Many scrapbookers have avoided switching to digital cameras because using the computer to edit and print your photos seemed too complicated. Others were waiting until the longevity of digital prints caught up with those from more traditional photo processing methods. The PictureMate Photo Printer from Epson has won me over on both counts, and now all of my photos are digital photos.

Ease of Use

The PictureMate was designed with ease of use in mind. This is truly a printer perfect for the non-techie, scrapbooking, soccer mom, amateur photographer. My favorite part about using this printer is that you do not even need to hook it up to your computer. You can simply insert your media card from your camera and start printing. Of course, using the software that comes with the printer to print from your computer gives you many more photo editing options.

Special Features

Using the menu on the printer, you are able to print borderless color photos, photos with a white border, black and white and sepia tone photos, wallet size photos(2 per sheet), and you can also crop your prints before printing. The screen on the printer is not in color and does not show thumbnails of the photos on the card. Therefore, the easiest way to use the printer to create special effect photos is by first printing index print sheets.

Cost Per Print

PictureMate print packs include one ink cartridge and 100 sheets of 4x6 photo paper. They retail for $29.00, thus making the cost per print from this handy little printer $0.29. This is about the same as getting them printed at your local photo shop, without the hassle of leaving home (or uploading your prints) and without the wait.

Print Longevity, Look, and Feel

Photo longevity is one of the most important factors to consider for scrapbookers when looking at printing your own photos. Epson ink technology means that photos printed on the PictureMate will last up to 200 years in photo album storage. This is up to 4 times longer than color prints you normally get developed at your local photo lab.

My favorite part about the prints I have made using the PictureMate is that the quality of the photos is outstanding. They are water resistant (yes, I actually held one in running water under my faucet, and it looks perfect). They feel like "photos" in your hand - meaning the weight of the paper, and the smoothness of the printed photo is exact what you expect in a photo lab photo. The skin tone on the photos I have printed has been gorgeous. It truly lives up to the "at home photo lab" part of its marketing.

Overall Remarks

While I would not give up my Epson large format 1270 printer, the PictureMate makes an excellent addition to the printers in our family. I love being able to print right from the camera card, and the look and feel of the prints is excellent. Since you can only print 4"x6" and wallet size photos, many scrapbookers will want to have an additional printer available for larger prints.

Sample Printed Photos:

Black and White and also Sepia Tone pictures are printed simply by selecting these options on the printer control screen.

Wallet size photos can be printed two per 4"x6" sheet. These smaller photos are perfect for incorporating many photos on one scrapbook page or for sharing with friends and family.

The colors and sharpness of the prints that I printed on the PictureMate rival any digital prints that I have had developed anywhere.