More on media? We have a great blog post describing how to choose the right paper for your image. It’s mainly for this reason that Epson printers might appear slightly more expensive for otherwise similar specifications. The main difference between the two brands is that the Epson print heads are designed to survive for the life of the printer whereas the Canon heads are usually expected to be replaced at some point. Both can produce exceptional-and nearly indistinguishable-results, and with proper maintenance you can expect to enjoy many years of usable life even from mid-range models. I recommend Epson Stylus and Canon printers. The two main considerations when choosing a printer are the maximum sheet size (or roll width) and the number of inks. (But don’t rule out buying used… for the same money as a pretty good new printer, you might find an excellent previously-owned model.) (Very) generally speaking, you can expect to spend around $500 USD for a new printer capable of pro results. You can’t expect great results with a consumer-grade printer, but you also don’t need to start at the top end. There’s an enormous range of printer models made for general home use all the way up to professional quality.

I recommend the professional displays from NEC and Eizo.įor more: Listen to our podcast episode on “Prints That Come Out Too Dark” (hint: it’s probably because you haven’t properly calibrated your display!) If you want to print your own images, you must begin with a good desktop display. Here’s a list of the most important considerations for putting together a good printing workflow.ĭon’t expect great prints if you’re using a low-grade monitor.įor that matter, using a laptop display won’t give you the accuracy you need to adequately evaluate your images before printing. And choosing the ideal substrate to print a given image can help the photograph reach its highest potential. You learn to see your work in new ways and better understand how the fundamentals of tone and color affect the viewer’s response to an image.

you have a much wider choice of print media (aka substrates)ĭoing your own printing can also make you a better photographer.

you’re in complete control of your photographic work.

Printing yourself has some key advantages over outsourcing: NOTE: Throughout this post, links to additional resources (related blog posts, podcast episodes) can be found in these grey boxes.

Photography art prints