Do you need to get a new photo printer? What is wrong with your old one?
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- Опубликовано: 4 фев 2021
- Keith Cooper looks at some of the reasons you might want to replace an older printer, as well as reasons it might not be worth it.
What changes in new models will make a positive difference to your photo prints and how much does ease of use figure?
How does a new printer affect your choice of papers and why might some of your print problems not really be about the printer?
Asking the awkward questions when you fancy a nice new printer.
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My 'pholosophy' includes if something is good, it doesn't become bad when something else comes along. And what is the cost/betterment ratio?
Yes, a sound riposte to people wanting to sell you a printer!
Great video.
As my dedicated photo printer recently died (after more than 15 years of service) and was turned into a series of stepper motors and recycled plastic, I've been eyeing off some fancier options, but decided to try my luck with my current A3+ 4-ink office grade printer (Epson Wf-7725) and decide how much I'm actually wanting to print and for what.
I've been really pleasantly surprised how good the output is on my stock of older high-end lustre papers. I even managed a black and white print that looked serviceable, but all my paper stock is A4.
I'm now inspired to try some A3+ printing and see what kind of results I can get with careful editing for print and the closest ICC profiles I can get using the printer I have, rather than waiting for pricing to drop on a printer I might find myself not using enough to justify.
At the very least, I'll be honing my skills which is never a waste of time or money, regardless of what I might buy in a year or two.
Love your website and your channel, it's been a revelation to discover your no nonsense marketing-free approach.
Thanks, that sounds a good solution.
The site is keeping me busy during our lockdown and the serious drop off in photo work in the last year, so it's nice to know when it's useful.
Thanks, it really is like having a sensible friend talk through the timing of and need for an expenditure.
Not a lot of photographers in my circle of friends so this resource is very helpful.
Looking forward to more videos and articles, and of course hoping your photography business picks up again soon.
@@genghisbunny Thanks - that's appreciated
Thanks Keith, these are very helpful videos. I'm looking for a replacement for my Epson R3000 and this is great food for thought. The comment about changing the black inks is exactly my experience. I also found the nozzle clogging to be a pain which ultimately led to the demise of the printer and why I'm leaning towards a dye based printer rather than pigment. Y
Thanks - you can tell I don't sell printers ;-)
@@KeithCooper Perhaps not directly but I'll bet a few more printers get sold as a result of the knowledge and confidence acquired through your excellent videos. Y
Good question Keith. In my case it's because I'm fed-up of the hassle of switching MK/PK on my Epson R3000. So really looking forward to receiving my ordered P700.
yes - an excellent reason to change
Very interesting Keith. I'm currently weighing up whether to replace an Epson 4800. The black ink swap is a costly annoyance, along with repetitive cleaning cycles. And a full set of inks would be an expensive write off if it failed mechanically....it must be nearly 15 years old at this stage. How do the more recent printers compare in terms of cost per print with the smaller cartridges? Thinking Epson 900 or Canon Prograf 1000
Ink costs are obviously higher with small carts - that 4800 is well beyond the estimated life of a big printer so a replacement is going to occur some time. I use a P5000, which still has the black swap, but it uses relatively little ink
Start here for an estimate of prices
www.redrivercatalog.com/rr/cost-of-inkjet-printing.html
Note that the costs will shoot up with intermittent use - the PRO-1000 can use a fair bit in cleaning if not used often.
The pro-1000 has extremely good paper handling - if you need roll support then the P5000 is vastly better than the P900 (pro-1000 and P5000 articles predate my making videos BTW - check the northlight Images site for more - written articles go back to 2003, whilst my YT stuff goes back to last summer ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith. I use Qimage to run an unclog schedule whenever the printers going to be idle, so hopefully that will eliminate some of the cleaning costs. I can get the Pro1000 about 20% cheaper than the Epson here in Ireland, so I'm leaning that direction for now. I see the cost per print is higher, but that's a lot of prints! Thanks for your help
Another great video! The biggest problem I’m having with my printer is that some of my solid color backgrounds on graphics come out with that layer of teeny tiny dots/formations (pixelations?) when you look closely.. where it looks like maybe the ink didn’t mix right. Certain colors/papers are better, but all of them have it to some extent. It really bugs me.
Is this a printer quality issue, A setting issue or is it a paper issue? My printer is about 6yrs old and using gloss sticker paper mostly (and some weirdo matte and glossy polyester based sticker papers). Thank you!
Old printer - coarse ink dots?
Media choice - some media doesn't always work optimally?
Every time I see the word 'sticker' appear in a question, I'm wondering about how well it performs with normal inkjet printers ;-)
@@KeithCooper I don’t think it’s coarse ink? The pattern? Is pretty consistent throughout the entire color and in most colors (the primary colors don’t really show it). Manufacturers inks are being used. Only noticeable really close up, but no one else in my house “sees” it 🤦🏻♀️… lucky me.
Yeah I was skeptical too on the sticker paper- they are made for inkjet… the quality brands I’m otherwise happy with… it’s just this color pattern/pixelation thingy that’s messing things up. My glossy polyester sticker paper barely shows it at all, but it has the wrong look for most of the stickers I’m making. But honestly if you think it’s the paper, I can create my own sticker paper if I can find a very thin quality printer gloss art paper. I have a ton of archival mounting film for mounting my pastels 🤷🏻♀️
Yes - there is a lot of trial and error in this ;-)
@@KeithCooper Yes and that’s generally the case when learning a new art medium I think. I had some photo papers that are the same brand as my printer, so I did the test image and while the colors are a bit more vibrant, the layer teeny tiny dots are identical to the glossy sticker paper. 🤷🏻♀️
But will a new printer even fix this problem is the question- maybe it’s a foible of inkjets in general that I need to learn to live with…
The size of ink dots and printer resolution does vary
See here, for the Epson ET8550
www.northlight-images.co.uk/best-epson-et8500-8550-driver-settings/
Do you see any differences in color gamut between epson p900 and canon pro 1000 or other differences in image quality?
Not meaningful ones - they are swamped by differences in image editing, media, settings and profiling.
I have data, but never publish it since people invariably use it to back whatever axe they have to grind or justify a purchase decision they have already made ;-) ;-)
@@KeithCooper thank you for this... I have been enjoying my epson artisan 15000 but am craving the ability to go even bigger so this why I am interested in this comparison. So I definitely interested in your thoughts on the comparison as I have no bias at all
@@bbowles3 The real comparisons come in usability related areas - roll support, screen, sheet handling, size
Different for everyone in what they want to do and how much.
If you've not seen them, see my written reviews for a lot more detail.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-sc-p900-printer-review/
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-pro-1000-printer-review/
I bought Canon Pro-521 one week back, i have some issues with that printer that when I print the images with gradient background i can see few lines on top of the photos.
Sorry - what is a Canon PRO-521? Not a number I'm familiar with...
in.canon/en/business/imageprograf-pro-521/product
I need solution for my issue.
If it's new, then you need to have done the print alignment adjustments.
However If it's a week old, then any issues are a matter to take up with Canon or the supplier. This is a warranty issue - I don;'t sell printers or work for Canon ;-)
@@KeithCooper Thank you!
I cannot get clean nozzle check on my Canon Pro-10. It prints on regular paper ok, as its more absorbent, but not luster of photo papers as it gets precise ink applied on the paper. I actually purchased a new head from the Pro300, and its the same. It maybe something inside. The Pro-10 is HORRIBLE if your paper is not 100% flat. Any edge imperfection will strike the head and cause issues. IF the Pro300 does not have this solved or have a vacuum suction like the Pro1000, then it is not worth anywhere near what they want for it. It is literally the Pro-10 with "some" improvements.
I have a large variaty of papers, and some with different atmospheric RH levels can cause slight curling, and there is no excuse for such printers not able to have a paper track or suction for the paper to lay flat. I am considering Epson if their paper handling is better, as I said I have very expensive art and photo papers, and would be worth the printer swap vs getting new papers. Also as artist works I print I want to make the media I have available.
***This would make a interesting video..the paper feed!
Actually, I've had no paper feed issues of note with the 300, other than with obviously bent papers. The 'reduce paper abrasion' setting is worth setting, as is making custom media settings that are set for the paper thickness for non OEM papers.
There is no vacuum system however. The PRO-1000 is still the printer with best sheet feeding (in the desktop category). If you want to use lots of higher end papers then the 1000 is always a better choice - The PRO-10 had paper handling issues from my POV. I don't see these with the 300
@@KeithCooper Thank you for the reply. I think exploring the paper feed at a techincal observation level, would be interesting. My papers had the slightest of corner curl, and this ruined the Pro 10. While I understand the Pro-300 is better, I would not buy it unless it had specific improvements that can be explained and that help avoid such issues. Yes, Pro1000...or maybe an Epson...something I have not used since the Pro 4000!! lol
@@philindeblanc Unfortunately the PRO-300 is not mine to pull apart ;-)
I've a P5000 here - my detailed review of it (as with the 1000 review) predates my making the videos. which are mainly an adjunct to all the written reviews and articles on the Northlight site.
@@KeithCooper Yes, and thanks for the great content, I have read some of the NorthernLight in depth reviews. It looks like the option I have is the 1000 as it is a printer that actually has a feature addressing this issue.