Maybe pricier than DIY options, but another way to create "framed cards" using your photos is here -
http://www.photographersedge.com/

No glue gun, double sided tape, etc. needed - just $$$

Ed

I did not mean to imply that LR - or any other post-process/pre-print software/steps - were unnecessary or inappropriate. Poor wording on my part. I was simply trying to state that once one's image editing was complete and the resulting jpeg/tiff/whatever file was finished that (IMO) should be the end of the non-QI software's role in terms of printing.

To the extent that LR (or whatever) might be used to size/resize up or down, sharpen, etc. the LR produced tiff/jpeg as a prelude to printing whenever QI is more than capable of performing those steps is what I was trying to question. Possibly even worse is to involve LR/et.al. in those pre-print steps to further modify the final tiff/jpeg & then have QI possibly do the same - a 2nd time - is to lose control of what's happening in creating a print.

I see no problem at all in having LR open QI and pass it a file to print - as long as in the process LR isn't used to resize, upsize, interpolate, sharpen, etc. in preparation for QI to do its job. For those who feel differently, freedom of choice is a wonderful thing and I'm all for it. Whatever floats our individual boats....

For the record my workflow is -
0. Nikon D-SLR's (2-D300's, IR converted D70, Panasonic LUMIX FZ28 for "walk-around"). Shoot 100% RAW and 99.99% with tripod. Epson 3800.
1. Download using Downloader Pro (sorry. Mike. If it ain't broke, don't fix it applies here.)
2. DAM using IMatch.
3. RAW processing using Nikon Capture NX2 (with Nik Color Efex Pro 3 plug-in)
4. If printing - call to QI via IMatch (or simply start QI directly and open templates & image files without IMatch - depends on what I'm doing at the time) - which does nothing more than open QI and tell it what image file to use - no up/down sizing, pre-print sharpening, etc. because I want QI to do that exclusively

If folks "using LR & QI" are doing similar to my step 4 then I apologize for my poor choice of words. However, if you're using your image processing software to do those same print related adjustments that QI is capable of doing then I stand by my "point of failure" comment.

Cheers,

Ed K.
http://www.pbase.com/ed_k

I have a 3800 and print from QImage basically as described by Fred. I don't see any advantage (to the contrary) of printing via LR, PS or any other program. Why add an additional (unnecessary) element like LR in the process. It can't help in any way; just adds another potential point of failure. Simply open QI, follow Fred's instructions (key are using the correct profile for the desired paper, enabling color management in QI using the aforementioned *correct profile*, and turning off color correction in the 3800's driver). Bang - perfect prints every time.

This past week a friend, who's a painter and sells Giclee prints of his work (using the Giclee Factory in Canada as his printer), asked me how the 3800 compares to Giclee Factory's prints. He provided a copy of a file that GF had used, I created a print as described above, and nailed it perfectly on the first try. GF works with the artist via sample proofs before doing a production run. For this particular image it took two back & forths to get it right (the artist basically had to add a blue cast to his original version in order to get the GF print to not have a slight yellow cast). Now my friend wants me to make his prints (haven't decided yet).

Apart from the unlikely case of a defective 3800, if you accurately follow Fred's instructions and still have a color cast then most likely the problem lies with the profile (or the calibration of your gear such as the monitor). It's not an inherent "feature" of the 3800. Of course, your mileage may vary.

Thanks, Terry.

I'm having a problem saving layouts.

I want to create a layout for a 5x7 greeting card (10x7 paper) that prints a 4x6 image (1/2" border all around, after the fold). I can get QImage to do exactly what I want via the edit page option.

However, when I save the result as a layout (I don't want to save a specific image, just the layout) and then subsequently call the layout using Print Properties>Custom>Layout the resulting layout always includes the original image used when I saved the layout. If I remove the original image & attempt to substitute a new one, I'm basically back to GO (without $200) and have to use the Edit Page again to get what I want. I thought that Jobs included the image and Layout did not.

I've saved templates in the past without this problem and obviously have forgotten how. Help - please. (Searched archives but didn't find what I was looking for before giving up).

Thanks.

Fellow retiree -

1. What do I take along? - everything that I own in the back of my 4-wheeled camera bag otherwise called a mini-van. When I leave the van, I will take the pieces that fit the occasion (which on occasion is still everything). Three bodies, five lenses, the usual filters, etc. all fit in my Lowepro backpack and a vest (minus tripod which always has a body attached). Backpack, vest, and tripod over my shoulder (my full pack) weighs about 30 pounds and at age 72 I find myself learning to be selective more & more often although this spring I did take it all on a 1500' elevation change 6 mile hike to some waterfalls in Shenandoah National Park where I am a volunteer photographer. At a minimum I always wear the vest (with 8-10 pounds of "stuff" in the pockets) and my Gitzo 2220 tripod with a body attached regardless of where I am. Occasionally I'll also take my IR body on a Kirk strap that attaches to the body's L-bracket. If returning to the scene of the crime for do-overs isn't a good option, I try to have my laptop in the back of the van to be sure of what I got before leaving - now a 4-wheel camera bag and a mobile darkroom.

2. As a primarily nature photographer and morning person, I prefer morning shoots. However, I really like IR work and had one of my bodies converted and use that extensively during later hours.

Early morning -

Infrared -

3. I plan my weekly 50 mile trips to Shenandoah around the weather and prefer days with at least 80% cloud cover. If it's totally socked in and miserable, all the better. My favorite work tends toward "moody" and hopefully that explains my choice of weather.

Misty Island -

4. I virtually never use a flash outdoors. If I want a bit more light on a close up subject some simple reflective surface is my choice. I carry a 4-in-one diffusion disk to help with natural light and/or a backdrop.

5. Since starting seriously about 5 years ago, I doubt that 0.1% of my images have been made without a tripod. For me, the issue is not camera shake. My reason for a tripod is to force me to slow down and get pin point framing - most importantly composition as perfect as I can make it. Without a tripod, my shots tend more toward snapshots and that's not what I want. Many shooters can get the job done hand held but not me. You'll notice that my three example "landscapes" are all in the portrait mode - each of my camera bodies has a body unique L-bracket permanently attached (and usually has a remote release attached as well). I own one VR lens (came with the body) and have turned it on maybe 5 times in almost two years. Similarly my 105mm macro lens' auto/manual focus ring NEVER has been used in the auto position unless I using it in a non-closeup situation.

6. Just my way. Doubt that it fits too many others' needs, but it works here.