A good early response and already a few suggestions to investigate.
I have presented prints that were produced by a third party in my Camera Club Competitions, these Competitions were run parallel with Digital Projected Images. The cost of A3 Print was £4.00 after a successful haggle downwards from £7.00. There were other printers that were asking £15.00
I purchased my printer for £90, with about 30% ink left in the containers. 9 x non OEM refills in 100ml will be about $100.
There is something Tangible and Satisfying when handling and mounting a print, as well as the sense of achievement.
I have seen many Digital Projected Images in public exhibitions running parallel with Framed Prints. The prints allow a much more studious viewing and by getting in close as well as standing off, allows a much better experience in understanding the image. The Digital Projection Images, based on my experiences, do not allow such a interaction. They are not permanently on view, but usually part of a slide show. Viewing on a computer for me, lacks a setting that extracts
a emotional content, they will offer a considerable amount of inspiration, prompting investigation. I will immediately put a image on the Large HD TV if I find it interesting, and observe as I would a Print in a Exhibition. I do believe a image of quality deserves a life, and a study, not just to be scrolled past.
As for the assumption a printed image is not seen by many. There are many competitions based all over the world, where a image offered can be selected by a panel of judges, and put on show into a exhibition. The Natural History Museum, Wildlife Exhibition, is one Prime Example, as well as the BBC Countryfile Calendar Competition and the Sony World Photography Awards .
This to some is a great way to offer a work and if all goes well have their work viewed daily over weeks sometime months. It will give a image a life and can have a profound effect on others lives as well. I have indelible memories of images seen in exhibitions.
Another way to have a Print observed by others is to speak with a Local Cafe/Bar or Social Centre to see if they will allow some framed images on their walls. If there are any real interested parties in the exhibited work, let the proprietor know any profit from monies exchanged will go to a charity.
A family member done this in a Cafe and it created a interest that they were pleased with.
Another plus side with choosing to do your own printing, is that there are used Hardware Devices available today at very low purchase prices, and there is a wealth of information available to extract the most from these machines at a nominal additional cost. When I did the maths in 2015,
with a third party imported K ink, I recall I was down to £00.03p per A3+ print in ink cost. This allows a lot of investigation into paper choices.
Looking forward to hear how this topic evolves for others on NG.
