Printer for color and BW

biomed

biomed

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I am going to be replacing my old printer soon. I have been looking at the Epson R1900. The color output from the R1900 is superb, but the BW leaves a lot to be desired. The printer I need would have:

1. 13 inch wide paper capacity.
2. Pigment inks.
3. No need to switch ink cartridges when printing glossy vs. matte photos.
4. Have the ability to print both color and BW images.
5. Be in the R1900 price range (under $550). Epson now has a $150 rebate on the R1900.

Any recommendations? What do you like about your recommended printer?

Thanks,
Mike
 
I've had the HP B9180 for a couple years now and I'm reasonably happy with it.

1. 13 inch wide paper capacity.
Click to expand...

Check!

2. Pigment inks.
Click to expand...

Uh-huh!

3. No need to switch ink cartridges when printing glossy vs. matte photos.
Click to expand...

Fer-shure! 🙂

4. Have the ability to print both color and BW images.
Click to expand...

Yep!

5. Be in the R1900 price range (under $550). Epson now has a $150 rebate on the R1900.
Click to expand...

Uh, sortakinda. They do have a lower-priced model with most of the same features.
 
Double Negative said:
and clogging heads more frequently - though it's gotten better.
Click to expand...

The 9180 has an automated process to control this. It goes through a brief automated cleaning and servicing cycle every 24 hours. It clicks and jukes around for maybe 45 seconds to a minute normally.

One semi-frequently reported problem is when the maintenance cycle grows longer and longer. A dirty NED (some kind of a detector) is often responsible for this, and there are cleaning instructions on line. Also, after 1000 prints or so, the inside of the printer does get very nasty, and it can take an hour or so with Q-tips and rubbing alcohol to get most of the yuck out.
 
I don't think there is a single printer that can do all things -- color and B&W, matte and glossy -- as well as one that is designed for specific purposes. Most serious B&W types who do not want dedicated B&W printers use the Epson K3 approach. In light of the ink cost advantages to larger carts, the net cost of the 3880 with its switchable MK and PK might be worth exploring.

I have designed and used lots of dedicated B&W inksets. My personal preference now is for 100% carbon. See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/ However, this is for the purist and for someone who wants to save a lot of money on ink costs. Ink costs for B&W can be 2 orders of magnitude less than OEM cart prices -- to the point where ink costs become irrelevant, and this is for the most stable B&W images possible.

For longevity, carbon is on top, but the OEM -- Epson, HP and Canon -- color pigments are getting quite good. The best fade testing for those who want more details than Wilhelm gives, see http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/ Currently the most lightfast inkset tested is the 100% carbon "1800 3MK" setup, described here: http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R1800.htm However, this will not print glossy.

I personally use a 1400 for 13" prints. I have a combination of 100% carbon and HP Z3100 PK in the printer. I think the HP PK and its dilutions are the best neutralized, blended carbon + color gray inks. The 1400 is cheap enough that a dedicated B&W printer might be worth it if you do a lot of B&W printing.

For more on B&W, the best B&W printer tech forum is http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/messages

Good luck in your search.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com
 
Unfortunately, the B9180 and B8850 (it's cheaper sibling) are now both discontinued, with no replacement in sight. I have had a B9180 for three years, and love the output (when it works 🙁, I'm on my third printer).
dmr said:
I've had the HP B9180 for a couple years now and I'm reasonably happy with it.

....
....


Uh, sortakinda. They do have a lower-priced model with most of the same features.
Click to expand...
 
Paul Roark said:
... I have designed and used lots of dedicated B&W inksets. My personal preference now is for 100% carbon. See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/ ...
Click to expand...

+1 on the dedicated B&W printer. Based upon the recommendations on Paul's site, I bought an Epson C88+ and the B&W ink cartridges. The total setup is <$150 and I am getting fantastic and easy results. That would leave al ot of cash left for a dedicated color printer like the R1400 or higher even. That is my plan.

Dean
 
Paul Roark said:
I don't think there is a single printer that can do all things -- color and B&W, matte and glossy -- as well as one that is designed for specific purposes. Most serious B&W types who do not want dedicated B&W printers use the Epson K3 approach. In light of the ink cost advantages to larger carts, the net cost of the 3880 with its switchable MK and PK might be worth exploring.

I have designed and used lots of dedicated B&W inksets. My personal preference now is for 100% carbon. See http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/ However, this is for the purist and for someone who wants to save a lot of money on ink costs. Ink costs for B&W can be 2 orders of magnitude less than OEM cart prices -- to the point where ink costs become irrelevant, and this is for the most stable B&W images possible.

For longevity, carbon is on top, but the OEM -- Epson, HP and Canon -- color pigments are getting quite good. The best fade testing for those who want more details than Wilhelm gives, see http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/ Currently the most lightfast inkset tested is the 100% carbon "1800 3MK" setup, described here: http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/R1800.htm However, this will not print glossy.

I personally use a 1400 for 13" prints. I have a combination of 100% carbon and HP Z3100 PK in the printer. I think the HP PK and its dilutions are the best neutralized, blended carbon + color gray inks. The 1400 is cheap enough that a dedicated B&W printer might be worth it if you do a lot of B&W printing.

For more on B&W, the best B&W printer tech forum is http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint/messages

Good luck in your search.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com
Click to expand...

Paul's excellent information got me in to an R1800 and carbon ink set some time ago. I've been more than satisfied with my bw results.
I now need another printer for color prints and digital negatives.
 
Double Negative said:
The ol' Epson 1280 I replaced it with was a complete DISASTER:

- Ate ink like it was falling freely from the heavens
- Could pretty much never expect it to print without cleaning it first
- Colors were unpredictable and usually pretty whack; never did match my screen
- Bronze guide bushing would constantly come loose from head, jamming
- Built as cheap as could possibly be; wobbled, creaked and just felt flimsy
- Borderless prints almost impossible due to black splotches in border areas
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I just found this post as I poke around for info about printers. I tossed my 1280 last year for exactly the same reasons listed above. I thought I was doing something wrong (still a possibility!) or that I had a bad copy. Glad to see I wasn't the only one.

My job has the Canon 9500. Produced nice results. I'm trying to get the operator to get profiles for the papers etc to optimize it.
 
I cannot think of a better printer than the Epson Stylus Pro 3880. It is larger than you specify (17" wide), but the print quality is amazing. It handles color and B&W very well. We use everything from a very textured paper to a glossy Baryta paper, and it handles it all, right up to 17"x22" sheets.

What many do not realize is that this printer is about the same value as the R1900 level printer, because it comes with a full set of inks installed. Right now, the printer is under $1,000 from Epson. The ink cartridges are the larger 80ml cartridges, so they are more economical, and the printer comes with a full set (worth about $540).

Another factor is that when you buy a "pro" printer from Epson, you get a different level of customer service (i believe it is a separate service dept.). We have had a 3800 for a few years. We bought a refurb, and when we first got it, there was an ink flow issue. They overnighted a new printer and a complete extra set of inks and paid for the first one to be shipped back. We have been happily printing with it ever since.

Jeremy
 
I have a Epson 1400 which I'm using with the MIS UT-14 inkset designed by Paul Roark. It takes some messing around to get a nice looking print, but they do look good (however, IMO they don't look as good to me as what I can create in the darkoom).
 
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