B+W printing , Epson 3880 ?

[srtiwari]

Time to get a new printer, and this one looks fabulous in the reviews. B&H has a great price currently. The only thing I do not need is the larger prints. Does the 3000 (or another) do the same , except for the print sizes ? Would appreciate opinions from anyone familiar with the printer.

 

[dasuess]

The R3000, which I have, does beautiful B+W prints. Uses the same inks and Advanced BW print mode.

 

[froyd]

I have the R3000 also, and I'm more than pleased with BW, especially having come from earlier models where good BW required RIPs, specialized inksets, or Black Only techniques.

One other factor to keep in mind when you choose between the 3880 and the 3000 is cartridge size. The ink tanks of the 3880 are much bigger than the 3000, which is great if you plan to do a lot of printing, but not such a good idea if your yearly volume of prints is low.

 

[Richard G]

What about the R2000? I don't necessarily want the A2 capacity of the 3880 and would like to know what I'm missing if I buy the R2000 instead of the 3000....

 

[astro8]

What about the R2000? I don't necessarily want the A2 capacity of the 3880 and would like to know what I'm missing if I buy the R2000 instead of the 3000....

You are missing the extra blacks to use ABW mode for black and white printing.

If you only print colour it's a superb printer.

 

[astro8]

Time to get a new printer, and this one looks fabulous in the reviews. B&H has a great price currently. The only thing I do not need is the larger prints. Does the 3000 (or another) do the same , except for the print sizes ? Would appreciate opinions from anyone familiar with the printer.

3880:
17" A2
2880 x 1440dpi
3.5 picolitre droplet size
80ml ink cartridges

R3000
13" A3+
5760 x 1440dpi
2 picolitre droplet size
25 or 26ml inkcartridges (can't remember)

You would be hard pressed to pick a print from either printer as they both produce superb results.

The only real difference, as already mentioned, is the max paper size and the 3880 ink cost being more economical.

 

[srtiwari]

The R3000, which I have, does beautiful B+W prints. Uses the same inks and Advanced BW print mode.

I would get the 3000, but its difficult to tell from the descriptions on B&H and Epson sites, whether the size is the only difference between the 3000 and the 3880. Also, I have heard that the large size carts are not an issue, since infrequent use does not cause any problems.
I am particularly pleased that these will not need any RIP software as that was a pain.

 

[srtiwari]

3880:
17" A2
2880 x 1440dpi
3.5 picolitre droplet size
80ml ink cartridges

R3000
13" A3+
5600 x 1440dpi
2 picolitre droplet size
25 or 26ml inkcartridges (can't remember)

You would be hard pressed to pick a print from either printer as they both produce superb results.

The only real difference, as already mentioned, is the max paper size and the 3880 ink cost being more economical.

Sounds like the 3000 has, in fact, even smaller droplets, and better (?) resolution ...

 

[astro8]

Sounds like the 3000 has, in fact, even smaller droplets, and better (?) resolution ...

Apparently, but I can't see any real difference.

Even the R3000 at 5760 x 1440 compared to my GS6000 at 1440x1440 I can't see any real difference.

It's more to do with the media you are printing on that makes much of a difference.

 

[froyd]

Sounds like the 3000 has, in fact, even smaller droplets, and better (?) resolution ...

I would not get to particular about those specs. The old 7000 that we use at work produces phenomenal prints (not BW) and it's a decade old.

As Astro8 says, any of the current gen Epsons (and Cannon) are ridiculously good to the point where the difference between 2 or 3.5 picoliter means little.

Regarding ink cart size, it's true that new Epson inks can sit for months and not clog, but I find that with my low volume printing, I rather spend $20 or so a year whenever a car expires than buying larger carts where the ink will likely go unused before the recommended expiration date.

Mind you, I print with expired ink all the time, but I would rather not.

 

[Calzone]

It's more to do with the media you are printing on that makes much of a difference.

The 3880 being a "Pro" printer handles art papers better, and is reported to have a great paper feed.

I just bought a 3880 from B&H last month. I haven't loaded the inks yet because I have not completed building my digital studio, but I wanted to take advantage of a $250.00 rebate that required buying the printer before the end of January. If I remember correctly the cost after rebate is $889.00.

If you are going to print a lot or use art papers buy the bigger printer. Also know that the 3880 has enough ink slots (9) that it can print both matte and glossy when using Peizography inks (eight blacks plus a gloss overcoat) without having to either: have a second printer (one for glossy and one for matte); or having to change inks.

I learned from Chris Crawford that the Quadtone RIP will get rid of the color cast from the OEM driver if you intend on printing only B&W.

Cal

 

[Duane Pandorf]

B&H is still offering a $250 rebate on the 3880 as I too am thinking of buying a printer for B&W work.

 

[robklurfield]

I have had my 3880 for about ten days. It is superb. I haven't even tried the QuadTone RIP yet. When my ink runs dry, I might invest in the Jon Cone Piezography all black inks. The printer is capable of things beyond my current abilities. I had a 2200. This is many, many times better. I'm awaiting some new baryta paper from B&H later today.

Duane, didn't the rebate deal expire on 1/31/13? If not, take advantage if the deal.

 

[Calzone]

B&H is still offering a $250 rebate on the 3880 as I too am thinking of buying a printer for B&W work.

Duane,

Please be careful. There was a deadline where the purchase had to occur before January 31st. Not sure if that got extended.

The inkset is 9 big carts, but the replacement cost is $409.00. If you get the rebate it is a great-great deal, but be forwarned that this is a big heavy printer. I know because I carried it onto the subway like a fool. LOL. By the time I got home both my arms were broken.

Cal

 

[srtiwari]

Duane,

Please be careful. There was a deadline where the purchase had to occur before January 31st. Not sure if that got extended.

The inkset is 9 big carts, but the replacement cost is $409.00. If you get the rebate it is a great-great deal, but be forwarned that this is a big heavy printer. I know because I carried it onto the subway like a fool. LOL. By the time I got home both my arms were broken.

Cal

The mail-in rebate pdf (from the b&H site) clearly states that it is valid for printers bought between Feb.1st and 28th, 2013- guess they've extended the deadline !

 

[Duane Pandorf]

I'm scared to death to buy a printer. Honestly. I've had a couple inexpensive inkjet printers for general use and of course they were impossible to get anything worthwhile out of. I recently had a 8 x 12 B&W print done by Mpix and was not impressed. I'd like to print some of my B&W as big as 12 x 18 or 16 x 24 but can't stand the thought of wasting paper and ink and not get the results I'd be happy with.

My monitor is calibrated and have read more than one article on printing workflows. A $1,000 is a lot of money to spend on a big "paper weight".

 

[AusDLK]

I own a 3000, 3800, and 3880. I use Piezography inks for b&w in all but the 3880. I'm impressed that I have yet to have a nozzle check problem with the 3000 even after the printer sits unused for months.

 

[Calzone]

I'm scared to death to buy a printer. Honestly. I've had a couple inexpensive inkjet printers for general use and of course they were impossible to get anything worthwhile out of. I recently had a 8 x 12 B&W print done by Mpix and was not impressed. I'd like to print some of my B&W as big as 12 x 18 or 16 x 24 but can't stand the thought of wasting paper and ink and not get the results I'd be happy with.

My monitor is calibrated and have read more than one article on printing workflows. A $1,000 is a lot of money to spend on a big "paper weight".

Duane,

Sometimes it takes courage to make the jump. I am totally new to digital and use to be a die-hard B&W film only kinda guy. Anyways tomorrow I expect delivery of my Monochrome, and on top of the 3880 and MM I still need to buy a computer.

Anyways there's a lot of sacrifice to make these purchases, and the money has to come from somewhere.

I found Chris Crawford's advice to be very helpful. He has a link that explained his discoveries that will likely smooth out some of your worries. Also PM me if you like, but know that I'm B&W only centric.

If you are only doing B&W both Jon Cone's Piezography and Chris Crawford both use the Quadtone RIP as a printer driver.

I only stress the 3880 because its the unit to get to satisfy any of these conditions: you want to print 22x17; you want to print a lot because the greater ink capacity saves money; you want to print on art papers and the "Pro" printer offers better paper feeds; and lastly if you ever plan on evolving to Piezography where you can print with eight blacks and have enough cart slots for both matte and glossy inks in one printer.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The mail-in rebate pdf (from the b&H site) clearly states that it is valid for printers bought between Feb.1st and 28th, 2013- guess they've extended the deadline !

Thanks for the helpful post. The rebate is a great savings.

Cal

 

[robklurfield]

Duane, I left exactly the same way ... UNTIL I made a few prints. Now, my biggest worries are running up big paper costs and printing images that don't live up to the capabilities of the machine (I need to sharpen up my PP skills ... read Chris on curves). Of course, if you leave the thing just sitting there it will become a paperweight. I think that once you see some gorgeous prints, you'll shift to worrying about how to pay for all the paper, mat board, frames, glass, etc. that you'll want to use. In fact, I'm waiting for UPS to deliver some Ilford Prestige Gallery Gold Silk and sampler packs from Epson and Hahnemuhle.

I'm scared to death to buy a printer. Honestly. I've had a couple inexpensive inkjet printers for general use and of course they were impossible to get anything worthwhile out of. I recently had a 8 x 12 B&W print done by Mpix and was not impressed. I'd like to print some of my B&W as big as 12 x 18 or 16 x 24 but can't stand the thought of wasting paper and ink and not get the results I'd be happy with.

My monitor is calibrated and have read more than one article on printing workflows. A $1,000 is a lot of money to spend on a big "paper weight".