Although the Canon printers are extremely popular for their print quality, nothing out there has the archival properties like the Epson's using pigment inks.
Everyone, who takes the time to preserve their family memories, should put the archival properties of the printer before all other considerations.
The new R1800 will print 12x12, and all reports so far are raving about this printer.
I have the R800 (same printer, but doesn't do 12x12) and the prints are just stunning.
I have done a monumental amount of printing over the last 10 years, and this printer wins, hands down, over every other printer or lab I've ever used.

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http://www.pbase.com/vhansen

I have really got into printing my own pictures from my digital camera, and after researching and seeing demos of different printers, I finally settled on the hp Photosmart - it is awesome!! I can't do 12 x 12 on it, but I don't use that size much anyway. The color is great and it wasn't really really expensive. However, that being said I have just replaced my cartridges (yes it takes 2 of them!!!!), and it cost almost $90 (Cdn). Not much considering the last two lasted me almost a year.

Happy printer hunting - hope you find something that works for you.

Deb