Printers...HP 9180B Vs. Epson 3800

I am also about to upgrade my old dye printer to probably either HP B9180 or Epson 3800 (or possibly just the 2400). I have heard that the B9180 has greater 'bronzing', gloss differential problems, than the Epson's. Is this the case?

I tend to favour Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl for general printing and one of the Baryta papers, Harman, Da Vinci or Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk, for better quality. Does anyone have experience of these papers with the B9180? I had printed a couple of prints made with Da Vinci paper on the HPZ3100 and while there was not 'bronzing' as such, there was some 'piting' to the gloss surface (gloss enhancer on) that was eliminated with a coat of UV spray. Otherwise the quality was superb, but I don't have the room even if I could afford it.
 
I m very satisfied with B&W print of my HP 9180B on Harman Matt fb mp paper 310 gsm ; Ilford smooth pearl (290 gsm) I find ok for colours, not yet satisfied with B&W . Maybe I should try different settings or profile. Very good results on Epson Matt heavyweight . Are you printing B&W or colours?
rob
 
One factor to take in regarding cartridge size and print yield: at least in the case of my HP 8750, the print monitor keeps tabs on relative inks supply (as does Epson; these indicators are estimates, not based on actual measurement of remaining ink in the carts), and will give me a heads-up when ink was running low, but, unlike Epson, will allow you to run the carts till they're dry, whereas Epson will put the brakes on printing activity when any one cart hits a certain low-ink "threshold." This has to do with the fact that the print heads in all Epson printers are permanent, and rely on having a constant "flow" of ink for proper operation; run any of those heads dry and you run the risk of damaging them. (Next time you have to change a cart, take an "empty" cart and shake it around in your hand; you'll definintely hear some serious sloshing about in there, meaning there's a lot more than just a few drops left over when the show comes to a screeching halt. (I had an Epson 2200 for a little under two years.)

Running the numbers is an important factor in choosing a printer, but it's hardly the only one.


- Barrett
 
robert blu said:
I m very satisfied with B&W print of my HP 9180B on Harman Matt fb mp paper 310 gsm ; Ilford smooth pearl (290 gsm) I find ok for colours, not yet satisfied with B&W . Maybe I should try different settings or profile. Very good results on Epson Matt heavyweight . Are you printing B&W or colours?
rob
Click to expand...

I print both colour and B & W, but the real reason for upgrading my present printer is the better B & W results from these printers. On the whole I tend to prefer gloss or semigloss papers (the closer to traditional fibre base gloss the better for me) to matt, although the 'bronzing' I was asking about can be a problem. Whats this issue like with the Ilford Smooth Pearl on your B9180.

Ilford have printer profiles for this paper on their web site, but I haven't checked for the B9180.
 
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