Large format printers

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Hi Folks,

I currently have an Epson 1160 printer.
It is starting to act up a little bit.
When I print a full size 13x19 page, the last little bit doesn't come
out nice and clean. It just leaves an uneven spot that is not really
printed well on the last 1/4 inch. If I print a 13x19 inch on the
standard size it prints fine.

I have a couple of options here.

The least expensive -

I could take the printer in for service and have it tuned up. It is
most likely time for this, as I have had this printer for a number of
years, and I bought it off the 1/2 price table in the first place when
they brought out a new model.

I am wondering if it is time for a new large format printer?

I had some photos printed at a commerical lab, and the greens came out
richer, and darker then on the Epson 1160. She did say the greens I
had were what she normally saw from ink jet prints.

I know the new photo printers have up to 6 different ink jet colors,
and seperate cartridges. So the first question I have - is this
worthwhile?

For the 1160 I can find good quality off brand cartridges at about 1/2
the price of the Epson Cartridges. A new printer I would be looking at
buying the Epson Cartridges.

So I guess, I am wondering what is the best option - tune up the 1160,
or start looking at new large format printers?

If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large format
printers are good?

I would need one that would work with linux and windows.

roland
 
G

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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

> I currently have an Epson 1160 printer.

This is a pretty old model now, probably 1999 or so, with only four
colors so you don't get a very wide gamut.

>If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large
>format printers are good?

If you mean 13x19" like the 1160 then HP has a good one with long print
life (dunno the number, maybe 7960?), Canon has a couple with somewhat
shorter print life but very good colors (dunno the latest number,
probably i9900 or similar), and Epson has four, including the 1280
(similar to the Canon for print life) and three pigment ink models with
very long print life, the 2200, 2400 (replacement for the 2200) and I
think the other is the R1800.

All of these have at least six colors, some have seven, which generally
means better looking prints than the four-color 1160. If you're
selling prints I'd skip the Epson 1280 and Canon models because of the
shorter print life. Other than that tip I'd say try to find a sample
print from each (or better, arrange to print one of your images on each
printer) and compare side by side.

>I would need one that would work with linux and windows.

All of these work with Windows but I'm not sure about Linux support.

Bill
 
G

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Bill Hilton wrote:
> > I currently have an Epson 1160 printer.
>
> This is a pretty old model now, probably 1999 or so, with only four
> colors so you don't get a very wide gamut.
>
> >If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large
> >format printers are good?
>
> If you mean 13x19" like the 1160 then HP has a good one with long print
> life (dunno the number, maybe 7960?), Canon has a couple with somewhat
> shorter print life but very good colors (dunno the latest number,
> probably i9900 or similar), and Epson has four, including the 1280
> (similar to the Canon for print life) and three pigment ink models with
> very long print life, the 2200, 2400 (replacement for the 2200) and I
> think the other is the R1800.
>
> All of these have at least six colors, some have seven, which generally
> means better looking prints than the four-color 1160. If you're
> selling prints I'd skip the Epson 1280 and Canon models because of the
> shorter print life. Other than that tip I'd say try to find a sample
> print from each (or better, arrange to print one of your images on each
> printer) and compare side by side.
>
> >I would need one that would work with linux and windows.
>
> All of these work with Windows but I'm not sure about Linux support.
>
> Bill

I don't really sell prints right now... in the future, who knows?
Epson does have a refurbished 1280 on their website for a little over
$300... including shipping. They had a refubished 2200 (I think that
was the model) for $529...

I did talk to a service tech. He said he didn't think there is
anything really wrong with the 1160. From the description, it is
aligned ok, and it is just having a bit of trouble with maxium print
area. I never noticed it before because I didn't have any files that
would print maxium print area. Now with the Canon Digital Rebel, I
have files that will print well on that setting.

So I can just print them on the normal 13x19 setting. Trimmed up they
are a little bit under that, about 12x18 or so. Not as much of a
problem.
(Actually, I think I saw frames that size in the store. I was having
trouble with 13x19 inch frames anyway.)

roland
 
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John_B wrote:
> Roland,
> What or How did they print it at you
> commercial lab?
> What software are you using for
> printing?
> I would guess the Frontier printers were
> used (its very common) if so 9 out 10
> times they are set for sRGB if you are
> printing aRGB it could affect colors.
>
> Also the newer printers are using more
> inks, I used to use epsons but got sick
> of ink head clogging and
> reddish/brownish tones.
> I switched to Canon and don't regret it
> at all. The Canon i9900 is outstanding
> for prints up to 13" x 19" and fast too.
> I printed a 8" x 10" and then had a 8" x
> 10" (same file) printed on a Frontier
> and the Canon won!
>
> Sorry don't know if its usable with
> linux though.

Hi John,

She did say something about sRGB. I don't know what printer she is
using.
I have been using a bunch of different software. Adobe, Gramps,
Picasa, Canon, and something else I may have around (don't remember
what). When it made this light space on he one trailing edge I tried
them all. All of them did this, in both Windows and Linux.

I am just trying to get away from doing much in Windows, and converting
as much over to linux as possible.

Actually, if I can figure out why the 1160 is printing the one trailing
edge lighter then the rest of the print on the maxium setting, I don't
need to worry about a new printer. It prints the 13x19 inch fine on
the regular settings fine. It is just if I set it for "Use Maxium Size
of Paper" that I have trouble.

I have tried cleanning the heads, and blowing the dust out of it with a
can of air...
Not sure if there are any other tricks to this?

If I don't need to spend money on a new printer... then I shouldn't.

roland
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Roland,
What or How did they print it at you
commercial lab?
What software are you using for
printing?
I would guess the Frontier printers were
used (its very common) if so 9 out 10
times they are set for sRGB if you are
printing aRGB it could affect colors.

Also the newer printers are using more
inks, I used to use epsons but got sick
of ink head clogging and
reddish/brownish tones.
I switched to Canon and don't regret it
at all. The Canon i9900 is outstanding
for prints up to 13" x 19" and fast too.
I printed a 8" x 10" and then had a 8" x
10" (same file) printed on a Frontier
and the Canon won!

Sorry don't know if its usable with
linux though.

<rbehunin@alumni.weber.edu> wrote in
message
news:1121867519.619485.288930@g49g2000cw
a.googlegroups.com...
> Hi Folks,
>
> I currently have an Epson 1160
printer.
> It is starting to act up a little bit.
> When I print a full size 13x19 page,
the last little bit doesn't come
> out nice and clean. It just leaves an
uneven spot that is not really
> printed well on the last 1/4 inch. If
I print a 13x19 inch on the
> standard size it prints fine.
>
> I have a couple of options here.
>
> The least expensive -
>
> I could take the printer in for
service and have it tuned up. It is
> most likely time for this, as I have
had this printer for a number of
> years, and I bought it off the 1/2
price table in the first place when
> they brought out a new model.
>
> I am wondering if it is time for a new
large format printer?
>
> I had some photos printed at a
commerical lab, and the greens came out
> richer, and darker then on the Epson
1160. She did say the greens I
> had were what she normally saw from
ink jet prints.
>
> I know the new photo printers have up
to 6 different ink jet colors,
> and seperate cartridges. So the first
question I have - is this
> worthwhile?
>
> For the 1160 I can find good quality
off brand cartridges at about 1/2
> the price of the Epson Cartridges. A
new printer I would be looking at
> buying the Epson Cartridges.
>
> So I guess, I am wondering what is the
best option - tune up the 1160,
> or start looking at new large format
printers?
>
> If I do start looking at new large
format printers - what large format
> printers are good?
>
> I would need one that would work with
linux and windows.
>
> roland
>



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G

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Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On 20 Jul 2005 11:14:45 -0700, piperut wrote:

> I have tried cleanning the heads, and blowing the dust out of it with a
> can of air...
> Not sure if there are any other tricks to this?

I'm not familiar with that printer but it doesn't seem like
cleaning or blasting the heads with air would be effective. It
sounds more like some part of the paper path closest to the print
head that supports or positions the paper is slightly mispositioned
or out of alignment. If you can feed a custom sized sheet of paper
into the printer that's 1/4" or 1/2" longer than usual, if you get
the same result, then "Never mind . . .". But if it helps, then a
slight adjustment or a new part would probably be the cure the
printer needs.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I have been getting superb results with a Canon i9900 the past year.
And no clogging - I've not printed for >2 months with no clogging and
have never had to do a head cleaning.
 
G

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Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

<rbehunin@alumni.weber.edu> wrote in message
news:1121867519.619485.288930@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hi Folks,
>
> I currently have an Epson 1160 printer.
> It is starting to act up a little bit.
> When I print a full size 13x19 page, the last little bit doesn't come
> out nice and clean. It just leaves an uneven spot that is not really
> printed well on the last 1/4 inch. If I print a 13x19 inch on the
> standard size it prints fine.
>
> I have a couple of options here.
>
> The least expensive -
>
> I could take the printer in for service and have it tuned up. It is
> most likely time for this, as I have had this printer for a number of
> years, and I bought it off the 1/2 price table in the first place when
> they brought out a new model.
>
> I am wondering if it is time for a new large format printer?
>
> I had some photos printed at a commerical lab, and the greens came out
> richer, and darker then on the Epson 1160. She did say the greens I
> had were what she normally saw from ink jet prints.
>
> I know the new photo printers have up to 6 different ink jet colors,
> and seperate cartridges. So the first question I have - is this
> worthwhile?
>
> For the 1160 I can find good quality off brand cartridges at about 1/2
> the price of the Epson Cartridges. A new printer I would be looking at
> buying the Epson Cartridges.
>
> So I guess, I am wondering what is the best option - tune up the 1160,
> or start looking at new large format printers?
>
> If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large format
> printers are good?
>
> I would need one that would work with linux and windows.
>
> roland

Just make sure you don't get an HP 9650, biggest mistake I ever made.
Leaves horrible tracks on anything that isn't HP paper, and even on HP it
tracks just not as bad. Also don't plan on printing a picture with the 4
color ink unless you like a faded line in all your pictures even if you're
not printing borderless.
--
www.harryphotos.com
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Hi Dave,

Anyway, I have figured out the problem with the 1160. I had a switch
set wrong. I must have bumped the switch when I moved it to a new
location in the computer room a couple of months ago. That was when
the thing started acting up.

Other then this little bit of annoying problem, the 1160 is doing fine.
The off brand ink I have found that is working has a higher contrast
then the Epson Ink. I am also getting consistant results from it. It
is in a white and green box, and doesn't really have a name on it.
Just says "Made in China, parts from U.S.A."

When this light spot on the 13x19 inch prints started showing up, I did
buy an couple of Epson Cartridges to see if this was the problem. That
didn't cure the problem. All that did was show me I liked the colors
and the contrast of the off brand I am buying better.

roland
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

>Dave writes ...
>
>Isn't the 1280 output similar to the 1160?

Actually the 1270/1280 series print quality was better than the 1160,
also the print life was longer. Here's a page that did comparisons of
the 1270, 1160, 1200 and 2000p several years ago that shows the
differences.

http://www.inkjetart.com/news/13_comp/8.html this is an 8x blowup
http://www.inkjetart.com/news/13_comp/output.html from here you can
find the 17x blowup and other info

Bill
 

frederick

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Aug 23, 2004
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> If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large format
> printers are good?
>
Epson R2400
Epson R1800
Canon iP9900 / 9950
HP 8750

Reviews on the HP and Epson by a photographer are at:
http://www.photo-i.co.uk
If long lasting prints are a priority, then get either Epson.
If Black & White prints are a priority, then either the R2400 or HP8740.
If glossy bright sharp prints are the priority, then the Canon is good.
Colour accuracy out of the box tends to be better with epsons.
Some comments from the Photo-i site:

"The EPSON Stylus Photo R2400 doesn't compete with traditional wet
chemistry photographs - it doesn't need to as it is streets ahead of
anything I have seen produced in a darkroom".

"As a professional photographer with over 30 years experience and
exhibited at many venues, I can say that the print I produced this
afternoon is better than anything I have ever done in the darkroom. The
print has sharpness, great colour saturation and all the qualities that
I would expect from a wet chemistry photograph, let alone a digital
print. It is stunning. Any photographer who questions the quality or
merit of a digital print compared to a wet chemistry print need only
look at the output from the R1800."
 
G

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"piperut" <rbehunin@alumni.weber.edu> wrote in message
news:1121877533.163330.204480@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Bill Hilton wrote:
>> > I currently have an Epson 1160 printer.
>>
>> This is a pretty old model now, probably 1999 or so, with only four
>> colors so you don't get a very wide gamut.
>>
>> >If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large
>> >format printers are good?
>>
>> If you mean 13x19" like the 1160 then HP has a good one with long print
>> life (dunno the number, maybe 7960?), Canon has a couple with somewhat
>> shorter print life but very good colors (dunno the latest number,
>> probably i9900 or similar), and Epson has four, including the 1280
>> (similar to the Canon for print life) and three pigment ink models with
>> very long print life, the 2200, 2400 (replacement for the 2200) and I
>> think the other is the R1800.
>>
>> All of these have at least six colors, some have seven, which generally
>> means better looking prints than the four-color 1160. If you're
>> selling prints I'd skip the Epson 1280 and Canon models because of the
>> shorter print life. Other than that tip I'd say try to find a sample
>> print from each (or better, arrange to print one of your images on each
>> printer) and compare side by side.
>>
>> >I would need one that would work with linux and windows.
>>
>> All of these work with Windows but I'm not sure about Linux support.
>>
>> Bill
>
> I don't really sell prints right now... in the future, who knows?
> Epson does have a refurbished 1280 on their website for a little over
> $300... including shipping. They had a refubished 2200 (I think that
> was the model) for $529...
[...]
Isn't the 1280 output similar to the 1160? Bill Hinton is correct, skip it
if you are not going to keep the 1160. The 2200 has 7 inks with a matte
black interchangable for photo black, and gives a far superior result (we
own both). Both the latest Canon and Epson using the pigment inks are good,
I have not used HP's.

If you stick with the 1160, a service is good, especially if you have
problems with full bleeds. You may also wish to print the same pictures
with a genuine Epson cart to compare with the ink you use, as I've noticed
variable performance from other "after-market" inks when compared to Epson's
consistent results.

Dave
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Bill Hilton wrote:
> >Dave writes ...
> >
> >Isn't the 1280 output similar to the 1160?
>
> Actually the 1270/1280 series print quality was better than the 1160,
> also the print life was longer. Here's a page that did comparisons of
> the 1270, 1160, 1200 and 2000p several years ago that shows the
> differences.
>
> http://www.inkjetart.com/news/13_comp/8.html this is an 8x blowup
> http://www.inkjetart.com/news/13_comp/output.html from here you can
> find the 17x blowup and other info
>
> Bill

Hi Bill,

Anyway, I did find what the problem was with the 1160 I have.
It is doing okay for what I need.
I am not selling prints, so it is not very important to replace it.
I have printed a few photos on it and brought them to work.
Some of the people think they are photo lab quality. I do not.
I however, know the difference.

There is a 0 and + switch on this prnter, and it was in the wrong
position. So the thing is printing fine now.

If I don't need to spend $500 on a new printer, I am not going to.
Now, if the thing ever does give out... well, I will have to deal with
it then.

roland
 

frederick

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hyperoglyphe wrote:
> "piperut" <rbehunin@alumni.weber.edu> wrote in message
> news:1121877533.163330.204480@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>
>>Bill Hilton wrote:
>>
>>>>I currently have an Epson 1160 printer.
>>>
>>>This is a pretty old model now, probably 1999 or so, with only four
>>>colors so you don't get a very wide gamut.
>>>
>>>
>>>>If I do start looking at new large format printers - what large
>>>>format printers are good?
>>>
>>>If you mean 13x19" like the 1160 then HP has a good one with long print
>>>life (dunno the number, maybe 7960?), Canon has a couple with somewhat
>>>shorter print life but very good colors (dunno the latest number,
>>>probably i9900 or similar), and Epson has four, including the 1280
>>>(similar to the Canon for print life) and three pigment ink models with
>>>very long print life, the 2200, 2400 (replacement for the 2200) and I
>>>think the other is the R1800.
>>>
>>>All of these have at least six colors, some have seven, which generally
>>>means better looking prints than the four-color 1160. If you're
>>>selling prints I'd skip the Epson 1280 and Canon models because of the
>>>shorter print life. Other than that tip I'd say try to find a sample
>>>print from each (or better, arrange to print one of your images on each
>>>printer) and compare side by side.
>>>
>>>
>>>>I would need one that would work with linux and windows.
>>>
>>>All of these work with Windows but I'm not sure about Linux support.
>>>
>>>Bill
>>
>>I don't really sell prints right now... in the future, who knows?
>>Epson does have a refurbished 1280 on their website for a little over
>>$300... including shipping. They had a refubished 2200 (I think that
>>was the model) for $529...
>
> [...]
> Isn't the 1280 output similar to the 1160? Bill Hinton is correct, skip it
> if you are not going to keep the 1160. The 2200 has 7 inks with a matte
> black interchangable for photo black, and gives a far superior result (we
> own both). Both the latest Canon and Epson using the pigment inks are good,
> I have not used HP's.
>
The 2200 is supeceded by the 2400 - which improves on the 2200 for both
B&W printing (3 blacks), and for gloss/semi gloss media (no bronzing now
with a new ink set).
The 1800 uses 7 colour pigment inks, and a gloss optimiser to avoid
bronzing/uneven gloss. It is a couple of hundred dollars less expensive
than the 2400.
The 1800 prints cds, the 2400 forgoes that for a straight through paper
path for heavier media. Both produce stunning colour prints. Neither
give 100% full gloss results on glossy media - like dye based printers
can. A cartridge change from matte to gloss deep black ink is required
with the 2400 when changing media.
Only some new top end Canons (pro genuine wide format - not just 13
inch) use colour pigment inks. (but rumour has it that a pigment inkset
is available in Japan for the 9900/9950).
My opinion is that the Epsons are in a different class entirely to the
Canon or HP offerings. That is based on my subjective preference on how
the prints look (which doesn't mean that anyone else would have the same
view), colour accuracy (which seems to be extremely good with default
profiles), and print longevity on a wide range of media.

>
> If you stick with the 1160, a service is good, especially if you have
> problems with full bleeds. You may also wish to print the same pictures
> with a genuine Epson cart to compare with the ink you use, as I've noticed
> variable performance from other "after-market" inks when compared to Epson's
> consistent results.
>
> Dave
>
If you post a request in comp.peripherals.printers, then ask for Arthur
Entlich's guide to unclogging nozzles. I have had no need to use it,
but understand that he will email detailed instructions to you by reply.