Calling those who print

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Doomrider74

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Hi folks.

I have questions, if you don't mind:

1. Do you home print or store print?
2. If you home print, what do you print on (hardware) and how do you mount?
3. Is home printing worth it financially these days, or is it more hassle than it's worth?
4. I rent my apartment and want to put some photos up but don't what to have holes all over my walls: what mounting and hanging solutions do you recommend? I'm guessing foam board is the lightest option.

Thanks in advance.
 
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I print at home, but I enjoy the process. I used to have a darkroom and I like being to see a physical representation of my work. I also self-publish Blurb Books and will be releasing them as PDF E-books in the coming months.
I use a wider format, but not huge printer. I can print 17" x (whatever) with an Epson printer (can't recall its number but it is "current"). As for hanging... when I do shows, I matte and frame the work. In the past I've had an artist friend who did this for me in her studio. She billed my 30% of what a store typically would charge. I hang unsold work in my home.
when I make prints, I hang unframed work on a magnetic board in my house. It is a wall that allows me to use magnets to hang the work.
Printing is not for everyone, but it can be rewarding.
 
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I home print. I did a lot more when I was selling my own prints and it made sense cost wise. Even now though something about that almost immediate feedback of seeing your photos on paper makes it still worthwhile for me (even if costs etc doesn’t make sense).

I had been using an Epson 3880 for 14 years until it finally died. Now I have a P900 that I like a lot.
 
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Palmor said:
I home print. I did a lot more when I was selling my own prints and it made sense cost wise. Even now though something about that almost immediate feedback of seeing your photos on paper makes it still worthwhile for me (even if costs etc doesn’t make sense).

I had been using an Epson 3880 for 14 years until it finally died. Now I have a P900 that I like a lot.
Click to expand...
You and I are the same... had a 3800 (pre 3880) for a decade +... stopped printing after it clogged, and replaced it with a P900. These printers produce beautiful physical prints.
 
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I print at home with an Eason 3880 (still going strong). However, our camera club has a print studio for members (which I volunteer at as a print monitor). I submit prints (framed) to local art leagues and to some local galleries. Enjoy it, but there is an issue with storage of unsold prints…:)
 
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Unless you print all the time store printing is a lot less hassle and overall cost. I used to print and lost more ink to clogged print heads than ever made it onto paper. Pick a store/lab and stick with it. It takes a bit of trial and error to figure out your file export settings to get predictable results.

Regarding hanging prints I use 3M command strips. No holes and you can use different sizes for framed, unframed, metal prints, etc. Foam board is certainly the lightest medium to mount prints. If you're going to mount them yourself it's messy if you use contact adhesive. Also it's not very durable. The edges get beat up with handling if you plan to swap out prints from time to time.
 
I send out to print using one of several printing houses that offer fine art prints rather than the C print you get from the corner drugstore. Bay Photo, Finerworks, Digital Silver Imaging, White House, are all good options. What surface depends on the image. Standout prints offer a nice low cost ready to hang option. Also ready to hang would be wrapped canvas, face mounted acrylic, metal. Fine art paper is fantastic, I am partial to Hahnemühle paper. For mounting I try to keep things archival but that is another post.
 
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My answers:
I have questions, if you don't mind:

1. Do you home print or store print? Both. I have my annual calendar printed by Shutterfly. I also use WHCC and ProDPI for larger prints and specialty prints (ie. metal or acrylic).
2. If you home print, what do you print on (hardware) and how do you mount? I have an Epson ET-2800. Not a production printer by any means but for the 2 or 3 a month I print it works fine and the print quality is good. It will print up to 13X19 but most of what I do is 8X10. Mounting varies. Usually tape to a suitable mat and frame. I try to get my frames from Goodwill (screaming deals there) but will use a custom frame it that is what is wanted or needed.
3. Is home printing worth it financially these days, or is it more hassle than it's worth? Financially I don't think you save money. There is something fun about home printing and the immediate satisfaction of seeing your print is also a plus.
4. I rent my apartment and want to put some photos up but don't what to have holes all over my walls: what mounting and hanging solutions do you recommend? I'm guessing foam board is the lightest option. I don't rent so cannot help you there. I hang them on the wall with picture hangers that are nailed. When we move I'll patch and paint.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
 
I would think some of the stretch and release mounts would hold, they are rated by weight. See link below. Some print mounts are very light, like standout prints or gallery wrapped canvas. Otherwise most rentals contracts allow nail holes for picture hangers. Read the agreement or ask the landlord. When you move you ask the landlord if they want you to remove and spackle or leave for the next renter. Just be careful and twist the nail with a pliers as you pull so you don't pull a chunk of paint with it.

 
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I print at home. I used Epson printers over the years but the last replacement was a Canon Pro 300. Unless you print a lot, you won't save any money compared to most of the commercial printers. What you do gain is control. a small test print lets you quickly adjust to get exactly the look you want. My prints mostly end up on my own walls or in camera club competitions. I can print up to 13 X 19 inches but typically use 11 X 14 or 11 X 17 inch. These are generally mounted on foam core board using a spray contact adhesive. For my living space or the rare sale, I have the print professionally mounted at a frame shop. If you are a shooter, get out there and shoot. If you like playing with you images, home printing is a good way to spend a cold, wet winter day.
 
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I print at home, on an Epson SC-P900 using Red River Papers almost exclusively. I like to print on canvas, as well as some papers, including panoramic prints up to a three-to-one ration dimensionally.

I've heard it said many times that doing your own printing will cause your photography to improve. I believe that it's as true today with digital cameras and inkjet printers as it was forty years ago with film and wet process development and enlargers.

And there is something inherently satisfying when you get "the look" when you tell people that the print they are looking at was made at your house from a photo that you took. Yes, it's somewhat expensive, but worth it, to me.
 
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I print at home now with a Canon Pro 300 for personal use. Soft proofing in LR with the IPC for the paper yields consistent results. I often frame myself with either cheap frames or a bit upscale. I hang some photos on foam board with adhesive and hinge tape, which is light and works well. I'm not sure I save money vs WHCC, but I enjoy using a much wider variety of papers and matching what I see in the soft proof. I store prints I don't hang in folders. Printing has its joys and is a mood thing for me.
 
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Doomrider74 said:
Hi folks.

I have questions, if you don't mind:

1. Do you home print or store print?
2. If you home print, what do you print on (hardware) and how do you mount?
3. Is home printing worth it financially these days, or is it more hassle than it's worth?
4. I rent my apartment and want to put some photos up but don't what to have holes all over my walls: what mounting and hanging solutions do you recommend? I'm guessing foam board is the lightest option.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Yes I print at home, have done so for the last 20 years or so. Started w 13” wide epson printers (had 2 or 3), then went to 17” wide one. Had lots or problems w clogging so I replaced it w a 24” canon. No clogging problems

Print for myself, some as gifts and for camera club competitions

I have not tried commercial services for printer except for small prints such as 4x6

I get prints commercially framed. Try to frame myself but hated it and found it never looked good
 
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Canon ProGraf 300 at home at A3+. Genuine inks and Canon Pro Platinum A3+ paper--could not get Marrutt paper to work well out of the box--likely would have been cheaper but would have required calibration they offer for free. Got an awesome deal for frames too.

I use Professional Print and Layout utility by Canon for printing.
 
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I print at home with an Epson P 800.

The cost per print can be much more than store processing - unless opting for bespoke printing with a specialist lab.

As my prints are mainly for competition work and some for sale I also want the highest possible quality which on close inspection usually looks distinctly better than a "store print".

There is a premium cost to home printing compared to "store printing" though with experience and the right equipment - calibrated monitor, 9 or more ink printer, not sRGB image, choice of papers etc - print quality can be distinctly better.

As with many things in life quality somewhat better than the average can cost a lot extra :) :mad:

For a few prints to hang on a wall home printing is usually a waste of a lot of money - particularly if the originals are sRGB jpg files.
 
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Joel Klein said:
Is a home printer setup expensive?
Click to expand...
Joel (and Doom)…

I process photos using Lightroom Classic—LrC on a MacBook Pro (~40 cm screen). For printing, I have added the following:
  • monitor : BenQ SW series (~70 cm screen),
  • printer : Canon PRO-300 (I use A4 paper; however, it can print as large as A3+).
Expensive? I think not: the combined cost of monitor and printer was around AU$3000 (US$2000).

… David
 
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Doomrider74 said:
Hi folks.

I have questions, if you don't mind:

1. Do you home print or store print?
2. If you home print, what do you print on (hardware) and how do you mount?
3. Is home printing worth it financially these days, or is it more hassle than it's worth?
4. I rent my apartment and want to put some photos up but don't what to have holes all over my walls: what mounting and hanging solutions do you recommend? I'm guessing foam board is the lightest option.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Store print, which I find way better and far less messy and troublesome. Fortunately I’ve partnered with an excellent local printer who does beautiful work, has a great paper selection, and always has excellent suggestions for bringing out the best in an image. Best of all, if I’m not happy with the result (which is rare), he invariably offers a reprint at no or steeply reduced charge. As far as hanging, I just do it the old fashioned way and use mounting brackets on a nail.
 
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