it prints lighter but it is faster. I like the thicker cardstock but would like the speed. Was wandering if the Epson adjust for thickness of paper manually or is it all software?
Speed/quality - pick one...
Sorry that's it with a consumer printer like this
Thickness has little to do with this, it's about the media settings - the reason VFA is darker is due to the inks used - nothing to adjust I'm afraid. See the main [written] review for far more about this.
Are you sure you can't turn down the quality setting for VFA a bit more? [don't have printer here, so can't check]
Thank you, very helpful video. What would you say is the minimum size in pixels for printing a card at A4 without losing quality? I know at 300dpi it would be 2480 x 3508, but could you get away with a smaller image for a card without losing quality?
It depends entirely on the image...
Modern re-sizing software is so good that many of the old rules of thumb went out of the window.
Anyone who gives you a solid number is wrong IMHO ;-)
300 is a reasonable 'aim point' but more is often better and I've printer big prints at 240 - problem is that card sized prints get viewed from close, so more is better...
Thanks for this video!!!
Glad it was of interest
Keith, I am having continuous problems with the rear paper feed not feeding in straight so there is an annoyingly white line appears at the right hand side of my prints. Does document binding have anything to do with this or do you know what will be causing this?
Is this for cards? (the subject of this video) Have you tried printing with the EPL print software?
Also, have you read the main [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Perhaps you could do a video showing a handful of different types of photos and papers, explaining how they match up. It would be down to your personal preference, but it might give me and other newbies some pointers. Thanks.
See here:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/choosing-the-best-paper-for-your-photo-prints/
It has a video with it, but the real information is in all the linked articles - Video here on YT simply doesn't, for me, have the quality to meaningfully show the subtleties of paper choices.
All my detailed stuff will always appear in the written articles - videos are not a good medium for some things. Give me a pro video studio and kit and better video quality than youtube and I could possibly do some more, but remember that my videos are shot in the corner of my kitchen ;-)
Ah great, thanks for that link.
Hi Keith, thank you so much for all your great videos.
I have a question, and hoping to get your suggestion on it, ET 8550 seems to be something we are looking for, but I really prefer pigment ink. I’m wondering if we can use pigment inks with 8550, or is this a bad idea?
And again thank you for these great videos 😊
You can use third party inks - just say good bye to any warranty and make sure you have good kit to make your own profiles. To not make profiles rather negates any 'potential' benefits of the new inks I'd suggest
Hi Keith, does the ET-2550 print borderless 7X10" cards (for a folded 5X7" card)? Thanks!
No, I don't recall that size being supported
Thanks for the video. Are you printing those cards from the top or the back? 300g will not feed through the top on my 8500.
Works OK on the 8550 I tested... See the examples in the main [written] review and linked articles/videos.
It does vary by printer model...
@@KeithCooper Thanks for your reply. The 8500 which has the same spec other than not being wide format. Jams every time through the top on mine. Oh well.
Thank you. A very helpful video. Just needed this type of information. I've been recently wondering how some people use Epson Print Layout Software? How can you get it? The one that comes along with downloading the Epson driver is different. And now realized that it is a free downloadable software. Have also been wondering how to get size A6 borderless prints. So simple. How come didn't I find it out myself?? Haven't been so aware about the usefulness of the double sided papers either.
Yes, EPL is a free download
epson.com/epson-print-layout
A6/A5 are not supported borderless sizes IIRC
Great video, been looking at this one and its little brother the et8500.
Would you know a good cardstock for playing cards? =)
ha a nice weekend.
Thanks
Card will need laminating - wrong inks for something to be handled
Excellent review! We're running a small greeting cards business in Romania and we're looking for an inkjet printer that is able to feed cardstock paper, at 250-300g. We currently use another ecotank printer but we need to feed the rear feeder manually, one by one, that makes us wanna cry.. can you please help by letting us know if this printer is able to work with at least 5+ cardstock sheets in the rear feeder? Thank you and keep up the good content!
Nope - single feed for most heavier cards. Some thicker papers may work with a few sheets, but unpredictable.
None of the printers I've looked at work reliably with stacked card - sorry...
is the best ICC profile setting to use for Epson archival matte , the L8180 Series matte? i do not see any other options
There are two better quality matt paper media settings - use whatever setting is appropriate for the profile and media.
I cover this more in the actual (written) review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Hi Keith
Thanks for the helpful video as always
Two questions….I use the Epson Smart Panel App for printing but notice that the menu doesn’t look like the appearance of that shown in your video. I’ve got the A4 card which is pre-folded but it just doesn’t seem to give me an option of printing A5 borderless in landscape within the app options 🤔🤷🏼♂️ Maybe yours is for a windows system? I do have a MacBook Pro that I could use if that’s the answer.
Second and easier question is for a supplier of the poster board please ? The company in Leicester don’t seem to stock it.
TIA
Les
Don't know about the 'smart panel app' at all - I use Epson Print Layout [on macs or win] for demoing printing. I normally print directly from Photoshop myself [we only have Macs here]
A5 is not a supported borderless size for the 8550
The posterboard came from Epson
Thanks Keith
I went to Epson site and downloaded Epson Print Layout on my MacBook. Rather frustrating that it keeps coming up with messages saying install printer driver but doesn’t seem to have an option to do so. 🤷🏼♂️. The 8550 is down as the default printer for the MacBook. Thanks for the poster board info.
Best wishes
Les
Are you sure you don't have the airprint driver installed on the Mac? It's useless anyway, but won't work with EPL - see my recent airprint videos for examples
See here
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
That’s a possibility 🤔…I’ll take a look at the video you made. Thanks for your valuable time
Hope you can help.
I am looking to produce my own greeting cards.
I am looking for something glossy on the outside, the current card I have looks washed out, with a different texture on the inside that will enable you to print / handwrite a message.
What do you recommend?
Gloss/semigloss cards I've looked at have a matt inside, but they are single sided.
You can probably print some black text inside, but nothing fancy.
Suppliers [UK] I've tried are Paper Spectrum and PermaJet - you'll need to check what they are offering
Oh, and you'll need icc paper profiles for best results...
@@KeithCooper thanks Paper Spectrum offer a sample pack, might give that a go
Any roller issues on card? I see other videos complaining about the rollers marking and denting 250 and 300 gsm card
I didn't see this with the printer I tested - however it is an issue I've been asked about and I know that a few people have had printers replaced.
Where I did see it was the ET-18100 where it effectively made thicker matt media unusable - photo paper excellent - thick not...
Keith can I print vinyl stickers on this print? And what brand of the paper for greeting cards? And art prints paper? Thank
stickers - only if you find a type meant for inkjet use
See the written review for [UK] papers I used
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Hi Keith. This printer is new to me after previously using the Canon Pro-300. I can print my art prints no problem but my cards (350gsm matte) are coming out with horizontal lines across them. Have re-checked the print alignment and selected thick card when printing from photoshop but no change. Getting behind with my card orders so rather stressed ':). Any tips? Thank you
Horizontal lines - typically ink feed related. Do a nozzle check on plain paper - check the ink levels and do a clean.
Can't think of anything else specific though...
Thank you for your reply Keith. Nozzle check has printed fine each time but I did one more print clean for good measure and I am now up and running. Grateful my tribulations brought me to your RUclips though 😅
Hello Keith, I’m having a problem printing card stock paper 65lb. So far I found the correct printing setting from my Mac book pro. But on the display screen from my Epson 8550, I cannot find the correct paper type. I’ve tried plain paper (I can see the marks of the rollers on the paper) , pre semi gloss (I can see lines on the paper), premium matte (the colors fade) the only one that works ok is the presentation matte but still doesn’t print true to the colors.
My printer screen shows only these options for paper type: plain paper, letterhead, envelope, ultra glossy, prem glossy, glossy, prem semi gloss, ultra prem photo luster, presentation matte, prem matte, velvet fine art paper, thin paper.
I would highly appreciate your help. I’ve been wasting a lot of card stock paper and ink and I’m still not finding the right setting.
VFA is the one I generally used, see the way inks are used in
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
BUT... I have to say that whenever I hear the words 'card stock' and the weight in pounds, it suggests that there is a strong chance that no settings will work well. The card needs to be compatible with aqueous ink--jet inks.
Lovely video. You talk about printing 2 A5 cards on A4. Do you have a template set up for this in Photoshop? Or do you use another tool?
Thanks - See this on the Northlight site. It includes many of my templates - I use Photoshop for almost all my work - it was my ancient copy of CS6 in this example.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/greeting-card-paper-and-printing/
The site tends to have more detailed info in the articles than the videos - Most of the card stuff is not specific to any particular printer.
Hi Keith, I hope you see this comment - having got into designing greetings cards for family and friends, I need to purchase a new printer ( have been using a Canon Pixma G3501 - don’t ask!!!). I am looking at the Epson ET 8500. I know your review is for the 8550, but I don’t think I need A3 printing ( though am thinking about it). Can I ask three questions - can I set user defined sizes for the greetings cards I am using (yes, they are not specifically designed for inkjet printers but are some I am using up); can I use 300gsm card; and will the printer connect to my iPad via our house wifi (rather than as the Canon which has its own wifi which frequently faults). Thanks for the great video!
I can't really address this one in detail since iPads are generally useless for accurate colour [with any printer] - there is no proper driver installed.
Custom sizes may well work (with borders), but once again I've no idea using ipads
Sorry, but have a read of the main [written] review where I cover a lot more details of using the printer.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
When you print a card like the black one with flower inside, which have the black background easily scratchable, the black ink the printer use for the background is the black dye or pigment one ?
On this paper it's the pigment - due to the VFA media setting - you could use the EMatte setting and the dye, but the depth of black would not be the same. This is very dependent on the paper. If course, if you liked it, a spray fixative would work well, and give added depth.
@@KeithCooper but if you need a spray then a good solution to do always the same is the Chroma Optimizer used in Canon pro 300 and 1000….. or a spray by hand is a lot better vs Canon CO ?
If I was doing it, I'd look at a spray fixative like that used for pastels?
However I'd likely choose a different paper for an image like that ;-)
Hope you see this. Do you print from the top of rear feed? Thanks
both - see the main review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
Hello, can you tell me if the cardstock needs to be coated to be able to make greeting cards and print inside and at the back please? Thank you
Yes media surfaces not coated for aqueous inkjet printing yield very poor results. With the 8550 you may get acceptable black text on the rear of some cards - but don't be surprised if it looks poor...
BTW I'm just doing a video about double sided cards - likely for some time over the weekend
Thank you very much. Nicola
Sorry Keith if I'm a little wary but would you recommend it to me as better than the XP970 on photographic quality?
Ah, I don't ever make recommendations ;-)
With good profiles, I'd pick the 8550 for size, usability and cost of ink. BUT how much difference you'll see depends on the quality of profiles, images and workflow used with the 970, which is a cheaper lower spec printer.
Neither are in the category of the P700/P900 of course, but prices differ...
@@KeithCooper Thank you
I know that the P900 and the Canon pro 1000 are the divas in photographs but the inks cost a lot too! for this reason I was trying to exploit your experience in use and decide to buy the ET8850@@KeithCooper
Yes, the 8550 is a good printer for dyes, but it needs good profiles and careful paper selection - I have notes covering this.
If I make a bad print, it's my fault, not the printer ;-)
Can you give me the link to that card stock? Great video by the way
Thanks - it's In the video notes
Hi, I have the Epson ET 8500 and trying to print A5 in the rear feeder but there is no option to select A5 paper size, any ideas? I know it's not the 8550 but thought it should be similar
A5 is missing from quite a few printer options I've found - create a custom size?
@@KeithCooper cheers, is that easy to do?
Yes - see my 8550 review (using EPL to print)
Of course that's with a different printer - I've never seen an 8500
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
I just bought one of these and I'm using a double sided matte 230 gsm paper and I can not get it to load through the top rear feeder (not the flat slot rear feeder) at all. I see the paper dip like it wants to load in but it simply wont. It looks like you do not seem to have this issue. Any ideas? Really hoping I didn't get a lemon. Thanks!
Contact Epson [or reseller ... depends where you are] - just make sure you note it happening with an Epson branded paper [it's the first get-out excuse on the support script ;-) ]
A paper like this should have no trouble - it should not need help to load
@@KeithCooper ended up swapping out at the store. The new one is working a little better but I still can't let it auto feed. It started out feeding ok then slowly but surely I gag to start giving it some help. I pretty much had to sit and let the weight of my hand on the top of the paper in order for it to feed properly. I'm honestly wondering if the coating on the paper is leaving behind some kind of residue that's immediately making the feed not successfully grab the paper. Any thoughts? It can't be a coincidence that it's happened with two different printers now. Thanks!
I've not seen that, but how is it with other papers...@@jeffboob7449
Any suggestions on best printers for printing square cards 148mm * 148mm or 150mm *150mm cards?
Check the specifications for smaller printers - these sizes are often tricky to print.
I've not tested much in this type of printer, so can't do much more than to carefully check the full printer specs.
For such small prints it's often better to print on larger sheets and cut to size
Hi keith, how were you scoring and folding the paper? as the paper seems not to be pre scored.
Sorry, but all the paper I look at for cards is pre-creased and with envelopes.
The crease is not obvious in some, since having it too prominent might cause head strikes or print problems
@@KeithCooper Ah i guess i need to search again.
Ok i have found the pre creased ones, similarly priced. I am curious to try these out, i've tried cheaper cardstock which was not as bad as you might think, but sometimes the quality indeed does not hold up. I noticed your card with the flower has a black background. Did this make the card curl at all? I have gone up to 350g on the previous cardstock i have bought and all of them have curled with black or dark prints, which means i can't sell quite a few of my designs.
I've seen no curl on these, but it is always a potential issue with some inkjet media and changes of humidity.
@@KeithCooper Thanks i will give them a try at some point
I'm looking at buying a printer that can print on pre-cut A5 and A6 for cards (don't mind a border - at least thick 300gsm) without me having to print an A4 and cut it afterwards into A5 or A6 cards. From what I understand the Canon G550 can do this, but I'm a bit confused by the Epson 8550/8500 manual. It mentions copy paper (normal paper) and Thin Paper that can go through the rear feeder A5 and A6 size. Then it mentions thick paper (0.61mm - 1.3mm), A4 and up, not A5 and A6. The manual doesn't say what Thin Paper is, but it's right between the copy paper and thick paper setting. Is Thin Paper poorly choses by Epson and does this stand for paper that's heavier than copy paper, but under 0.61mm of thickness? Do you happen to know? Can it print on thicker A5-A6 cardstock, that's under 0.61mm?
yes - see my actual [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
The videos are produced to support my written reviews ;-)
@@KeithCooper thank you so much, I'll be heading over there to read through both the Epson 8850 and Canon G550 reviews.
@@artbybenjamin If you've any specific questions - email me via the Northlight site?
@@KeithCooper I will if needed, thanks.
Great videos! Which printer would be able to handle 350gsm A3 prescored card in a multi-feed tray? Thanks!
In a tray? - none I've ever seen.
@@KeithCooper Thanks for replying. So what is the thickest card that doesn't have to be individually fed and which printer would be needed for that? Cheers 🙂
There is no printer I've tested which officially supports multiple sheets of card.
But... nearest would be this
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-wf-c8690-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper Thank you for the info! So this one can hold up to 10 sheets of 300 to 300gsm card. That's a lot better than just a single sheet. At least I'd be able to get on with something else for a while. Thanks again, this could very well be the way forward for me 🙂
Yes - just notice the parts of the review dealing with colour management. Media choice is very important.
It's also one you'd get from an office supplied company - a good chance they will have demo machines.
Hi
What would be a best option available in market for A5 size stickers. I am trying to print a photo with QR code.
Thanks in advance
There is no 'best'... ;-)
However, if you can get sticker media that works with the ink. one of the tank type printers will save money. Since with stickers, you are not challenging print quality in any serious way.
The key though is in getting the media that woks with the ink
@@KeithCooper thanks for the great advice, currently I have an option to get espson L 805 which is promising a bit but I will try it out with different media as well
Hallo sir, i want to print on a precut business cards with this printer is it posible?
Not easily - business cards are too small.
Print on a larger sheet and cut
Thank you for your videos -- I am trying to print greting cards - 250 gsm(64lb), 13.5 mil, 100% cotton rag -- the cards will not feed automatically hardly ever. is it the paper ? the printer is brand new -- thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
I never had problems with this with the papers I tried, but I have only so many types here.
That weight should be OK from the top feed - Have you tried putting some sheets of plain paper behind the card?
@@KeithCooper I have tried everything I found on the internet. the only paper that will feed on its own is normal printer paper. It takes about a minute and a half to 2 minutes of spinning noises before the message comes up on the screen that there is no paper, which ther really is. I am going to return it to Amazon and get a replacement. Hopefully that one works.
Yes - sounds like a duff printer :-(
are there any MATT paper that i can use for printing cards preventing water destroy? I see if a water drops on the paper print (i use both plain paper and 300gsm watercolour paper for test), colour dissolves out quickly, while it is much better when i use photo glossy paper.
Not with the inks of the 8550 as far as I know - they are water based
@@KeithCooper do you have any recommendations on matt paper, that i can used to make prints by et-8550 more of a water resistant type? just like the effect printed out with the photo glossy paper?
No - there is not likely to be a suitable matt paper of this type
hi, I want to buy a printer to print t-shirts, is the Epson 8500 or 8550 better, thank you
The ink in the printer is not suitable as far as I know
There may be ways of doing this, but I've only tested the printer as something for photos and artwork on paper/cards
Is it possible to print text on the second side of one-sided greeting cards? I mean, will the text look nice and readable? I wish to print cards with my own photos, to mail to friends and relatives. I do not plan to sell cards. Thanks.
Yes, but it depends very much on the card. The pigment black of the 8550 will help, but some media simply won't take fine detail on the reverse side.
One to experiment with I'm afraid
Thanks
Thanks
I've had two ET-7750s (had to get replacement) because of endless issues such as phantom paper jams after just a few months into warranty, smudging, etc. Though the quality is great, I'm very very hesitant to buy the ET 8550 if its just another glorified 7750 with the same build quality problems a few months later.
I've not seen the 7750 at all, so can only refer to the 8550 I've had here a few months for testing.
@@KeithCooper OK. Fair enough. Give it a few months and you'll experience the infamous 'phantom' paper jams! There is actually no paper jam, it gets worse over time. I've had it on the 7750 and know some people who've had it with the 8550.
Paper jams from what paper feed route and what type/specification of paper?
@@KeithCooper Regular cardstock 300gsm, but it doesn't even start its feed route, the paper sits in loaded tray (rear) or cassette), rollers spin, loud noise, 7750 decides to issue paper jam. I'm in a EcoTank Facebook group and 50% of users have experienced it. I'm experiencing it with two 7750s! Its no coincidence. Epson swapped out parts for my first one gave me back a frankenstein 7750 repair, that soon died after. On 2nd one now, 7 months in, same issues starting. Epson know all about it - they just deny its a known issue when you tell them!
That's unfortunate - I've never seen a 7750. I'd not accept that in a new printer.
The 8550 here, feeds card just fine - it is a different printer but I only ever report observations and tests on the printer I have (my printer reviews go back to 2008 - my videos are a recent addition to supplement my main written reviews).
Hi Keith, great video thanks. You mentioned its a bit slow. Do you have any recommendations for printing greeting cards on 300gsm Tinteretto Gesso paper that would be good - printing 50 plus per day, sometimes 100. The artwork is mainly text based not photographic. Thanks.
Thanks
I've no idea what that paper's like, so I can't offer any suggestions with respect to that.
But... I'd definitely not want to be running 100 sheets a day through the 8550.
There are none of the printers I've tested I'd immediately suggest for this - they are simply not made for bulk printing of this sort - the stuff I look at is for photographers and relatively low volume at high quality.
Stuff like this comes down to business and marketing considerations as much as printer features.
How do you get two images on one print? I have tried copying and pasting, but it doesn't seem to work!
Photoshop... I create a blank document of the size I want and paste the two images
@@KeithCooper Thank you! I bough the 8550 and LOVE it!
Hello can I ask for your help I have ET 7750 Epson I want to print 150 by 150 borderless but I set it up and it keep printing a border . 😩
For the 8550 (which is what I tested) 150mm square is not a listed borderless size.
Borderless only works on certain sizes - otherwise you get an enforced border, no matter what custom size you set.
Check you printer driver settings to see which sizes are supported...
@@KeithCooper thanks I will check 😊
Pleeeeeeeeease will you share how to make the templates using the Epson Print Layout? I've spent the last few hours on it and i'm absolutely pulling my hair out! The software for making custom templates is an absolute nightmare to me - all I want to do is make a template for 4x A6 photos (and maybe a couple of mm bleed) and I just can't do it! The pre-set templates all have a margin between the photos. I'd appreciate it so much! Love your work
I don't have an 8550 here, but I am testing the new P5300 and was going to test some of this for that printer.
Are you talking 4x A6 on an A4 sheet?
@@KeithCooper Yes 4x A6 on an A4 sheet, like how you made your borderless greetings cards. I've actually just zoomed in and spotted that it looks like you aren't using the software's 'Template' function - do you lay out your designs elsewhere and import to them to Epson Print Layout as a single sheet ready to print? I have no idea what software or method would be best to do that with - I don't have photoshop and definitely can't afford it.
My 8550 also always prints the image off by 3mm or so, which is quite noticable on anything that has a border - I haven't found a video of yours on this but I'm wondering if I had a way of making a template then I could manually offset my images by the correct amount to compensate for the printer error. ...or contact the manufacturer....
Thank you so much for everything you do
Yes - all done in Photoshop - I've never personally used EPL. I use it in videos since it's free, simple and the same in Mac and Win - that and using Photoshop frightens too many people :-) :-)
Try a demo of Affinity Photo?
See also my written reviews - far more info than the videos..
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
www.northlight-images.co.uk/greeting-card-paper-and-printing/
@@KeithCooper Thank you!
I have just downloaded GIMP and the next project will be learning how to use it but I know it can do this template things... @@KeithCooper
Hi, I hope you are well. I have recently bought the Epson ET 8550 and have found your videos really useful. I am just wondering if you have experienced any print-roller indents in your prints. I have been trying to print cards with a 300gsm matte paper and am seeing the roller indents throughout. I have tried different settings and still nothing has changed. As you have a lot of experience I thought I would ask! Thanks in advance, Lucy
Not seen it, but heard of it for some thicker papers.
I only had the printer here for a few months. I didn't actually use it for anything beyond the testing and reviews - it was a loan from Epson.
If you can get the marks on an Epson paper, and it's a new printer, I have heard of Epson replacing them
@@KeithCooper Thank you for your thoughts. I have contacted Epson!
Can you do borderless printing for 7x5 greeting cards?
5x7 is listed as a borderless size for the driver.
@@KeithCooper great thanks
Hi Keith,
Do you know of any printer that prints A5 borderless and can cope with 250gsm matte card? I'm needing to replace my printer (sometimes it can cope with 250gsm, sometimes it struggles) and i'm really struggling to find any.
I don't - I've tested several with cards, but can't remember which support A5 borderless. It's usually buried away in the specs...
This printer can print satin sheets?
You mean satin finish photo paper?
Yes, it can [a good profile will help]
ok thanks
I have looked at small cards on some printers, but my main take-away is that it is fiddly and very dependent on the quality of the media. Ok for a few odd cards, but not for any business use (takes too long and too expensive)
How can I scan a business card and print it in 10x10?
scan it - open the file in Photoshop (or similar) resize to 10x10 (units? )
Then print on a suitable bit of paper or card...
Where do you even get a black 8550? I've seen one and they are selling it for $1000 something, like no lol.
More to the point, I think you only get white ones in the US ;-) There are no white ones here in the UK.
Seems to be that someone at Epson US decided that white was a better choice ???
That's marketing for you...
rookie error for me, i bought some 140mm x 140mm white linen card, but not compatible with this printer! doh...i didnt buy alot fortuntely. but will look up Paper Spectrum, thank you!
Glad it's not too much you've got!
I wish I could get this printer, but my budget doesn't allow it.
Yes, it's not a cheap one...
@@KeithCooper do you know what it is price 1070 at ebay that means I have to work a year to collect this number.
Your ink goes down in every video lol
Yes, even I don't have an ever-full printer ;-)
Well spotted!
for the amount printed, I think he is very happy about inks usage until now….I guess.
@@Alessandroale74 It's got to be so much cheaper than those 10 ink cartridge printers
Very different requirements for different users - some won't care about the increased cost.
Cheaper can come at it's own price... ;-)