Please help me buy a Colour Printer/Scanner for Quilting!!!
 

You can't go wrong if you go with a HP printer. It's the only one I'll own. I have an all in one now and it does great for pictures as well as everything else that I need. In all of my over 20 yrs of buying printers this is the only one thing that I'll be true to.

Go with a laser for printing, its a bit more money up front , but uses alot less ink. Do note you can not use a laser printer for printing on fabric .

If you'll be wanting to print pics and/or labels on fabric, look at printers that will use pigment based ink cartridges, not just for the balck cartridge, but also for the color one(s). Epson and HP offer several, but not all, that do this.

You CAN use a laser printer for printing on fabric (though not on the packaged sheets) but the technique is slightly different. Do a search of topics on the subject, starting with this one. http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...er-t83713.html

I'll be watching this post as I to want to know. carol

You won't go wrong with an HP. And you don't need to spend over about $70 US for a 4 in 1 Photosmart.

I have used a HP, EPSOM, BROTHERS, an KODAK 4 in 1 and I have had good luck with all of them. (That being said, no matter what the brand, you can get a dude sometimes. Take your wish list into the store and tell them a printer needs to meet these specs, then ask the clerk to suggest a couple. Good luck. Like someone said, you can get one for a reasonable price. You'll also want to take the cost of the ink cartridges into your decision. Doesn't make sense to get an inexpensive printer and find that the ink is outrageously expensive.

I buy the all in one printer that has the cheaper ink cartridges. Right now it's Kodak. I think I paid about $70 for it on sale at WalMart. It is an all in one and has wireless connection. I can print from any computer in the house. I will use it for a year and get another one. Printers are always being updated so I wouldn't spend a lot and feel like I had to get several years of service out of it to justify the purchase. Unless you need professional printing, no use buying an expensive one. I will probably buy this one next even if it is more expensive to buy, for one reason- $5 ink cartridges : http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/lexmar...artridge/29164

I have the HP photosmart premium and if I had to buy a new one it would NOT be another HP!Talk about eating up ink....man...this thing goes through ink like crazy!

HP has a limited number of DesignJet printers that use pigment based color inks, the rest take dye based colors. Black ink is frequently pigment based. This site has a list of cartridge numbers for different types of printers that are pigment based. http://www.oddparts.com/ink/faq19.htm
Here's some general info: http://www.castleink.com/_a-printer-inks.html Keep in mind, these sites are talking about ink on paper, not fabric. The reason color inks are dye based is so they are smooth, thin, blendable, flowing, and cheap to produce...iow, water soluble, what you don't really want for washable fabric use.

There is a great article by Gloria Hansen, a quilt and mixed-media artist, on the subject of inkjet printing on fabric. http://www.gloriahansen.com/articles.php?p=1&ID=3 See if that helps answer some of your questions. Please note, it was written in 2003.

I have used Lexmark for years. A lot of people complain about them. But my three previous (to the Epson I have now) were real workhorses. My real problem with them was ink usage. Ieven tried the cartridge refills at the office supply places and Walgreens, but it was still steep. And you were never guaranteed that the person who refilled them, reset the chips. The chips are really important. Almost all printer ink cartridges are measured by the page counts - not weight of the cartridge (which would make sense). The chip resets the counter and it goes so many pages of printing for which ever cartridge you filled.

When my last Lexmark was fried by a lightening strike (DH thought that it was protected because it was on a surge protector - but the lightening struck through the phone line - not happening again) I started looking. Like you, I have a 'business' that I run also - rescuing small animals. So I needed more than just the 'basics'.

I have the Epson WorkForce 310. And I love it! I was just saying to DH how much I love all of the bells and whistles yesterday. 4-in-1, great copying and scanning - even with the fabrics to go into EQ7 - really nice colors. I use it to print some quilt labels and pictures and have had no issues.

One of the reasons that I purchased my Epson was that I discovered that Epson was one of the manufacturers that has non-OEM cartridges with the reset-able chip available. I purchase my ink from an independent dealer and the first purchase - which included the refillable/reset-able cartridges and bottles of the various colors of ink - cost me less than $45, including shipping. And that original order of ink lasted me almost as entire year. The black supply had to be refilled after about 10 months, but I expected that. And I just purchased more ink - 5 100ml bottles (2 blacks, 1 blue, 1 yellow, 1 red) - and that total cost was less than $20. LOVE THOSE PRICES. The inks are the pigment dyes which are the ones you want for fabric printing. OH and refilling the cartridges are really easy to refill. These are designed to be refilled, unlike some refill kits where they have YOU drill a hole in your cartridge and then fill with a needle and syringe. These have a color coded rubber stoppers and the tip of the bottle fits in the hole exactly. SO EASY!!!!!

And the other really huge thing for me with the Epson, is that the paper track is straight and through - no bending and turning and stuff like my Lexmarks. The direct feed is SO much better. I can handle just about anything without having paper jams - photo paper (of all sizes and the pictures are fabulous), fabric sheets, cardstock, transparancies and labels. The only think that I have had problems with fee issues where the Christmas card stock that I tried to use this year. It had a pebble finish and the rollers just didn't want to grab it and go.

Sorry for the 'book' but you asked [shrug]. I know that you are in Canada so your prices will vary, but the model that I have can be picked up just about anywhere - Staples, OfficeMax, etc. - for less than $100. I found it on sale when I bought it and it was $85 two years ago. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide.

once you said individual color cartridges, that limits your choices... call the stores and see what they have available... there are only one or two on the market... i have taken the other route... my library has a color printer for 15 cents per page... it is cheaper (color ink is expensive when you figure out how many pages you get from one cartridge)... and simply more convenient for me to save my quilt work in a word doc and then email to myself, go to the library and print out anything i want for 30 or 45 cents.. my printer will print color, but it ends up being very expensive... and you should know... if you use your color cartridges to make black pages, it eats them up at a rate that would stun you.... and of course, we all run out of black in occasionally... i print black at home, color at the library...

We have owned HP printers now going on over 10 yrs every couple of years we upgrade not because there is anything wrong with the printer, like this current purchase was because it's a wireless printer so no matter where I'm sitting in the house I can hit print and it's gone to the printer. We find the ink cartridges we get a pretty good usage out of them we can go several months without needing to change anything. Our printer gets used almost daily as DH prints off work documents at night so I can proof read them for him.

Our HP can print, fax, scan, photocopy, it does pictures, the patterns come out really nice and sharp. I'd highly recommend HP to anyone, we've had Canon's, Lexmark printers before and always ended up going back to HP hope this helps.

I purchased a HP all in one 4550 is the number from Sam's Club about two months ago and with the rebate it was only 59.99. It has been wonderful so far. I also have a ColorSmart printer I received with my labtop I purchased in 2008 and it works great as I can just plug my camera into and print photos. I bought the newer one as I could set up things wireless so I don't have to plug my laptop in to print all the time, and I needed a scanner.

I had several HP printers but went with the hype I saw a bought a Canon. Big mistake as it just ate ink and didn't last. Unfortunately because of the ink issue I didn't use it that much so it was not under warranty. It is now just a doorstop. I bought another HP (Photosmart Premium) and am very happy with it. I can say that I'm happy with this brand. This printer does all I need it to do and I think it meets all of your needs.

I just went and bought one sat. as I had abeen fighting with my epson for months now and it wouldnt print finally and just dump ink. went to Best buys and the hp rep was there, told him what i wanted and got a photosmart, love it it was user friendly to install, plays well with vista inks can be bought seperately, and also small size or larger size of each, my requirment was also that it had to beable to reduce and enlarge, which it does. love it. was $129 with tax.. wished i had done it sooner, and the picture printing was incredible, my husband could not believe I had printed it it looked like a postcard. cant wait to try on fabric.

also can't use laser for freezer paper copying (paper pieced patterns)

I too was looking for a good printer for quilting - I went to Staples and found one - thanks to a very knowledgeable young man who knew exactly what I needed, and I love it -

It is an HP official Pro 8500 A910. It has individual inks - and the print you get out of the machine is better than the picture you put in to print with the scanner! It gives amazing detail and color - I would highly recommend one of these to anyone - and it has all the bells and whistles and if you watch the sales for Stapeles, they do have them on sale at times - and if you take your old printer in to trade it (what good is it anymore) you can get $50 off your new one - and watch for coupons too. They also take old ink cartridges - up to 10 at a time. So, it's a way to recycle - and you get a great deal all at once; not to mention if you have problems with anything you purchase from them they have a great backup tech service. Mine costed me $199. and I had no trade-in - coupon - just the sale it was at at the time. But, once I knew all this other stuff, I could have gotten more off the final price. So, go prepared to "make a deal".

You can also sign up online for their weekly ad where they send you specials now and then also - I enjoy their sales.

I have a cheap HP all in one that used way to much ink and is now dead. It didnt last long.
Im back to my old HP deskjet that only prints, no scanner.
Now that Kodak went bankrupt will have to do some research to find one that dosnt cost a fortune for ink.

A printer I want, want, want, prints as big as 13x17 inch paper. Would be so great for paper foundation piecing. It is EQ compatable too. Can't seem to find it on the HP site but I know they make it, my former boss had one in his office!!!

You might want to consider a wide format printer (prints up to 13 inches wide). I like this to allow me to print paper piecing patterns for large blocks, quilting designs and 12 inch scrap book pages.

I use brother printers and I like them. I get great color and it has individual color packs so you do not have to change them all when one is out.My latest in MFC J410W. Love it and it was only 129

Maybe not for printing on just the freezer paper, but you can run fabric on freezer paper through a laser printer with no trouble. http://www.brighthub.com/computing/h...les/58811.aspx

Toadmomma
What is the number of the HP printer that you got? I too would like one that reduces and enlarges.
Thanks

Do you have a certain computer program to produce labels for your quilts?

OH FUN!!! I love to spend other peoples money LOL just kidding I'll leave this to the experts just call me when your ready to shop for fabric hahaha

Since I work at Costco, I would recommend you buy one there. If you take it home and don't like it, you can always return it :) Just my opinion. We probably have the best return policy ever and I won't buy any electronics anywhere else. just sayin Wendy

I can't tell you what to buy...I can however highly suggest you DO NOT buy a Cannon.
It burns through ink. I do belive its a consipiracy. I don't print much in color at all...but I run out of color all the time. It also contains two black cartridges and if you run out of one black it doesnt draw from the second black. It is by far the most expensive printer i have ever maintained. I'm going back to HP when I get the funds.

I have tried Cannon and Epsom printers, always go back to HP. Can't beat the quality and features of HP printers.

I have an HP Photosmart that works well for everything I need it to do. I use it alot for pictures, have made quilt labels with it, have printed on fabric and it's been a work horse. That said, mine quit working last night so I'll be out shopping this morning for a new one. This is my 3rd HP and I've liked all of them. Also had an Epson way back that I loved. Good luck with your printer choice.

I have an HP Officejet J4580 All-in-One, and I love it. I agree with romanojg that you can't go wrong with an HP.

I have a HP Photosmart that is wireless - It scans, prints, faxes & copies - can print labels on cd's. I have had it for 2 yrs - Although it works great, the wireless connection over the weekend stopped working - no big deal, because it still works when plugged in.
Usually the printers are not that expensive - it is the cost of the print cartridges you have to worry about.

If you want good quality you need one with 6 cartridges so that the colours are truer.
I bought the Epson PX720WD. Brilliant for photoquality prints so should improve fabric printing too.