B+W printing , Epson 3880 ?

Duane Pandorf said:
I don't have anything of my work hanging on any of my walls and I think I finally "deserve" to see some of my stuff. 😉 Cuz just seeing it on my computer is finally not enough.
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Duane,

Rob and others will tell you that in an annoying manner I've only shot negatives and had no regard to printing or scanning over the past 5 years. Sounds like you are like me with the dam/log-jam breaking.

I only have a few prints that cost me dearly because they were printed big by a custom lab.

Cal
 
robklurfield said:
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.
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Rob,

Not sure if you know about Freestyle's supplemental paper catalog. I haven't done the comparison in prices to see if they are good. You have to call them and ask for them to send you one.

Cal
 
Canon and HP printers have user-replaceable ink-heads.

Epson printers don't.

Consider this before you give your money to support a manufacturer whose design does not have customer's best interest.

Result-wise, I'd pit my Canon Pixma 9500 prints against any Epson any day (yes, I had both, did a hands on comparison as well).
 
Wow, super timely for me, as I just set up my 3880 and have run a few trial prints out of it.

Does anyone have links to Chris' posts or articles on the 3880?
 
I've had the 3880 for over a year and find it absoluterly excellent for both colour & B&W. Plus no jet clogs so far even when not printing for over a month or more. The only thing it doesn't handle is rolls of paper, but that's not a problem for me. Cartridge life is also v. good IMO
 
Maggie, it just so happens I've had a tab open on my computer for two weeks to exactly the page you want:

http://chriscrawfordphoto.com/technical/printing.php

Chris doesn't have a 3800/3880 so far as I know, but most of his printing tips will work there, too. I think he is still using an R2400 and a 4000.

If you PM him, I'm sure he can send you links to some threads on RFF where he's posted some other very valuable tips about Piezography, paper, profiles, etc.
 
Just got box of Ilford Gold Fibre Silk paper from B&H today. What a difference this makes. Astonishing. I feel much less incompetent than I did 24 hours ago.

I just printed this image from the summer in Paris at the Rodin Museum. Shot with my Nikon S2 50/1.4 on Agfa Copex Rapid in Rodinal 1+300 1 hour stand. Printed on this paper, it actually looks like a photograph, looks like a wet print, looks like the operator knew what he was doing. Actually, it looks as though someone else printed it. Someone way more talented than I. Wow. I'm happy.

I have no regrets about all the money I just spent on the printer and the paper.

8471730235_2371576667_z.jpg


If you want to print and you have the money, don't wait until the rebate deal is done. Buy the darned thing now. You will not be disappointed. Be sure to use the right profiles (I think I am; I downloaded the ICCs from Ilford) and don't buy crappy paper. I'll buy the QTR over the weekend. Suddenly this is much more fun. And all it took was the right paper.
 
Ok, now the decision. New kitchen countertops or a new printer? I friggin' can't win this month as the better half finally figured out what color she wanted for the kitchen. Trust me in that this has been an ongoing project about as long as Nikon d200 came along!
 
Shac said:
I've had the 3880 for over a year and find it absoluterly excellent for both colour & B&W. Plus no jet clogs so far even when not printing for over a month or more. The only thing it doesn't handle is rolls of paper, but that's not a problem for me. Cartridge life is also v. good IMO
Click to expand...

My R3000 does head cleaning if I don't use it every week or so.. not sure about the 3880.. but it sure suck inks.. 😡
 
robklurfield said:
Maggie, it just so happens I've had a tab open on my computer for two weeks to exactly the page you want:

http://chriscrawfordphoto.com/technical/printing.php

Chris doesn't have a 3800/3880 so far as I know, but most of his printing tips will work there, too. I think he is still using an R2400 and a 4000.

If you PM him, I'm sure he can send you links to some threads on RFF where he's posted some other very valuable tips about Piezography, paper, profiles, etc.
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks Rob!!!
 
i bought the 3880 because of the larger printing size and the much larger quantity of ink included. but i think that it's a bit too much printer and the R3000 would have been a better fit for the amount of printing that i do. and having an X100, printing at 17x22 seems a bit of a stretch as there doesn't seem to be enough resolution to get the resultion that i like (i pixel peep my prints)

but do get the printer!!! once you print, it changes your focus of why you take pictures. printing has made me focus more on the entire process from beginning to end in order to get the best output. even iphone jpegs look good on screens and 4x6's these days, but to print large well you need to take a good shot, improve PP and print.

but there are some other benefits to the 3880
-eric chan has some B&W profiles on his site for certain papers http://people.csail.mit.edu/ericchan/dp/Epson3880/abwprofiles.html
-the maintenance cartridge is replaceable unlike the R3000
-with so much ink, you feel more compelled to print more
-the 3880 can print on almost anything and it has 3 ways of feeding paper
-the roll paper "feature" on the R3000 is not really a feature, because there are very limited options as to what rolls you can purchase
 
A spouse? Well, hell, that changes the whole calculus. Mine waited 12 years to fix the kitchen. Six years later I said I was thinking about a new printer. She said go for it. We are talking scales of time that astronomers understand. Negotiate with your mate. Your marriage is more important than the printer. But negotiate well because the printer is wonderful. And, whatever you do, do not implicate me.😀

Duane Pandorf said:
Ok, now the decision. New kitchen countertops or a new printer? I friggin' can't win this month as the better half finally figured out what color she wanted for the kitchen. Trust me in that this has been an ongoing project about as long as Nikon d200 came along!
Click to expand...
 
All this is very helpful, and now I'm 'in' to buy one of the two. The only question that remains is, which one- the 3880 or the R3000 ?

For about $200 more ( 3880 vs R3000) you get -

option of printing 17x22 vs 13x19
No need to swap colors when changing between matte and glossy papers.
More media handling options ?
Bigger heavier machine.

Hmm... I have to decide soon, probably this week.
 
hanzo said:
My R3000 does head cleaning if I don't use it every week or so.. not sure about the 3880.. but it sure suck inks.. 😡
Click to expand...


Had the same problem, I never switch it off now and run occasional nozzle check when it's been idle for a few weeks (just to purge ink). It hasn't done a head clean since.
I do run the K4 inkflow system from fotospeed, certainly saves on the ink cost.
I'm an incompetent printer but have great enjoyment from framing the results.
 
srtiwari said:
All this is very helpful, and now I'm 'in' to buy one of the two. The only question that remains is, which one- the 3880 or the R3000 ?

For about $200 more ( 3880 vs R3000) you get -

option of printing 17x22 vs 13x19
No need to swap colors when changing between matte and glossy papers.
More media handling options ?
Bigger heavier machine.

Hmm... I have to decide soon, probably this week.
Click to expand...

Do get the 3880.. the ink in the cartridge itself worth the money
 
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