What do you think?

[theblindsquirrel]

I'm going into business here in Hawaii in the tourist trade. The equipment I'm planning to use is as follows: Nikon CP990 ( I already own an SB28 for TTL and multiple flash capability, want a high res file to work with and want to be able to download directly using USB or Firewire), some form of computer with high graphics capability and CDRW to save files to (haven't made my final decision yet on specifics) and printing with the Epson 1270 on Epson photo quality paper. I'll be working with each photo in Photoshop 5.0 and offering for immediate purchase (as tourists dont want to hang around very long). Any suggestions on the equip I've stated (pros and/or cons)

[Rick Baker]

I don't know much about digital cameras, but it sounds like a good idea for convenience which you would need for this. I have a HP DeskJet 722C, which probably doesn't compare to the printer you'll be using. I've scanned in some of my images and printed them out on special photo paper and I can barely tell a difference between actual prints, even on this printer. Photoshop is great for cropping, correcting under/over exposure and more. I would like to hear some opinions on good photo printers, because I've been wanting to upgrade.

[Rick Baker]

I wonder how long inks from these printers would last compared to a regular print

[theblindsquirrel]

I wonder how long inks from these printers would last compared to a regular print

The research I've investigated does not give any specifics although I understand that other inks are more archival than the Epsons. However, this isn't pertinent in my case as the 1270 uses a newer technology that "vibrates" the ink into the paper and the archival inks I speak of aren't compatable with this process. Becides, this will result in reprints at a later date (he said with a smile)

[Rick Baker]

I wonder if it would be economical for me to scan my pictures in, make them better with Photoshop, ehance them I mean by cropping and correcting for exposure/under exposure, etc. Then print them out on a great printer and sell them. What do you think? I need a better printer with better resolution, the ability to print larger prints, etc.

[theblindsquirrel]

I don't know much about digital cameras, but it sounds like a good idea for convenience which you would need for this. I have a HP DeskJet 722C, which probably doesn't compare to the printer you'll be using. I've scanned in some of my images and printed them out on special photo paper and I can barely tell a difference between actual prints, even on this printer. Photoshop is great for cropping, correcting under/over exposure and more. I would like to hear some opinions on good photo printers, because I've been wanting to upgrade.


Actually I'll be using Photoshop to place people in front of Hawaiian backgrounds,surfboards and to put them on "magazine" covers. BTW, these Epsons are supposed to be incredible for photographic printing. I see VERY little difference in the quality compared to color prints I have made in the darkroom. Does this signal the end of color printing with all the caustic and dangerous chemicals in the future?

[theblindsquirrel]

I wonder if it would be economical for me to scan my pictures in, make them better with Photoshop, ehance them I mean by cropping and correcting for exposure/under exposure, etc. Then print them out on a great printer and sell them. What do you think? I need a better printer with better resolution, the ability to print larger prints, etc.

The prints that Galen Rowell are selling on his website are done in a digital format (Type C). The printer I'm talking about allows a 13x17 print format as well as a banner format that I believe to be 13x53 (?).I think you would would need a high end film scanner to accomplish what you are talking about though and they are NOT cheap by any means. I would judge the feasibility on how your prints are selling now in the regular mode of printing (if you ARE, in fact, offering them for sale).

[Matt Stiles]

I can't imagine why you would want to buy a personal scanner unless you needed real time prints. Several photo labs can scan slides and put them on a CD like Kodac Photo CD for less than $1 per slide + cost of the CD (~$10). We've come a long ways when we can have our entire photo collection on a handful of CDs...

[Richard Knight]

I can't imagine why you would want to buy a personal scanner unless you needed real time prints. Several photo labs can scan slides and put them on a CD like Kodac Photo CD for less than $1 per slide + cost of the CD (~$10). We've come a long ways when we can have our entire photo collection on a handful of CDs...

Actually, Matt, I think Rick was thinking about possibly selling his photos. When talking about cropping an already small neg or chrome, he would need higher resolution to begin with. In this case he would want a very high resolution scan (possibly for 100s or 1000s of negs and slides). In this context it would become cost effective to purchase a scanner.I print my own color photos. In my landscapes I many times burn in the sky. When you burn in most color prints the color shifts to magenta (if you want to compensate, you shift towards green during burning). Many of my prints (sunsets generally) have been enhanced by the addition of the magenta color shift (the results can be quite delicate at times). I have tried to duplicate this in photoshop but the extended effort required to do it is a PAIN. Consequently, I use a flatbed on these prints to duplicate them. If I was just going to scan the neg and rework it I wouldn't bother. Also, better film scanners can give a much higher resolution, I believe, than the photo CDs from film developers (unless you pay big bucks to a custom lab for scanning).

[Richard Knight]

I'm going into business here in Hawaii in the tourist trade. The equipment I'm planning to use is as follows: Nikon CP990 ( I already own an SB28 for TTL and multiple flash capability, want a high res file to work with and want to be able to download directly using USB or Firewire), some form of computer with high graphics capability and CDRW to save files to (haven't made my final decision yet on specifics) and printing with the Epson 1270 on Epson photo quality paper. I'll be working with each photo in Photoshop 5.0 and offering for immediate purchase (as tourists dont want to hang around very long). Any suggestions on the equip I've stated (pros and/or cons)

Just a note! I sincerely want to thank Alan Jacobs for his info on converting an SB28 (or many other flashes)to AC power (posted on rec.photo a week or so back). He has an ingenious design for making power packs for digital cameras and for flashes that can be made by just about anyone with minimal skills. If you read this Alan THANKS AGAIN! If anyone needs this info I'll be happy to pass it along!

[Max Panfilov]

When I print my pictures on my own printer (HP DeskJet 895) using Premum Photo Paper I still see those printer specific dots that you cannot get rid of in any case with any printer unless you use very high quality expensive printers that produces continuous tone.
On the other hand, if you compare the picture printed on InkJet printer and real one, you will NOT see any difference if you look at it from appropriate distance.

Also, if you want to get really photo quality picture with continuous tone, you can always bring it to the local digital lab and they will print it for you and you will not be able to distinguish the difference from the real photograph. Certainly, you'll have to have digital picture in resolution that will be needed for the size of print you want... about 3000x2000 pixels if you want 8x10 print out. However, you can go even biger to huge poster sizes because you do NOT generally look at the huge poster from a distance of two inches Plus, using some software you can enlarge digital pictures without serious visible degradation in quality.