Thank you Terri, Julie, and Molly,
Thanks for all the good information. I have my new printer set up and it prints beautifully on the Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper. I think being able to print out 8x10 reference photos to paint from will pay for the printer itself.
But, finding a good stock to print my notecards on has been a different story! I found some matte paper with envelopes (a set of 25 each) at the office supply store. Actually, this printer prints beautifully on the matte paper. It's not very thick at all, only 48 lb, but it's okay.
I have not gotten my new printer to print on any kind of glossy stock successfully. Except the photo paper, which has 'EPSON' printed across the back on a diagonal about 100 times, so that won't work for notecards! I went to my local printer this morning and he sent me to a huge paper warehouse here in Houston. What fun! I came home with about 10 different samples of matte and glossy card stock, some specifically for ink jet, some just plain glossy card stock. Nothing worked as well as the little set of matte card stock I got at the office supply store yesterday. (Though using those and cutting them down and not using the envelopes makes this option expensive! I like my own envelope sizes.)
When I print on the glossy card stock the image is very faded and splotchy. I'm sure it must be the card stock because I can get the printer to print photo quality prints on the 'premium photo paper' from Epson. I called Epson this morning and got a guy that didn't know much. He was no help at all with the quality of printing. Apparently they don't have a glossy card stock available.
I did see the tri-fold brochure glossy paper by HP in the store, but I'm trying to print 5x5" or 4 1/2 x 5 1/2" notecards. It would be better to just find the paper and then I can cut it myself, I have tons of envelopes from old projects. Oh, the paper store this morning didn't carry Avery paper. I could search that out though.
Molly, what you're doing with the online printing sounds good, I'm going to check that out. And I can believe it's less expensive, I've already used up 25% of each of my 6 ink cartridges. I just watch those little levels go down and down. Oh well, I'm experimenting and once I get the paper figured out I think it'll be easier. The basic problem is not finding glossy paper in CARD stock, it's all too flimsy for decent looking/high quality notecards. I will look into the wedding invitation stock Terri.
I don't mind cutting down the cards myself, I have a nice big paper cutter. And I like the square format and have found some great square envelopes, found them this morning at the paper store.
thank you again everyone, I'll keep at it
Joan