I've been using Vue 6 Infinite for my matte painting projects.  As such, I render scenes to still images.   

I would like to get a printer for printing out large prints.  
What're my options?  What should I be looking for?

Epson!  I love my 2200 Photoprinter.  It prints out glossy, matte, heavy stock, 11x17 or roll paper for up to 13x44 inches.  The newer models are even better. 

LVS - Where Learning is Fun!  
http://www.lvsonline.com/index.html

That is a very complex subject as there are two types of printers, CMYK and RGB.  RGB is closest to what you monitor sees and CMYK is closet to printed material.  There is a great difference between the two as RGB RED, GREEN, and BLUE, is bright and colorful while CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK is dull.

 

HP makes an RGB Based ink printer that prints material 13 inches wide with other brands to 60 inches wide, and most other companies such as Epson also have the same in CMYK but not RGB.

 

The differences between the printers are the construction.  Epson has the print head build into the machine and cartridges are separate.  HP uses a two piece affair with the print heads separate and changeable after several uses, with cartridges also separate, which means it can get expensive to operate.  BUT, if you need RGB versus CMYK then it does not matter.   There are other brands of course.

 

Then there are the inks, which there are two major types, photographic and another for print material that is archival.  The other concern is how thick and what type of material you will print on.  200 LB watercolor paper, versus 60 LB photographic?

 

You can do a lot of research on the web as to what type of printer to buy for what purpose and what each printer consists of, but the above info should give you a start.

jankeen.com

Thanks for everyone's input.

I use an Epson R2400 - Most of my prints are on (Arches) watercolor paper, which I further enhance with acrylic paint, after printing.   I've put everyting you can think of through this printer, from the thinnest almost tissue paper like fibers to posterboard. The size is limited to  max of 13X44, but if I need larger prints I go with on line service like http://finerworks.com/

I use an Epson R2400 also. The only negative I find is that sometimes the prints are too dark. It is not my monitor calibration. This is a known concern with some of the Epson printers. To correct the problem I have either made custom profiles or I set the ink configuration density to -5%. That fixes the problem. Otherwise, I love the printer.

Paula  - You're right -  There is definitely an issue with dark prints on these Epson printers. I used to have a 1200 wide format with the same problem.  I had forgotten about that... 

At first I thought it was my monitor also.   I've gotten myself in the habit of doing several small test prints prior to using an  (expensive) larger size of paper.

By the way, has anyone tried to print images onto a roll of sheet or canvas using Epson's printers? What's your experience? Which paper vendor would you recommend?

It has been a long time. But I have used canvas on different Epson printers. It was rolled canvas for Inkjet media, however. I think Epson makes a rolled canvas.

  I would say Epson too :) I have a R1800 that pumps out 13"x19" prints. It works wonderful for my Vue and Digit Cam stuff... 

  My 1800 is about a year old, but,  I don't even see them in the stores anymore. So each time I find a place that has ink, I usually buy all I can find :)

You can get all the ink from Epson. CompUSA carries the ink. I have seen the printer advertized recently.

Thanks Paula !!! 

I keep forgetting to check their website :)
 
My printer came with a sample of high-gloss paper that I haven't been able to find...  I bet it's there too !!!  I've got ton's of the matte 13x19 stuff.

Thanks again