Home Printing, Pro's and Cons ?

Hi All

While I usually send my good (IMO ) stuff to ProAm for printing I do have an Epson R340 for home printing, and quite good it is too. Now I'm about to run out of ink for the first time and I'm baulking at the cost of genuine Epson replacments, I'll get them if I have to but I thought I would ask in here for any third party recomendations (Jettec?).

Pete is also running a big add at the top of some pages here for a continuous ink system http://www.continuousink.com/default.asp?PARTNER=buycis&gclid=CKuK1YqVoosCFRROQwodPRL2jw , any body know anthing about this.

Brian,
I bought some Jettec cartridges from Picstop for my aging Epson Photo 870 - they seem absolutely fine
Colour is good, and quality appears as good as the Epsons. Perfect for one offs etc.
Matt

my two cents:

doing your own printing....whenever possible is worth it if you've profiled your system, print often, and don't like the Idea that someone else can: make a copy of your work, track everything you own (camera, lenses, etc mined from the exif data in your memory cards/exif data.) as well as collect info about your volume of business.....etc.

the inks from the manufacturer are expensive, but using other brands introduces more variables that could have/cause problems.

I'd compare home printing to that of getting a custom pro lab print on film.
costs more, but worth it.

Thanks for the replies guys,.

Matt
I'm going to order up a set of Jettec compatibles and give them a try, at 1/2 the cost of the Epson's it has to be worth a go.

Don
System has been profiled (I need to get another one for B & W though), I'm very happy with prints using good quality paper (Fuji Premier Gloss). ProAm have been business for around 20years, if they were a bit dodgy we would have heard by now..I hope.

I use a cheap Epson Stylus R300 with a brand X continous ink system utilising "Signal" inks. Purchased ready instaled at a Computer Market in Manchester

The prints stand up well to scrutiny in Camera Club competitions, alongside those of fellow members who I know use genuine branded inks.

OK, to be fair they may not have the longevity but I can always run another print off

I generally print on Epson Premium Photo Glossy but have used them with cheap papers as well (also from Computer Market)

If I need a print to last I can always get it done at a lab, but I fail to see the point in spending hundreds of pounds on a printer and genuine inks for the (assumed) slightly better quality I would get.

PS; I have had a panoramic up on the wall, in a very brightly lit location and it is only just begining to show signs of fading after 18months, that was using the Signal ink and brand X paper.

Hi all

Just an update, I managed to find a full set of genuine Epson ink from ebay for £26.00 + 4.00 p&p delivery, deliver next day (approx saving of £16.00), worth it I reckon for the genuine stuff.

Checkout ebay seller compatink.