Printing photos at home. Let's discuss.

I use a Canon Pixma too and I've always been happy enough with the quality...though they're not brilliant, they're so much better than my previous Pixma. This time I paid extra for the model that includes a grey ink cartridge instead of just the standard pink, blue, black, yellow etc. I have tried a few different papers with varying results (the Kirkland brand from Costco was by far the worst!) and keep coming back to the standard Canon paper. It's a good workhorse - I printed all my wedding invitations, programs etc with it. I do print most of my scrapbooking photos at home, because I'm just not organised or patient enough to print them at the shops.

When I dream about a new printer, I come back to either this Canon Pixma Pro or this Epson. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to afford them, but hey, a girl has to dream!

I have this printer - www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005HFJFKE/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?qid=1416826551&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
But it was around $200 when I bought it. I stick to Epson ink but use Kirklands photo paper. It is glossy paper but for me is more semigloss to matte as I am not a glossy paper person at all and like it a lot. It can be a little dark when I print from my computer but I think that may be my computer settings as it does well from my phone. The features I like the most is that it is wireless - can print directly from my phone with the Epson app and it has a photo paper tray that holds 4x6 paper or 5x7 paper. This is in addition to the 8 1/2 x 11 tray... Well they are kind of one piece but it holds both at the same time. I leave a stack of 4 x 6 photo paper in the tray so I can print from my phone whenever I want. The ink seems to last a decent amount of time and I end up saving money because I only print what I need. The biggest drawback is the tray can be a little flimsy but I read reviews about that before I purchases so was aware. I have had it for about a year and a half and still like it etc.

Whatever you end up going with, I would definitely get one that has the extra color cartridges. For Epson, there are ones with 4 including black or ones with 6 including black. I think having the six really helps with getting better photos.

I have a canon pixma, but I've NEVER liked canon paper! The HP premium paper is better, and I too buy the matte finish. I get it at Staples when they put it on BOGO. I only print at home for special moments (photo emergencies?) because I like to have a HUGE stack of photos ready for me to pick from and that's cheaper at Costco

I also prefer the feel of the wet processing...the smooth feel compared to the "powdery" feel of a home printed or ink-jet printed picture. However, the HP paper gives really good visual results IMO.

One of our high end photo places recently switched to dry processing, still charging like .30/print. I stared at them rather incredulously when I got those pictures back (fortunately had only ordered a few for a specific project) and gave them an earful about being able to print like that at home!
Costco it is for big lots of pictures.

I have the VERY big Epson printer...the one that can print 12X12 pictures. It works really well, but it takes up so much room. Somewhere in my scrap closet I have a mini printer for 4x6 pictures that I need to find. My laser (regular) printer for the computers does a pretty good job too. I really do wish I had a wireless option.

I have a Canon Pixma as well and am very pleased with the quality for my PL album. I do photos on Glossy paper and the odd PL card on matte paper. I use PSE for editing, along with A Beautiful Mess Actions which have really improved the look of my photos. I usually just print once, so not too much wasted ink/paper, though I'm sure the cost of printing at home is more than using a service. I just do it for the convenience. I do my album on a monthly basis, so towards the end of the month sort out the photos I want to use, edit and print over one or two evenings during the week and can start putting them in page protectors the next day, then embellish and finish spreads over the next weekend. For me this is the most efficent way of working.

I have an Epson (I think it's the xp-410) printer and it's okay. I can't say I love it. i have had the printer for about 1.5 years, after my HP pooped out. i liked that one better. this one cost about $50, which is what i wanted to spend at the time. i have tried it with a few kinds of paper and i like the HP and the Epson paper. i don't do glossy either. the photos are fine enough for home printing of PL pics.

I have no idea what is so weird about the pixma matte photo paper...so stiff! and the ink sits on top...it's weird. don't like it.

Currently I have a HP Photosmart 7510 series. It uses 4 cartridges of ink and can be rather expensive but I buy the HP ink at Costco when there's a deal on it. I buy HP photo premium paper (soft lustre)  at Staples when it's bogo. I remember reading years ago that you should use the paper and ink made especially for the make of your printer.  I've had a HP printer for years. I print quite a few of my pictures as well as my digital scrapbook pages at home. I am very pleased with how my pictures and pages turn out. I do like the feature that enables you to print "borderless".

I have an Epson Stylus printer. I love it. I, too, have to lighten my photos before printing otherwise they're dark. I use the brighten feature from my printer settings in the print er dialog box on my PC. I actually have to manually select color controls from the advanced menu, then select Epson Vivid, since that's what I'm using, then use the settings and slide bars to "brighten" the photo.

To keep it from printing darker and printing more to the image you see on the screen, you need to calibrate your monitor and your printer. That way you get a closer idea of what the print is going to look like. I would tell you how to do that, but I don't know how, I just know that's what I need to do too.

Epson 1900. Prints 12 x 48" It is getting older. The inks are quite pricey though.

I have an Epson artisan 50 the prints that I get are way better than Costco or Walmart around here. Yup a little more $$ but then I don't have to wait for prints or drive 2 hours to get them. I use strictly Epson paper and ink