could be the paper , anyway when the ink runs out by something else because the price of lexmark ink is totally outrageous.

 

The best general purpose printer for photos is the Canon i850. It is a standard 4 color printer so it uses pigmented black to give good text, but it does excellent photos because of the new 2 picoliter droplets. It is also very fast: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/canon_i850.html

It sounds like you are using the premium glossy photo paper setting and not using premium photo paper. Office Depot has some of their own stuff that sells for about 60c a sheet, but premium paper is about 80c to $1.00 a sheet for Epson, Kodak, Canon etc. There is photo paper for about 15c a sheet but you can’t use the premium setting. It puts too much ink on the paper and it isn’t absorbed properly.

If you are using good paper or settings appropriate for the paper try going to the advanced settings and set it to use less ink. I’ve never used a Lexmark but my HP has settings for ink density. It also has brightness, intensity, color tone, and saturation. You might have a look in your advanced options in the printer setup. Reviews or the Z52 were pretty good for photo quality. Lexmarks usually aren’t the best for ink cost and reliability, but the output quality is usually rated pretty good. Replacing the cartridge replaces the printhead with Lexmark, so they can’t be bad with new cartridges.

This is the advanced setup on my HP. You probably have something similar. It is just a basic home 4 color printer, so it isn’t exotic.

I also have a photo printer but use the HP primarily for documents. Photo printers are weak at text, but if your Lexmark is doing good text you might get a photo printer. I think the Canon i950 is the pick of the litter right now, but Epson has some that are a little cheaper: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/canon_i950.html It is easy to have both hooked up. When you go File>Print the box that comes up lets you choose which printer to use. I have the HP set as default.

 

I've read 2 reviews that say the photo printing is very good. One used Kodak glossy paper.

Also, Lexmark has a photo ink cartridge that supposedly prints photos even better than the regular color ink is normally uses.

Before smashing the printer, , I would try prinitng the photos on various settings and try using different photo papers. Maybe even try the Photo Ink.

For just under $200, the Canon i850 Color Bubble Jet is supposed to be good, though I wouldn't know from personal experience.

EDIT: I guess I type really slooow.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I was just reading the reviews of the Cannon i850 and i950 on Amazon.com and they both got rave reviews.

The Lexmark does not have all those printing preferences that the HP does.

I tried photo glossy paper, and greeting card paper and plain paper and adjusted the printer for each one. The pictures all come out with the same problems though, dirty and over saturated. That's set on the higher resolution, 2400 x 1200. If I print on the normal resolution, I get lines in the pictures, so its even worse. I don't see an option to use less ink. I have not tried the photo ink cartridge; that's an idea. Although at this point I'm not sure I want to pay for one.

I won't really smash the printer... I'll give it to my daughter If I get a new one.

 

Consider keeping the printer and getting a dedicated photo printer. Most people with photo printers have a GP printer as well and it is easy to have both.

The i950 is a photo printer. You wouldn’t want it as your only printer as the text isn’t that great with any photo printer. If you don’t plan to keep both consider the i850 or some other 4 color GP printer. I don’t think there is anything comparable to the i850 for a GP printer on the market right now for photo quality.

 

Slipe, I think you are right on - I was just thinking that when I got the email for your post.


I've been looking at the prices on about 6 different websites. Amazon has the best deal because no sales tax and no shipping charges. I think my mind is made up on the i950 but I will sleep on it and see if I feel the same tomorrow.

 

Type in your zip and it will find the ones where you don’t pay tax and it calculates shipping: http://www.nextag.com/serv/main/buy...R&ptitle=56650674&pdir=0&click=n&node=&core=&page=1&lgnode=&lgsearch=canon_i950

 

That's a good link, thanks. However Amazon still beats any of them at $234.99, no tax, no shipping and a $25 gift card for future purchases