MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Off Topic => Topic started by: tab62 on August 21, 2013, 12:00
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Hi MSGers,
I have an older Epson Photo R800 and the ink costs are unreal! $120 for just six cartridges and they don't last very long! Are there printers that ink cost don't cost as much? I tried using non-epson ink and it was horrible! Maybe on line printing?
Thanks
T
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Corner Walgreen, CVS, Rite-Aid, "name here" or anyplace that prints photos. Almost all have the same Fuji machines, some have Kodak. You have the latest equipment, usually well maintained. Cheaper than buying blank paper and ink and your own printer. You upload and print, go pick it up, when you have time. Most will offer one hour printing, don't try it on Sunday or late at night.
Next time you buy ink and paper and a printer, keep notes on how many photos you actually print and how much they cost when you get done. For most people, paying 20c and less for a 4x6 and $2.50 and down for a 5x7 or $4.99 for 8x10? And how many prints do you make vs just color pages and using that expensive photo paper?
Hi MSGers,
I have an older Epson Photo R800 and the ink costs are unreal! $120 for just six cartridges and they don't last very long! Are there printers that ink cost don't cost as much? I tried using non-epson ink and it was horrible! Maybe on line printing?
Thanks
T
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I am head to rite- aid! Thanks
T
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I've head very good luck with Costco. Upload the photos to their website, specify sizes and quantities and pick them up an hour later at my local store.
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I use MPix.com . Good prices and even better quality. They usually ship the next day. Shipping very reasonable. Send for their free samples. For 4X6's I just use the drug stores or Walmart.
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Kind of sad- I actually like printing my own but just not worth the cost anymore. Why on earth would Epson just keep raising the price on their ink? Originally they were $8 each and now over $17 each! Are they high on drugs?
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Tab62,
If you're willing to upgrade to an Epson 1400, InkjetMall offers great 3rd party inks for that printer. The inks are a fraction of the cost of the original Epson Claria inks that are supplied with the 1400. You can find more info on them by checking out the various inkjet user groups in Yahoo's forums. Although I have no personal experience with the company (I print on a 24" Epson 7600), I've read a lot of positive on-line reviews. You can check out the website at http://shopping.netsuite.com/inkjetmall. (http://shopping.netsuite.com/inkjetmall.) You can also do a Google search for ConeColor inks for unbiased reviews. Good luck!
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Forget about Walgreens and Rite-Aid. You'll get very strange color profiles and color shifts.
If you want to go retail, use Costco. You can download and embedd their color profile from Dry Creek Photo at this link...
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/ (http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/)
If you want to go the professional route, I use Miller Labs and White House Custom Color. Both are exceptional...I tend to lean more towards Miller Labs though (my website print fulfillment is through White House Customer Color though). Miller's metallic prints are just plain awesome - I haven't ordered metallic prints through White House Custom Color.
All three options are much less expensive than having your own printer, buying your own ink (you can watch those ink tanks drain dry as they are printing), and buying your own paper.
Then again, if you're printing on-site and don't have a choice, I would source ink and paper from eBay - it's your cheapest bet. Buy when you can so you have a stock on hand and don't run out.