I'm definitely archiving this message thread! Lots of great info, experiences, and suggestions regarding a complicated topic.

For my 2 cents - I opted for investing in the best large-bed scanner I could afford, and I send all my files (fully corrected/prepared by me) out to be printed by a shop I really love in Brooklyn (I'm in the Boston area). I end up paying shipping, yes, so I try to double up on orders whenever possible, but since my scans are excellent, I never need to pay the printer to color-correct (I get a "fast-track" discount), and I never dump time into technical issues and material (ink/paper) stocking. My printer is able to print on a full range of art papers, including a 120lb Arches Aquarelle that's basically the same as the paper I paint on. For ME (and I totally understand why someone else could arrive at a different outcome) I'm willing to pay a little extra (and charge my customers a little more) to outsource prints.

Eager to hear what you decide to do, Barbara!

Best,
-Natalya


Natalya Zahn
[log in to unmask]
www.natalya.com
www.oscaratemymuffin.com
617.301.0494


> On Jan 8, 2016, at 9:31 AM, Linda Feltner <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Absolutely, Deb, the scan is critical.
> 
> My printer got so fed up with trying to manipulate a mediocre scan from a local photo-graphics shop, that she and her husband bought a digital scan camera equipment.  Prior to that, she would spend several hours trying to balance the white of the artwork paper from one corner to the diagonal corner. The job shop would only replace one bulb at a time (they cost about $5K each), so the color temp of the bulbs were not balanced. Like I mentioned, she's a control freak when it comes to print perfection (bless her). 
> The scanning equipment costs about $45K (if memory serves) but it's a doozy. Her husband is an optical engineer, and does the scanning, she is the manipulator and printer.  For the same price of a scan as the old job shop, they provide brilliant scans. 
> 
> So I totally agree, finding a scanner is equally important. 
> 
> I know you'll miss that printer.... 
> Cheers,
> Linda
> _____________________
> Linda M. Feltner Artist, LLC
> P.O. Box 325
> Hereford, AZ 85615
> (520) 803-0538
> www.lindafeltner.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jan 7, 2016, at 3:40 PM, Deborah Shaw wrote:
> 
>> For anyone who is considering purchasing an Epson, I just received an email that Epson is extending and adding to their rebates on their professional and desktop inkjet printers. Rebates are good until 31 January, and are quite substantial, depending on the model, including the SureColor line. 
>> 
>> I printed quite a few limited addition prints for myself and other artists, in addition to educational posters and more, so my 4900 was cost-effective and convenient. Part of my background is in printing and pre-press, so it was an easy decision for me to make at the time. 
>> 
>> The scanning service I use are people who invent/build scanners. They’re scanning artists I think -- and they decide which of their scanners to use based on the artwork I bring in, all for the same (what I consider to be a low) price. They’ve scanned my artwork on laser drum scanners; gigantic flatbed scanners; you name it. They also write individual programming for each artwork to either ignore the background or include it, depending on my preferences. I had purchased my Epson printer through them, (they are a distributor) so when I used to tell them I would be printing from the scan, they would also include all the profiles for me for the different papers I would be using. Huge timesaver and convenient.
>> 
>> Even with the rebates, I’ll probably look for a printing service still. New printer isn’t in the budget. Everyone is correct — it depends on how you want to spend your time. If I can find a printing service that’s as magnificent as my scanning service, I’d rather be spending my time doing the artwork :-)  I do miss that printer though...
>> 
>> db
>> _______
>> 
>> Deborah B. Shaw
>> dbShaw Studios
>> 
>> [log in to unmask]
>> 949.887.3465
> 
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