I bought a LED light ten through an IndieGoGo campaign, a few years back for.... well let's just say considerably less than that.
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Anyone into Photography?
- Thread starter Jampy00
- Start date
My refurbished Epson printer arrived. Set up took a while but was painless. The first few prints seem very decent but I really need to get to grips with post processing and also printer profile settings. Bit of a steep learning curve. I’m very happy with the output so far though although I’ve only used letter sized high gloss. I have some large format matt paper that I really want to use eventually.
Then there is a whole world of paper types to explore. Some that mimic canvas I particularly like
imagescience.com.au
as well as those with a silver layer.
Canvas Fine Art Inkjet Paper Recommendations and Range | Image Science
Our Image Science range of Fine Art Canvas
imagescience.com.au
Then there is a whole world of paper types to explore. Some that mimic canvas I particularly like
as well as those with a silver layer.Canvas Fine Art Inkjet Paper Recommendations and Range | Image Science
Our Image Science range of Fine Art Canvas
The metallic ones look great for things like planes or cars. The fine art papers are lovely. I got 25 sheets of 19x13 of ultra premium matte presentation paper which is just below the fine art stuff. The thing with this is that one photo can look remarkably different on different papers. It’s a whole new level of tasks to think about and it’s actually more enjoyable experimenting with things than I thought it would be.
The trick is getting the stuff on sale as it can be pricey.
Edit: Also to bear in mind, one high gloss paper from one company will give different results to another. There are printer profiles for each type and brand of paper and for a given printer and it’s important to use these. If they aren’t available for your printer then you’re taking an expensive gamble.
Very true. Epson matte or gloss paper was a pretty easy setup on my old wide format photo printer but when I went to fine art matte paper I could virtually empty my cartridges, on just a couple of 13"x19" prints. That stuff soaks up ink like nobody's business, if you want to get the same sort of vibrancy in prints.
The eco-tank printer I have seems to be ok with ink usage and it’s not exorbitantly priced either. You’re probably right about the matte paper soaking it up though. It seems quite textured but I like that. Thing is, the glossy prints aren’t really doing much for me, I think I prefer the matte or luster/semi-gloss finish. They look so much classier.
My problem is that I have a bit of a distrust with the post-processing as I’m still learning in terms of what looks like a realistic subtle adjustment vs one that’s changed so much that the photo doesn’t feel like mine anymore.
Of course you have to consider anti-glare glass......
Then of course then there is lighting the pic on the wall......
I suppose you could get a little side hustle going offering your better "trial runs" on line. Pay for the supplies.
Really like the rendition of my HDR photos on a Retina or HDR10 screen. I can tweak to my hearts content with no cost.
Then of course then there is lighting the pic on the wall......
I suppose you could get a little side hustle going offering your better "trial runs" on line. Pay for the supplies.
Really like the rendition of my HDR photos on a Retina or HDR10 screen. I can tweak to my hearts content with no cost.
Amazon warehouse has some upper end photo paper listed as “used very good” which is a bit mystifying. I’m hoping it’s just a slightly damaged or aged box so I ordered some. The stuff is usually packaged really well. Next I have to find some inexpensive but good looking frames. I don’t really want plexiglass/plastic frames.
The Amazon stuff is probably returns.
I wouldn't exactly call them inexpensive, but Michael's has some really good frames. With a little gaming of the system you can get the individual cost down my 30-50%. Buy something small and then come back later, and use the discount on your last receipt to significantly reduce the cost. I still have maybe a half dozen shadowbox style frames, for 13"x19" I bought that way, some years ago.
sburns
Well-known member
You can check staples for paper. It all comes from the same place so even the staples brand stuff will be good.
Frame pricing is all over the place, you have to do a bit of work.
But last time I was in a good will, one of those places you donate stuff, you can find lots of frames. That depends what you are looking for.
I always had pretty good luck with both Staples matte and gloss photo papers.
Depending on your preferred style, scrap hardwood furniture and a little time and glass can become frames pretty cheaply.
I want good mats too as I like the look of a good matted photo or picture. A lot simpler to just get a ready made (and correctly sized) frame. I want them all to look the same too.
sburns
Well-known member
You are in for quite the project.
I get what you are saying, even though there isn't much to mattes, the clean cuts with those little bevel edges do give it a nicer finished look.
I figure if you have a photo good enough to frame you might as well do it right. The problem is finding good quality at a decent price. Those Michaels frames (with coupons) don’t seem too bad. I looked online and the smaller ones can be had for $10 each (usually $20). I’ll head to the store and see what the mats are like inside. They are plastic frames but with glass fronts I think.
I need to go out and take more photos though. I’m a bit picky and the ones I looked at from my collection that I’d frame are a bit scarce.
The matted frames that I bought were either wood or MDF, but that was quite a while ago. They feel like better quality than plastic.
Finally got to try out some 13x19 printing with the printer and it’s fantastic. Not without a few hiccups though. It would help if Epson made it a little clearer that the first sheet in the pack of paper is a protector for the rest of the sheets. Top tip…that protector doesn’t hold ink very well.
2nd print (on actual paper) the print manager reset my paper size so an A4 print on a B3 page (13x19). I wondered why the borders were so big.
3rd print with everything corrected was a B&W portrait of one of my dogs and is just fantastic. Not necessarily the photo, admittedly I’m biased there though, but the quality of the print on this paper (matte ultra-premium presentation paper).
The printer itself is easy to work with. The duff print on the protector left me worried that the feed rollers had been contaminated with excess ink but 2-3 cleaning passes explained on the monitor sorted it all out. Ink usage has been minimal so far. The Epson print manager works really well and seems to be better than just using the print dialog in whatever photo app you’re using. Lots more options in terms of getting settings just right. The works flow is open photo in editing app, do whatever needs to be done, save to folder, open the file in Epson Print Manager to set up for printing. That’s better than just using the “print” menu option in the editing or viewing app so far although there’s a plug in for Adobe for the print manager that I need to sort out.
My biggest issue currently is basic image file manipulation on a Mac but that’s only because I’ve worked in a PC for so long.
I didn’t realize just how enjoyable this part of the hobby would be. Seeing a print of your own photo on a large piece of quality paper appear from the printer is making me want to take more photos and also oddly hunt out weird paper types from online sites. I have my eye on Metallic luster, ultra premium luster and velvet fine art for the next trials but at 13x19 those can be a bit spendy.
2nd print (on actual paper) the print manager reset my paper size so an A4 print on a B3 page (13x19). I wondered why the borders were so big.
3rd print with everything corrected was a B&W portrait of one of my dogs and is just fantastic. Not necessarily the photo, admittedly I’m biased there though, but the quality of the print on this paper (matte ultra-premium presentation paper).
The printer itself is easy to work with. The duff print on the protector left me worried that the feed rollers had been contaminated with excess ink but 2-3 cleaning passes explained on the monitor sorted it all out. Ink usage has been minimal so far. The Epson print manager works really well and seems to be better than just using the print dialog in whatever photo app you’re using. Lots more options in terms of getting settings just right. The works flow is open photo in editing app, do whatever needs to be done, save to folder, open the file in Epson Print Manager to set up for printing. That’s better than just using the “print” menu option in the editing or viewing app so far although there’s a plug in for Adobe for the print manager that I need to sort out.
My biggest issue currently is basic image file manipulation on a Mac but that’s only because I’ve worked in a PC for so long.
I didn’t realize just how enjoyable this part of the hobby would be. Seeing a print of your own photo on a large piece of quality paper appear from the printer is making me want to take more photos and also oddly hunt out weird paper types from online sites. I have my eye on Metallic luster, ultra premium luster and velvet fine art for the next trials but at 13x19 those can be a bit spendy.
BigEvilDoer
Well-known member
It’s actually cheaper to take your files to WalMart and have them printed there as opposed to supplying your own high end paper and inks.
I worked in the printing industry for 28 years… I have experience with this stuff.
I’m sure it is but it’s nowhere near as convenient or fun. I can rectify an issue immediately or tweak some values to my own taste. My prints aren’t that expensive right now. A few dollars for a 13x19” print.
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