Printers

[Jack]

The biggest CUT sheets I've found are 17x25 --- just perfect for printing 16x24's with a 1/2 inch border You can print up to 37 inches long, so conceivably could cut your own 17 x ?? sheets off 17" roll paper.

 

[Mitch Alland]

...My favorite paper hands down is Harmon Gloss FB Al. Other papers that work especially well, Epson Premium Luster and even Premium Glossy is decent. For art papers and Mat Black (Mk) ink, I prefer Epson Ultra-smooth FIne Art or Hanemuhle Photo Rag...

Jack, I find Luster to be an excellent paper, although here in Bangkok I use a Luster knock-off at 30% of the price, as it gives very rich blacks with the Epson K3 inks. For the huge prints (up to 100x150cm or 40x60 inches) that I make on the 9800 printer I assume that not much would be gained by using Harmon Gloss FB Al — or do you think that there would be a visible difference?

Also, I'm using the ImagePrint RIP, which I like a lot. The only problem that remains is a slight gloss differential on prints with blown-out highlights, which I often have (as part of my "anti-exquisite" aesthetic). But this completely disappears when I wax my prints with Renaissance Wax, which also protects them from fingerprints.

—Mitch/Bangkok
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

 

[etrigan63]

I just pulled the trigger on an Epson 3800 that arrived yesterday. I'm a total neophyte with regard to using Epson (having used a few Canon printers previously). So, I might have a few questions that I'll have to fire Jack's way in the coming weeks. I'm excited about being able to jump from the 13" to 17" width ... along with the bigger ink tanks.

I was going to purchase a 2400, but ended up finding a refurbished 3800 at the Epson online store for $995. When I put it in the cart, it further discounted it $100 to $895. That's an excellent price. The printer that arrived looked like it was as close to new as you could get with all of the paperwork, software and full set of inks. We'll see how it works out.

Kurt

Kurt,
what is the URL of the Epson Store? Specifically, the section dealing with refurb 3800's?

 

[Jack]

Jack, I find Luster to be an excellent paper, although here in Bangkok I use a Luster knock-off at 30% of the price, as it gives very rich blacks with the Epson K3 inks. For the huge prints (up to 100x150cm or 40x60 inches) that I make on the 9800 printer I assume that not much would be gained by using Harmon Gloss FB Al — or do you think that there would be a visible difference?

Also, I'm using the ImagePrint RIP, which I like a lot. The only problem that remains is a slight gloss differential on prints with blown-out highlights, which I often have (as part of my "anti-exquisite" aesthetic). But this completely disappears when I wax my prints with Renaissance Wax, which also protects them from fingerprints.

—Mitch/Bangkok
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

Hi Mitch:

It's really more the surface texture of the Harman I like so much --- JUST like traditional air-dried glossy FB wet darkroom paper. The 9800 nd 3800 are using the same inks, and I get outstanding D-Max with the Harman. I definitely think it's worth a try.

As far as GD, the Harman still has a very slight amount, but significantly less than any other photo paper I've used; it's slightly less white than Premium Luster. One of the tips I give in my printing workshops is to add a print curve with the nose dragged down a few points off 255 to hide the paper's pure surface, thus eliminating GD for the most part

Cheers,

 

[KurtKamka]

Hi Carlos,

Here's the link:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyEpson/ccHome.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

If that doesn't work, just go to www.epsonstore.com and look for the "Clearance Center" link. It looks like they have at least one more available.

Kurt

 

[Daniel]

But this completely disappears when I wax my prints with Renaissance Wax, which also protects them from fingerprints.

Renaissance Wax? mitch, this is new to me, would you share a bit about this?

—dan

 

[Mitch Alland]

It's from the UK, produced by Picreator Enterprises Ltd. The label states that it's a micro-crystalline wax polish "blended to a formula used by the British Museum and restoration specialists to revive and protect valuable furniture, leather, paintings, metals, marble, ivory, etc.. Freshens colours and imparts soft sheen."

In the States it's available from Light Impressions.

—Mitch/Bangkok
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

 

[woodyspedden]

Hi Mitch:

It's really more the surface texture of the Harman I like so much --- JUST like traditional air-dried glossy FB wet darkroom paper. The 9800 nd 3800 are using the same inks, and I get outstanding D-Max with the Harman. I definitely think it's worth a try.

As far as GD, the Harman still has a very slight amount, but significantly less than any other photo paper I've used; it's slightly less white than Premium Luster. One of the tips I give in my printing workshops is to add a print curve with the nose dragged down a few points off 255 to hide the paper's pure surface, thus eliminating GD for the most part

Cheers,

Hey jack

I wonder, have you tried the new Ilford Gold Silk Baryta based paper. To my eyes the surface is more elegant than the Harman and the sheen makes it look less like an RC paper. I got a box of 17x25 sheets for my 3800 and the results so far look really great. If you like I could send you a couple of sheets to try. YMMV

Best

Woody

 

[Jack]

Hi Woody:

I've seen some prints on it and did not like the surface texture --- too much fiber showing through for my tastes This is all about personal tastes, but I personally do not find the Harman FB Al at all resembling RC, and to the contrary the best air-dried glossy fiber-base look I've seen outside of traditional wet silver paper. The Harman is just so nice to my eyes, it's the one I stick with.

 

[woodyspedden]

FWIW, I had an Epson 2200 that was an absolute nightmare. It never worked right, broke down often and after putting over $1000 in repairs (and hundreds of miles to the authorized service center in Omaha) into it, I swore I'd never buy another Epson product again.

It made the M8 look like an M4.

Maggie

The Epson 2200 is acknowledged to be perhaps the worst printer Epson ever built. Fragile, terrible color, reliability etc etc. The only good use for it as I remember (and I had three to keep one alive at all times) was for black and white and you needed imageprint to get that correct.

The 2400 is a totally different story. It is way above the 2200 in terms of build quality and reliability and with the K3 Inkset and Epson profiles provides very good color indeed. If you can spend a bit more money the 3800 is the jewel in the Epson crown. It is built as professional tool and works incredibly well. It too uses the K3 inkset (as do all the modern X800 printers) but has a different nozzle design and dithering algorithm so provides probably the best output of all the X800 products.

I have no experience yet with the X880 products but I am told by Charles Cramer from whom I took a recent printing class, that the inclusion of the vivid magenta cartridge provides a wider gamut than the traditional K3 set. Probably not enough of an improvement to warrant selling my 7800 and adding the 7880 though but I will keep an open mind until I get to use one.

Woody

 

[Maggie O]

Well, you know, once bit; twice shy. Just my luck to buy the worst example of something.

Their customer service really sucked, too. Maybe Epsons are great if you don't live in Nebraska.