S/O: Printing Photos at Home

1. I have an Epson PM400.

2. The quality is outstanding. I haven't experienced any fading or things like that. It sets up easily and I don't have issues when I pull out after not printing for a while.

3. I am sure I am spending more per print - probably in the 35-40 cent range. But I only print what I plan to scrapbook and there are no shipping costs. When I used to order online, I would sometimes get multiple sizes and/or color & B/W print for options, but I don't do that anymore. Plus, I don't have to wait.

4. Except for odd sized or larger prints, I print exclusively at home.

The only negative for me is when I want to move a sticker or drop something on the print, the image lifts off. Most of the times it's not an issue since I'm usually just making a small shift but a couple of times I dropped a sticker on the page and had to reprint the picture.  

Getting this printer was a game changer for me. I can't say enough good things about it.

1. My printer is an Epson XP-8500.
2. The quality is pretty amazing. I haven't noticed any fading or off colors with the prints I've done.
3. Cost is a bit more than getting them professionally but the convenience of printing at home is worth it to me.
4. I print about 70% at home and 30% professionally. I usually print professionally when I have a major project to print.

1) What printer do you use? I have a Canon Selphy CP1300


2) How does the quality compare to "professionally" printed photos? Any issues like fading, off colours, etc.? I have been printing at home for years (like about 7 with my the small Canon Selphy's and prior to that a larger Canon photo printer) and there have never been issues. No fading, no colors off, etc.


3) How does it compare, cost wise to sending out to print photos with paper, ink, etc.? I have no idea. Let me look at that real quick. ETA: between .26 and .30 each print. Here a 4x6 professionally printer is .32 - .33 cents each. Again, while very close, I prefer to control my printing. 


4) Do you print all your photos at home, or only some? All. That way I can control the quality, cropping, and size. I like being able to print 2x3 - 4x6 size photos. I have no need for larger photos.

I'm guessing technology has improved but the photos my mum printed at home...didn't stand the test of time (she was printing at home from about 2010-2016 maybe?) and they are all fading

I highly recommend UnDu for those pesky sticker mishaps.  It shouldn't damage your photos.

I use the Epson PM 400, too. I could never get photos processed to look as good as they do on my screen from conventional photo printing online services. I did a comparison of many a few years ago. And the difference between colors by different processors was jarring. I do love the quality of Persnickety, but they can be pricy, so I reserve them for ordering just a few times per year.

I love the quality of my prints with the PM-400. I am happy the colors and the crispness, really close to what I see on my screen. It may not be as cost effective as sending photos out when there are sales or deals, but I am much happier with the results. It also allows me to print in the size I want, when I want it, instead of living with what I got or having to figure out sizing when ordering. Because I am not a chronological scrapper, I also need flexibility in my photo choices. Another reason outside printing doesn’t work for me. Flexibility and overall quality outweighs the small cost difference.

1) What printer do you use? I have a Canon Pixma (MP560) that is 10+ years old?! And I recently acquired a neglected Canon Selphy 900 my Mom had. My Pixma has been on the fritz lately with the feeder, but I really don't want to replace it while it still prints just fine. Sometimes that poor feeding thinks its detecting a jam, so I have to try a few times before it prints.

2) How does the quality compare to "professionally" printed photos? Any issues like fading, off colours, etc.? I've found you have to get to know how photos appear on phone/computer, wherever you print from, and different editing that can compensate. I almost always brighten and increase contrast on all photos. I did a test with the same photo, I printed from both of my printers and also ordered it from Mpix. I took note of which photos came out cooler or warmer, sharper, better blues, etc. In that instance I actually prefer my Canon Pixma photo best, which surprised me. But now I know the Selphy photos tend to be whiter/brighter, more washed and cool, so I can adjust the editing if I know I am printing on there.

3) How does it compare, cost wise to sending out to print photos with paper, ink, etc.? Not sure. I do buy the real Canon ink and paper - I usually wait for sales/deals around the holidays & stock up. I will order from mpix or persnickety when they have sales.

4) Do you print all your photos at home, or only some? Most. Especially now that I do the Heidi Swapp blur books style, I am usually printing mini photos, like 4-6 on a 4x6, so they are tiny anyways. If I have a real special photo, or something I want larger, I may send out. But I would say I only get maybe 30-50 prints a year now, and probably only like 10-20 in the past year or so since I print at home more.

I don’t pre-plan my printing, so using a professional printer and batching photos has never worked for me.

I’m very pleased with the ease of use, quality and ability to print as many or few photos as I need with the Epson PM-400. If and when it dies I will gladly replace it with another.

I have a HP sprocket 4x6 and a 2x3 and an very happy with both

I'm another Epson PM 400 user 95% of the time. I'd never get any scrapping done if I had to wait to get my prints back. That said, Persnickety quality is better. I just don't have it together enough to scrap that way.

wallyagain said a lot of my experience - Canon Selphy, I like that if I drop some water or something on them, they don't get ruined because they are a dye process, not an ink process. I like the flexibility to print the picture I need to do a challenge. My albums and pages are just reminders for myself. That being said, I do my Project Life monthly - I look over my photos for the month, make a sketch of the pockets I want to use, and crop (Microsoft Photos) and arrange (PhotoSheet). I send them to Persnickety where I had bought photo credits, so like 19 cents each but add on at least another 35 cents each for shipping. Like scrapcat, sometimes I oversaturate the colors, knowing my Selphy will mute them a bit. I like that if I forgot to upload a photo or change my mind I can just print one off on the Selphy.

I print at home using an HP ENVY Pro 6400 series printer, HP paper, and the HP Instant Ink program. I'm honestly quite pleased with the quality and haven't seen any fading or issues like that, although it's admittedly only been 3 years of use. Like wallyagain, I'm not super worried about longevity in a KEEP THESE FOREVER sense, so take that with a grain of salt, but I do have to say that printing from home, for me - no matter what printer is used - is a total game changer as far as productivity. Like, it CHANGED THE GAME for me when I didn't have to send out for every image. I was skeptical before I made the switch, but now I quite literally could not go back. If my photo printer died today I would immediately buy another one, it's that big of a difference.

I will occasionally order from Persnickety for big projects or larger than 8.5x11 prints, but that's rare for me.