Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/03/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Richard, Trying to make a large format printer pay for itself is a full-time job. I don't know how many people actually buy these beasts for personal non-commercial work, though I know a handful of professional photographers who own 24" and 44" printers (mostly Epson); most of the large-format owners that I know, myself included, consider the personal use of the machine a perk of ownership. Consider where you are located. Do you have a potential local clientele? I live in a community with a large population of artists and a University fine art program, I'm near New York City but don't have the expensive overhead of the commercial labs in the city. However I also have local competition. Are you sure that a 24" printer is big enough? The first client who needs a 30 x 40 will go elsewhere, and he probably won't be back (unless you figure out a way to outsource oversize jobs). Keeping a printer running at a profit will require service - your costs will exceed the simple price of paper and ink. Don't count on the printer producing prints that "look pretty darn good" by itself. Be expert with Photoshop. People, both amateurs and professional photographers and artists, will bring you images that need work before you hit the print button, and your success will depend on your skill and experience. Feel free to contact me off-list, J. Gilbert Plantinga Upstate Light 3 Water Street New Paltz, NY12561 845.255.3155 jgp@upstatelight.com http://upstatelight.com On Mar 19, 2007, at 6:59 AM, Richard wrote: > I am seriously thinking about getting a Z3100, the 24" large format > printer from HP. The primary reason being that with my integrating > Chinese calligraphy into photoimages, even a 13x19 print looks > small for calligraphy. The major downside is of course the cost. > Plus that who knows how many these images I can make... > > One way to defray the cost is to sell printing service at slightly > premium over material cost. With the builtin color calibration, the > printer should produce prints that look pretty darn good. > > What do you think? A viable "business" plan? Or should I just a) > give up whole idea, or b) bite the bullet and purchase the printer > anyway?