When I was considering getting a photo printer one of my questions that I had posted was how often do you have to replace the ink cartridge. So this is what I found out based on my experience.

I ended up with a Canon IP6600D just to see if I would like printing at home vs uploading to Costco...it was a refurbished one for $49...price was right before I seriously consider the wide format.

I had to change the photo magenta ink tank after only 18 LOs, 8 LOs later the photo cyan tank went empty. And the ones I chose to print at home had a lot of white space printed at normal. I've only printed one LO at high to see if there was any difference.

Although I love the convenience of printing at home. I think it is more economical for me to outsource it. At this point, just looking at these 2 cartridge alone, its over a $1/LO in ink. It only cost $1.49 to print a 8x12 at Costco and I get still get a 4x6 at the bottom.

HTH those of you that are still on the fence about printing at home vs outsourcing.

Wow, you really did keep track of it! I'm sure others will find this very useful.

And Cannon is supposed to be better on the ink usage than the Epsons! I already had my wide format printer when I started digiscrapping, so I guess I feel the need to use it since its a sunk cost. But the cost benifit is probably not there like you said with the $$$$ of ink. Convenient (I don't have to drag my 2 year old through Costco to get the print outs) but not really saving money I agree!

Thanks for keeping such good track and reporting back!

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I always welcome cc of my LOs!! My work is like me- in progress!

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I can't remember the exact number I printed, but it was something like 60 until I had to change my first ink on the same printer. I did not have to change any others till quite a bit after that. The pink was the first to go then the yellow. Then when I was making 4 LO a day I did not have to change my ink very often I was printing like MAD! But now that I am not printed as much ( I hardly make any Lo's now) it must dry up the ink a little faster just sitting there so I have to chage it more often .. Odd eh?
That is just my experience with the same printer you have talked about.

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I prefer to print at home, only because it's much more expensive here (sadly) and I don't need to print in a 12x12" format.

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Oh I forgot to mention.. This was printing 8x8.. I did not know my pinter printed 12x12.

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