I had some matte paper laying around so I've been able to do some test prints without wasting too much money. So far I've done four prints and the last two came out real well. I'll print the profile test page tonight and send it off tomorrow. I'll bet I have the profile back in a week. I'll be ready to roll then! Get those files ready!
Peggy wouldn't touch it, I had to call a buddy. He laughed when I called but when he saw it he said "holy, s..."!
and yes, I am sort of starting a commercial printing business.
Here's my tentative price list, all printed on Moab Entrada Natural 300 paper:
Print size or equal square inches
8x10 to 12x18, $20
13x19.5 to 15x22.5, $22
16x24 to 19x28.5, $30
20x30 to 24x36, $35
not including shipping.
Photoshop time is charged at $50/hour, 1/2 minimum
I can sympathize with Peggy's refusal to touch this baby! My aching back...
Your prices definitely seem reasonable, especially on the larger end. So far I haven't had any demand for larger than 13x19 but I know at some point I will or else I will want to do it just for my own gratification. At that point I'd be interested for sure...
Mark,
Me working at a business that has two hp 5000 series printers that can go up to 60" wide, This is just a baby. Your prices are cheaper than ours by a long shot. We charge up to $66.00 for a 24x36. If I want a large print, all I have to do is ask and the owners usually let me do it for free. Only problem is that the quality of the image from your printer is better so I may also be sending some files your way. Congrats!
I'm disapointed, Mark. I see the owner's manual is open there on your chair. I would have figured you would have left it in the box and and gotten that beast going on your own. I mean, it can't be much more difficult than a coffee grinder, right?
Nice printer. I hope to be able to see some of your work out of it. And to hear how much ink you suck up doing it.
To tell you the truth, Mike, I was a bit freaked when it came time to turn it on and print something. I had visions of ink spewing all over the place and paper running through the printer all crumpled up!
Mark, with pricing like that I may very seriously send you some files to print big. You're about a fourth the cost of West Coast, a third the cost of DigiCraft in Portland and almost half what I paid just today for a 24x40 at Focal Point. How do you plan to ship large prints back to clients?
Man, with that beast you better be making good use out of it. I wish you well.
Marc, I don't like rolling prints. I have some 17x21 hard cardboard mailers that I'll use for the smaller prints. For the larger ones I may sandwich them between some backing board and put that into a hard cardboard mailer. The prints will also be in a clear bag.
I don't need a job so I'm not that into making money, all I want it to do is to pay for my own paper and ink. I'll be happy if it does that.
Marc,
I don't think rolling prints is a big deal. Our company rolls prints of all sizes and it's the only way we deliver and ship. We never get any complaints and they are all repeat customers.They usually frame or mount them therefore it doesn't make any difference. Shipping them flat makes them more prone to damage. I would just put them in a tube especially for the price your offering. It's cheaper and alot easier to ship and transport them them that way. Just my two cents.
I do all my own matting and framing and do find working with a rolled print to be slightly more difficult, particularly if rolled too tight or before the ink had fully set in. Bagging should prevent damage to the image in most cases when shipped sandwiched. It's a minor point though. Rarely would I be dissatisfied with a rolled print.
Mark, I hope you don't do yourself in offering prints that merely cover your own costs and time, though it is very generous of you.
Thanks, I'm taking into consideration all the advice everyone has given me.
The price list is tentative. If this gig starts to consume too much of my life prices may go up a bit. We'll see.... I've broken it all down and so far it seems good to me.
Congrats on the "Big Iron"!! "Big Iron" is a phrase used in the IT world to desribe a REALLY BIG system such as a main frame computer or a server with many processors such as the SQL servers I support that have 8 processors.
So this 7800 fully qualifies IMHO.
I'm in preference of mailing prints flat - it simply eliminates the hassles of flattening it after mailing.
Mark,
We'll just go shooting some morning, print in the mid day light...suck down some brewskies...then go out again for sunset! What a perfect day, huh?
Mark, FWIW, I also am in favor of prints shipped flat. It may take a bit more careful packing to ensure no damage but it is easier IMHO on the receiver end when mounting it.
I am very interested in knowing what type of hard cardboard mailer you are talking about for shipping. I have had so much trouble finding suitable size cartons to ship larger format prints, mounted or unmounted...
All in all, let's not spend too much time fixing a problem we don't know exists. I'll give it a go shipping flat and if it doesn't work, I'll change.
On the other hand, it only costs money and only takes time. I guarantee I can ship you a, i.e., 50x60, flat and it will arrive at your place in perfect condition. I'll buy a big ol box, styrofoam peanuts, ship it UPS, the whole deal. It'll cost you but it certainly can be done. My employee at the Coffee Co. worked at a MailBoxes and more for five or six years, she's a pro at packaging stuff.
Thanks for the web page reference to those mailers, Mark. I can't imagine why I never found those before! The 17x21 size isn't too bad in price and they even have sizes up to 22x27 but the price goes up to over $5 per mailer (still not too bad compared to the price of a carton).
Mark, thanks a ton for the reference to those mailers. I couldn't find any like those. And if I need you to print a 50x60 I'll drive up there myself before paying those shipping charges!
Congratulations on the new printer. Its sure looks nice. Since I own a 7600 myself, I can understand your excitement.
I bought the 7600 primarily to produce large prints of my own photos at home but I am also making prints for several photographers and digital-artists. Most of these clients are local and so shipping isn't an issue for me. They either come over to my place and pick up the finished print or I drive over to their place and make the delivery. In case the print needs to be shipped I place it in a clear bag, then sandwitch it between two foam boards, bubble wrap it and place it in a large pizza box. I always ship the prints flat and the mailing costs are paid by the client. Since I print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag (308 gsm) I am reluctant to roll the prints - with cotton paper that thick I am quite sure the print surface will be damaged when rolling/unrolling it.
The 7600 has been very reliable and so far I have not had a single problem with it in the last 20 months I have owned it. I am very interested in print-making and consider it an important part of my photography. Toward that end, having the 7600 at home has been a true blessing.
Discussion
26 repliesI had some matte paper laying around so I've been able to do some test prints without wasting too much money. So far I've done four prints and the last two came out real well. I'll print the profile test page tonight and send it off tomorrow. I'll bet I have the profile back in a week. I'll be ready to roll then! Get those files ready!
Well, congrats! I assume you're opening up a custom printing business now?
and yes, I am sort of starting a commercial printing business.
Here's my tentative price list, all printed on Moab Entrada Natural 300 paper:
Print size or equal square inches
8x10 to 12x18, $20
13x19.5 to 15x22.5, $22
16x24 to 19x28.5, $30
20x30 to 24x36, $35
not including shipping.
Photoshop time is charged at $50/hour, 1/2 minimum
email me for more details.
Your prices definitely seem reasonable, especially on the larger end. So far I haven't had any demand for larger than 13x19 but I know at some point I will or else I will want to do it just for my own gratification. At that point I'd be interested for sure...
Me working at a business that has two hp 5000 series printers that can go up to 60" wide, This is just a baby.
Congrats on the baby.
I'm disapointed, Mark. I see the owner's manual is open there on your chair. I would have figured you would have left it in the box and and gotten that beast going on your own. I mean, it can't be much more difficult than a coffee grinder, right?
Nice printer. I hope to be able to see some of your work out of it. And to hear how much ink you suck up doing it.
Mike
Man, with that beast you better be making good use out of it. I wish you well.
I don't need a job so I'm not that into making money, all I want it to do is to pay for my own paper and ink. I'll be happy if it does that.
I don't think rolling prints is a big deal. Our company rolls prints of all sizes and it's the only way we deliver and ship. We never get any complaints and they are all repeat customers.They usually frame or mount them therefore it doesn't make any difference. Shipping them flat makes them more prone to damage. I would just put them in a tube especially for the price your offering. It's cheaper and alot easier to ship and transport them them that way. Just my two cents.
Mark, I hope you don't do yourself in offering prints that merely cover your own costs and time, though it is very generous of you.
The price list is tentative. If this gig starts to consume too much of my life prices may go up a bit. We'll see.... I've broken it all down and so far it seems good to me.
Thanks again everyone.
So this 7800 fully qualifies IMHO.
I'm in preference of mailing prints flat - it simply eliminates the hassles of flattening it after mailing.
We'll just go shooting some morning, print in the mid day light...suck down some brewskies...then go out again for sunset! What a perfect day, huh?
I am very interested in knowing what type of hard cardboard mailer you are talking about for shipping. I have had so much trouble finding suitable size cartons to ship larger format prints, mounted or unmounted...
These are the ones: http://tinyurl.com/f6hbp
All in all, let's not spend too much time fixing a problem we don't know exists. I'll give it a go shipping flat and if it doesn't work, I'll change.
On the other hand, it only costs money and only takes time. I guarantee I can ship you a, i.e., 50x60, flat and it will arrive at your place in perfect condition. I'll buy a big ol box, styrofoam peanuts, ship it UPS, the whole deal. It'll cost you but it certainly can be done. My employee at the Coffee Co. worked at a MailBoxes and more for five or six years, she's a pro at packaging stuff.
http://tinyurl.com/hvdxd
Congratulations on the new printer. Its sure looks nice. Since I own a 7600 myself, I can understand your excitement.
I bought the 7600 primarily to produce large prints of my own photos at home but I am also making prints for several photographers and digital-artists. Most of these clients are local and so shipping isn't an issue for me. They either come over to my place and pick up the finished print or I drive over to their place and make the delivery. In case the print needs to be shipped I place it in a clear bag, then sandwitch it between two foam boards, bubble wrap it and place it in a large pizza box. I always ship the prints flat and the mailing costs are paid by the client. Since I print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag (308 gsm) I am reluctant to roll the prints - with cotton paper that thick I am quite sure the print surface will be damaged when rolling/unrolling it.
The 7600 has been very reliable and so far I have not had a single problem with it in the last 20 months I have owned it. I am very interested in print-making and consider it an important part of my photography. Toward that end, having the 7600 at home has been a true blessing.
Have fun and happy printing.
Regards.