Sally Mack <photographs.by.sally.mack@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes: > Does anybody have a photo printer s/he loves? I need professional quality > prints from scans, have a presentation to complete within a couple of > weeks. > > I have an Epson Stylus C84 that stinks. Everything about it screams > "cheap." It's made of cheap plastic, it frequently doesn't work right, I > have to spend a lot of time figuring out why, more time correcting it. > Cartridges are hard to find, output is okay but I have to print test after > test after print to get a decent print, the manual isn't clear about the > options. I had to call Epson to get a manual. It's not made for the kind > of printing I need. > > I'm pretty sour on Epson, but will take all recommendations under > consideration. I'm hoping to find something under $600. Epson is the leading light in this field. Recently Canon has made some models that are worth considering I hear (but I haven't used any of the). The problems you describe with print colors sound like a color management issue. When you want the prints to match the monitor, you need to hardware calibrate your monitor. (You also need a proper profile for the printer, but they come with adequate profiles for the manufacturers standard materials.) Do you need glossy output, or will matte do? How much paper flexibility? What size? Do you need long-term archival permanence, at museum levels? The obvious Epson choices are R-800 for 8.5x11, or the 2200 for up to 12 inch wide printing (on paper up to 13" wide). (Or the 4000, 7600, 9600, 10000, for larger printing, all of which completely blow your budget.) -- David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b@xxxxxxxx>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/> RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com/> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/> Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/> <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/> Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>
