Photo Wall
The friend I mentioned on Friday who's a photographer kindly gave me a Canon Selphy CP500 some time ago. I accepted it ("owt for nowt, me") but never actually got round to using it. I'd always assumed it wouldn't be very good.
Now that I'm getting back in to photography I decided to give it a try. Guess what - it's actually really good. It only does 4"x6" (postcard-size) prints (or smaller) but they're as good as what you'd get back from any online photo-printing service. Without the wait!
Here's the office wall now.
I'm going to try and cover it completely. Luckily Canon still sell paper refills for the CP500 and I've ordered some now. Works out at about 30p per print.
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I got a Canon printer a while back (review at http://www.bleedyellow.com/blogs/texasswede/entry/review_canon_pixma_mg6120_printer). I am very happy with it.
I also print out photos, even in larger sizes, and find it perfekt for those "one-off" printouts where I want full control of the process and want it right away.
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Thanks for the link Karl-Henry. I was looking at an Epson, but that Canon looks good too. I don't like repeatedly asking neighbours for things, so may end up buying my own...
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Having once been a printer sales tech, if you plan to print daily, the Epson will give you better performance but the caveat is that their cartridge design means you *have to print daily* or your ink supply easily dries out. I typically sold this brand to architects and photographers.
For non-professional quantity with near professional quality, Karl-Henry is spot on the money. This brand typically went to home offices and casual users.
On an aside, I recently tore down a Canon printer and was surprised to find three layers of heavy absorbent material in the bottom beneath the paper carriage. Two layers were soaked with ink, which to me looked like a lot of waste but I don't know if the owner hadn't been printing bleeds (edge to edge) or on low quality paper that the ink just blew through.
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Thanks Jerry. Good to know. Especially as it could save me some cash.
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Printing at home has never been a big hit with me, and for small size pictures 6x4 or 7x5 I usually just get them from the instant booths which have popped up in Tesco or Boots when I go shopping.
On an aside, if you want awesome canvases printed, check out www.photo-canvas.com. We've got 6 from them with their 3 for 2 offer and they are excellent quality... and next day delivery too if speed is your thing!
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