Posted by Craig Schultz on December 31, 2009 at 4:32 PM
With the Costco stores now sporting new Epson 7880's for larger prints at $9 for a 20x30, it would be a steal if they are good quality. The Epson should be able to output excellant prints, but being able to get good prints out of it would depend on the profile and lab operator to some degree. I'm wondering about the quality they are getting out of them and the Dry Creek Photo profiles.
Has anyone printed on one of these yet and if so, what did you think of the print compared to your normal printer/lab?
Thanks,
Craig
Posted by Brian Jackson on December 31, 2009 at 5:34 PM
I've used the Costco 7880 here in Denver and have mixed results. On the one hand it's $9, thats just almost too cheap to pass up. I've printed about 15-20, 20x30 prints. The problem is that 75% of the time there is something wrong with the print. I've compared the exact same prints from CostCo against WHCC and West Coast and would have to say it's hard to tell them apart on the 25% that come back ok. On shaded areas I've seen horizontal lines in the CostCo prints. More than likely they just aren't running the 7880 through the clean cycle enough.
The biggest issue that I have had is that 75% of the time there is either a bend, a scratch, etc on the print. The personnel just really don't take good care of the prints and they roll them up, and most likely are not letting them dry long enough which is causing most of the scratches.
My first 4 - 5 prints came out perfect as I don't think very many people knew of the large prints. I think I was one of the few people who knew about it. As time has passed every time I go in there I see the 7880 printing. I just don't think they are keeping the heads clean, nor are they allowing the prints to dry. I'm sure each store is going to vary.
I still use them for testing prints. Some people say print out a 8x10 proof, but some times a 8x10 just doesn't show all the little imperfections that a 20x30 would show. I don't mind blowing $9 away on a test and once I get it to my liken, I send it off to WHCC.
More recently they have started adding the printer profiles from Dry Creek for the 7880's as well.
Posted by Don George on December 31, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Sams Club has the same printer and a 20x30 print is just under 9.00. The person printing at The technician at Sams in Loveland has been there for sometime and she has taken time with me and allowed me to work with her on the Master terminal. Once I get a print I'm satisfied with I have her print a number of them. I have experienced the same issues that Brian has identifyed. On one occasion they received an upgraded paper and the technician actually kept it for me in a cabinet. If your going to print a proof you must print at least an 11x14. Anything smaller such as 8x10 is printed on a different printer and won't match up.
Posted by Craig Schultz on December 31, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Thanks for the info guys, I must have missed these posts for some reason and the search on this site leaves a bit to be desired.
Brian, my biggest fear was exactly as you stated in your post, that it would be a crap shoot as far as quality goes. I guess I'll give it a try and see what happens, maybe I'll have above average operators at my Costco by Park Meadows.
BTW, if ordering online, do you do anything other than turn off the auto correction settings after selecting the print size? I'm wondering how they know you want to print on the 7880 if you order an 11x14 because it can be printed on all their printers because the Noritsu's print up to 12x18.
Thanks again,
Craig
Posted by Jack Garrett on January 1, 2010 at 8:53 AM
I'm not sure if the same rule applies to their large photos but in the past when I ordered 12x18's, if they didn't look good I could refuse them and I wasn't charged. Just for grins, I ordered a 30x30 and I will pick it up tomorrow. Like someone said in an earlier post, for the price it would at least make a good test print.
Posted by Roger Rouch on January 1, 2010 at 9:23 AM
I use the Costco in Arvada and have never had any quality problems. I've compared 11X14 type prints from their Noritsu printer to WHCC and not been able to tell any significant difference. As of last month, their Costco Epson printer only used a paper with a satin looking finish and could not do glossy prints. I've been pleased with the Epson prints, but haven't done a comparison test. At least for me, the prices are so inexpensive, I could probably deal with a few quality issues, should they arise.
I've liked using WHCC if I need to reuse the packing materials for shipping out of town. But for local or personal use, it has seemed a waste of resources to have to discard all of the shipping materials ffrom WHCC.
I'd actually be interested in any comparisons someone has done with a high end printer like WCI vs WHCC/Costco type places. The few prints I've been able to afford from WCI have been stellar.
Posted by Brian Jackson on January 1, 2010 at 4:29 PM
BTW, if ordering online, do you do anything other than turn off the auto correction settings after selecting the print size? I'm wondering how they know you want to print on the 7880 if you order an 11x14 because it can be printed on all their printers because the Noritsu's print up to 12x18.
Only the 16x20 and 20x30 print on the Epson. All your 8x10, 12x14, 12x18, etc would print on the Noritsu.
I use the Costco in Arvada and have never had any quality problems. I've compared 11X14 type prints from their Noritsu printer to WHCC and not been able to tell any significant difference.
I have never had any problems with quality with the Noritsu prints as well. I've done comparison prints from WCI, WHCC, and CostCo on the 8x10 and 11x14 range as well and really can't see any differences.
I've only had problems quality on the Epson prints from CostCo and 90% of the problem has be from a person and not the printer.
I'd actually be interested in any comparisons someone has done with a high end printer like WCI vs WHCC/Costco type places. The few prints I've been able to afford from WCI have been stellar.
I've sent off about 5-8 20x30's to CostCo and WHCC. 2-3 of them I couldn't tell any differences. The rest were much sharper and much better saturation from the WHCC prints. Also the CostCo Epson prints had some vertical banding in light black or gray areas that were very noticeable when you were standing 5 ft or closer. I haven't sent off any big prints to WCI yet as I'm been very happy with WHCC.
Just for reference I've done all my CostCo prints from the Parker and Park Meadows area CostCo.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Craig Schultz on January 1, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Great info everyone, keep it coming...
Brian, this is what I found by clicking the printer profiles link at the bottom of the Photo Center pages at Costco: http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/Profiles/Colorado_profiles.htm#CO at this link you will notice two profiles for the Epson at the Park Meadows store - Photo Satin and Semi-gloss poster board; not sure which should be used but a call to the store might help here.
If you then click on the Poster Printer link you will be taken to: http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/CostcoPosterPrinters.html This is where Dry Creek has instructions on using the profiles, what resolution to use for your images and what sizes are printed on the Epson. I'm guessing these instructions might not be 100% accurate as far as sizes and such go, but I'll call the store or stop in person to see how ordering should be done. I think you are probably correct in that anything 12x18in and smaller will print on the Noritsu.
What paper have you always received when printing to the 7880 - photo paper or the poster board? Specifically at the Park Meadows store since I will using that one too.
Discussion
7 repliesHas anyone printed on one of these yet and if so, what did you think of the print compared to your normal printer/lab?
Thanks,
Craig
Thread 1
Thread 2
My comments
I've used the Costco 7880 here in Denver and have mixed results. On the one hand it's $9, thats just almost too cheap to pass up. I've printed about 15-20, 20x30 prints. The problem is that 75% of the time there is something wrong with the print. I've compared the exact same prints from CostCo against WHCC and West Coast and would have to say it's hard to tell them apart on the 25% that come back ok. On shaded areas I've seen horizontal lines in the CostCo prints. More than likely they just aren't running the 7880 through the clean cycle enough.
The biggest issue that I have had is that 75% of the time there is either a bend, a scratch, etc on the print. The personnel just really don't take good care of the prints and they roll them up, and most likely are not letting them dry long enough which is causing most of the scratches.
My first 4 - 5 prints came out perfect as I don't think very many people knew of the large prints. I think I was one of the few people who knew about it. As time has passed every time I go in there I see the 7880 printing. I just don't think they are keeping the heads clean, nor are they allowing the prints to dry. I'm sure each store is going to vary.
I still use them for testing prints. Some people say print out a 8x10 proof, but some times a 8x10 just doesn't show all the little imperfections that a 20x30 would show. I don't mind blowing $9 away on a test and once I get it to my liken, I send it off to WHCC.
More recently they have started adding the printer profiles from Dry Creek for the 7880's as well.
Brian, my biggest fear was exactly as you stated in your post, that it would be a crap shoot as far as quality goes. I guess I'll give it a try and see what happens, maybe I'll have above average operators at my Costco by Park Meadows.
BTW, if ordering online, do you do anything other than turn off the auto correction settings after selecting the print size? I'm wondering how they know you want to print on the 7880 if you order an 11x14 because it can be printed on all their printers because the Noritsu's print up to 12x18.
Thanks again,
Craig
I've liked using WHCC if I need to reuse the packing materials for shipping out of town. But for local or personal use, it has seemed a waste of resources to have to discard all of the shipping materials ffrom WHCC.
I'd actually be interested in any comparisons someone has done with a high end printer like WCI vs WHCC/Costco type places. The few prints I've been able to afford from WCI have been stellar.
Only the 16x20 and 20x30 print on the Epson. All your 8x10, 12x14, 12x18, etc would print on the Noritsu.
I have never had any problems with quality with the Noritsu prints as well. I've done comparison prints from WCI, WHCC, and CostCo on the 8x10 and 11x14 range as well and really can't see any differences.
I've only had problems quality on the Epson prints from CostCo and 90% of the problem has be from a person and not the printer.
I've sent off about 5-8 20x30's to CostCo and WHCC. 2-3 of them I couldn't tell any differences. The rest were much sharper and much better saturation from the WHCC prints. Also the CostCo Epson prints had some vertical banding in light black or gray areas that were very noticeable when you were standing 5 ft or closer. I haven't sent off any big prints to WCI yet as I'm been very happy with WHCC.
Just for reference I've done all my CostCo prints from the Parker and Park Meadows area CostCo.
Hope this helps.
Brian, this is what I found by clicking the printer profiles link at the bottom of the Photo Center pages at Costco: http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/Profiles/Colorado_profiles.htm#CO at this link you will notice two profiles for the Epson at the Park Meadows store - Photo Satin and Semi-gloss poster board; not sure which should be used but a call to the store might help here.
If you then click on the Poster Printer link you will be taken to: http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/CostcoPosterPrinters.html This is where Dry Creek has instructions on using the profiles, what resolution to use for your images and what sizes are printed on the Epson. I'm guessing these instructions might not be 100% accurate as far as sizes and such go, but I'll call the store or stop in person to see how ordering should be done. I think you are probably correct in that anything 12x18in and smaller will print on the Noritsu.
What paper have you always received when printing to the 7880 - photo paper or the poster board? Specifically at the Park Meadows store since I will using that one too.
Craig