Paying for use of Canon Pro-2000

[JeanMichel]

Is that cost estimate on a Canon, including paper?

I have an Epson P10K and the Epson accounting utility gives me much lower estimates than that. Here's 2 example large jobs, both with 100% ink coverage on Epson Premium Lustre Photo Paper 260, not a particularly expensive paper (click for accounting reports in US $ and images of what was printed):

1.52m^2, paper $8.299, ink $6.356 / Image
3.21m^2, paper $16.158, ink $17.832 / Image

Of course, there's overhead and the cost of my time not factored into those numbers. But the P10K wastes a lot less ink and is a speed demon compared to my older Epsons.

My $8.00 was an estimate about 5 years ago. The cost of the printers, including that of an Epson 7890 that died and replaced with a P6000  was/is incidental: the cost per print over the lifetime of the printer is not that great if you print a reasonable number of prints. I use mainly Canson Baryta Photographique and that costs about $2.60 per square foot.

[Mark D Segal]

All I can say is "been there done that". And no, the collaboration effort just doesn't work that way. The typical guest user knows little or nothing about the printer interface, your computer network, the printer driver or even loading the paper, etc., so there's a huge amount of hand holding. Very few people want to roll up their sleeves and "have at it" with all the trial and error that comes with wrestling a new-to-the-enduser printer into submission!  I finally concluded the best way to work with someone wanting to take on the "front end" responsibilities of the process and lower their costs by relying on a "friend who has a printer" is just to supply a custom ICC profile to the guest user, let him/her prep the file for print, and then handle all the back-end responsibilities myself. That's the most efficient use of one's time. Charge accordingly.  If the guest user doesn't like the print, the burden is on the guest user to go back and rework the file, but all the practical aspects of printing are best handled by the staff that normally runs the printer. Just my two cents.

Yup - those 2 cents make a lot of sense to me!

[Mark D Segal]

And depending on who you are working with, they may need guidance on file prep too.

[MHMG]

I totally agree!  If DIY printing was super easy from start to finish, the home printer market would now reflect that, and the majority of pro labs would have been out of business years ago.

[Mark D Segal]

My $8.00 was an estimate about 5 years ago. The cost of the printers, including that of an Epson 7890 that died and replaced with a P6000  was/is incidental: the cost per print over the lifetime of the printer is not that great if you print a reasonable number of prints. I use mainly Canson Baryta Photographique and that costs about $2.60 per square foot.

If you're talking about depreciation charge per print, it can be substantial or not very much, depending on the number of years amortization, the tax write-off regulations, the throughput and the interest rate assumed as the opportunity cost of capital.

[JeanMichel]

If you're talking about depreciation charge per print, it can be substantial or not very much, depending on the number of years amortization, the tax write-off regulations, the throughput and the interest rate assumed as the opportunity cost of capital.

Hi,
That’s what I mean, sort of. When I first purchased a 24 inch printer it was for preparing larger prints for an exhibition, by then I was well into my digital period and was happy with my printing on smaller carriage printers. That 7890 paid for itself almost immediately, just in the cost saving of otherwise having to outsource the printing, and not losing any control over the printing. When it died due to terminal arterial blockage it was easy enough to justify the replacement with a P6000. It is not used daily, my P800 is my daily printer.

I occasionally do prints for artists. Typically that involves the artist coming over and wach me adjust their files, do test strips, work print and final print. That process is more expensive than just dropping of a file at Staples or at a good lab, but you get what you pay for. As for just lending my printers: ain’t gonna happen!