Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
This is my second year as a IVRPA member but my first post. The plethora of knowledge here is a wonderful resource that I really should take advantage of more often.
I think one of the most fabulous things about full spherical panoramas are how beautiful thy look when printed. I just love picking up my prints from the printer and looking at them as 8x16 prints. I would love to have a printed portfolio of my work to show people. I believe they would be as impressed with the look of a full spherical in printed form as I am. Unfortunately I don't really have the funds to have my images printed professionally. However, I think I can do this at home with a little printer manipulation. I have a Epson Stylus Photo RX580 and am happy with the look of the prints I have made. I print from Lightroom on my iMac. Also I have found a place locally that will fill my cartridges for much less than an Epson cartridge would cost and I see no difference in the quality. So, I figured I can have prints made for about half that or less then having them professionally printed. Here is my question (finally), has anyone, or does anyone know how to let the printer know you are printing longer than 11 inches? The Epson Stylus Photo RX580 All-in-One specifications say that paper sizes can be 8.5" x 11", 8.5" x 14", A4, B5, A5, A6, half letter, executive, user definable (3.5"-44" in length). It's the user definable I curious about. I could buy 8.5 in roll paper and cut the paper to size and make prints that are just about 8x16.
Is this doable?
Thanks!
Anne Savage
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
user definable up to 44". You would input your paper size, that is if you cut your paper to 16" and put in paper feed. So, that would be 8.5 x 16 user defined (name it pano or ?). Print thru PS and select that your user defined paper size (pano or ?)
I will say Epson ink on Epson paper will yield the best results. Be careful about cheap papers and ink. They will not last very long.
Robert Thien
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
I've been using the "C" series of Epson printers to print panoramas for years...
The current version is the C88. a very inexpensive "business" printer using 4 pigmented inks.
It cost less than $100 USD. and are often on-sale for about the cost of a set of ink cartridges.
I often have printed up to 8.5"x36" on matte roll paper which I pre-cut with a Olfa Rotary Cutter. Usually I determine the final size by frame size availability, and haven't found or made 44" long frames.
On glossy paper the 4 inks do not provide good gradients, but on matte paper they do well.
Regards,
Ed
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
Anne
Epson used to make "Panoramic Paper" that was photo paper sized 8.3 x 23.4 and I printed it on C88 and it worked fine.
What I'm getting ready to do is buy an HP Photosmart Pro B8350 that can use custom sizes up to 13 x 50 and have Epson rolled photo paper cut by a local frame shop to 11.75 x 36.
I zeroed in on that size because there are affordable stock frames made that size. They're about $15 each for an order of 25.
My thinking is that I can sell the posters for $30, maybe $40 by themselves and $50 to $60 with the frame. If they want a nicer frame, they can spend whatever they want
Douglas Aurand
Albuquerque, NM
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
I am struggling with an Epson 1280 so far without success. I've used up a lot of good RC paper. It seems the Epson 1280 can't do panoramas. Either the image is shifted on the sheet in the preview or the print stops before completion.
So... previews and cheap materials until you have it tweaked.
Clay Morehead
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
Clay
I've had trouble with some programs not liking that size paper.
Maybe thats the problem?
Word 97 doesn'r support that size paper even though the printer does and my old MGI PhotoSuite always scews up the first page I print so I run a plain paper version first.
Just takes practice
Douglas Aurand
Albuquerque, NM
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
http://www.epson.co.in/products/supplies/EPSON_Panoramic_Photo_Paper.sht...
I have an Epson 1280 which i bought in 2001. It is now starting to leave lines of colour that is being dragged over by the print head, so i think i need either a new one, or this one serviced.
I have used this pano paper LOADS, and yes if you set it to have standard margins, it laves a heavy border down one side, but if you play with the paper sizes and even set it to manual paper size with zero margins and print to edge, you loose those white margins.
But in answer yes you could use a roll of paper from epson, as i have done this many times before.
I'm not sure which country your in, but i used to swear by Epson genuine inks etc, and then during a very tight time, i had to do a lot of printing, so i bought some cheep ink and hoped for the best, and i was right it was crap. But then a friend of mine recommended www.7dayshop.co.uk where they sell the ink for £1 per cartridge. I bought a few and thought well im only wasting a small amount of money.
The images were stronger than epson ink, and the images i printed 5 yrs or so ago and are in direct sunlight in my office are still fine.
So cheep ink is not always bad, i bought a shoe box full of ink on my next order, which im still using up.
But now im after a new epson printer, but im now thinking of a larger canvas printer, but not sure i can justify the money.
Any body any good suggestions of a canvas printer?
Regards
Ian
www.NewWorldDesigns.co.uk
CMS Systems, Web Design, 3D Animation
www.QuickTimeVirtualReality.com
Object, Pano, Multinode, QTVR, Flash, Java
Re: Printing on a "cheap" Epson printer
Anne,
yes it should be possible. At least it is with my old Epson Photo Stylus 870.
I recommend you make a test with cheap paper or you might tape two smaller sheets together on the backside.
But before you decide about less cost I highly recommend you check that your colors and papers are proof of aging and uv-light. From my own experience I can tell that chances are high they mitght bleach significantly within a year.
Taking that into account plus the cost for high quality paper, ink and time I figured that a print shop is really worth the money.
Good luck
Juergen