Basic printer help needed - pigment or dye ?

[steveinspain]

Firstly, my internet connection is very flakey, so I am rarely here except to ask for help, and as usual, this is what I need now..!
I need to start printing some decent quality prints that will last some time (I don't need 100 years, but 20 would be nice in the hard southern Spanish light..!)
I need to go to A3+, am not wealthy, and have plentiful power cuts, making it a problem with a printer that needs to be left powered up. I am looking at printers in the range of the HP9180/ Epson 2880/Canon 9950 range, want to do B/W without changing cartridges, want inks to never run out..(??)
Do I need pigment inks, or is dye good enough ? Is the quality difference huge ? I will only be printing maybe 10-15 prints per month, and our postal service is such that the last 3 lots of prints ordered from the UK have failed to arrive - hence needing to do my own ! I am not looking for the ultimate quality, but a machine that won't need replacing in a year or two would be nice, as I doubt I'll earn back the cost of the printer over 5 years, as most prints will be given to local people who have nothing to pay with !
What advice can you give me - I have no option but to buy online, so will choose according to whatever advice I am given, so many thanks in advance !

Steve

 

[Daniel Balfour]

I don't know much about HP's line, but Epson's Ultrachrome K3 printers seem to be pretty robust. I own a 3800. It's 'compatible' with pretty much everything, VERY well supported in the industry (Quadtone RiP, etc), and has quite a following. I would imagine much of the same would apply to the new 2880, and price-wise, it's certainly reasonable.

As for inks well... The main reason I paid more for the 3800 is the ink supply. I originally set out to buy a 2400 (the 2880 wasn't out at the time) but was convinced by the sales rep at B&H that I'd spend more then the difference on ink. Something to consider.

Good luck in your endeavors friend!

 

[Daniel Balfour]

Oh, one other thought...

Since you seem to be very price-conscious, for your b/w work, might I suggest you consider making digital-negatives? They certainly last (I've made a number of these about a year ago and so far no signs of fading) and you could then reprint as many as you'd like on (relatively-cheap) silver-gelatin paper or the Alt process of your choice.

Certainly something to consider if money's an issue and you're looking for permanence. Nothing is as tried and proven as a fiber print where archival concerns come into play. The Epson 2880 is certainly a candidate where that's concerned, both in terms of technology and support. I haven't seen any profiles for the 2880 on the QuadTone RIP website, but I'm sure they can be made easily enough.

 

[steveinspain]

Hey, two replies in such a short time - Thanks !
OK, so one of my concerns with Epson is the rumour about clogging heads if not used often - is this more than a rumour ? Please bear in mind that I will be leaving the printer unused for periods of 3-5 weeks at times..
As you say, money is a big issue (I have not worked this year due to injury, so have had no income, and it looks like I won't be back to work till next spring !) and also, we pay a huge amount more here than you do in the USA, at 1000 uk, so roughly (just a guess) 1800$ plus shipping to me for the Epson 3800 - rather more than I have, although I do need to look at ink usage etc, which seems to bring it all back into play..
Most of the printing will be colour, the B/W more for me, and at this stage, just me playing and learning slowly..

 

[nsouto]

I used to have an Epson. The ink kept drying up if I didn't print often, forcing me to buy many more cartridges than I really used.

I've now been using a HP 8750 for quite a few years: A3, ink doesn't dry up at all - heck, I've had it off for 6 months and it came back with no problems! - and the ink price is not that much more than an Epson to make it too expensive.

Plus, it has a special "b&w photo" cartridge that is absolutely precious for b&w printing: best I've seen out of an amateur class inkjet in a long while.

Not to say there isn't better out there, of course.

Things might have changed now, as I said the 8750 was purchased a few years ago. But if I had to pick a new one now, I'd be looking at the HP range first.

Best way I've found is to take a usb key with a test file to the retailer and ask to have it printed on the spot. Haven't found one printer that beats the 8750 yet. Although of course I do realize that mine has been optimized for my workflow while the shop's has not. Still: few get anywhere near the quality and ease of use of mine and usually at a much higher price.

I wish HP would sort out the cartridge range and its labeling system, though: it's usually a mess to try to explain to a retailer that the difference in numbers of cartridge I ask for has to do with the capacity. "It's b&w, why do you need the more expensive cartridge when this one will do?" is a common reply...

 

[steveinspain]

Cheers Nuno - is the HP8750 a dye printer or a pigment type ?
I currently have a lowly epson R220 - it was left off for 3 months this summer and worked perfectly after, making me wonder more about not going for a pigment printer. I do plan to use the makers own inks and papers, but don't want to be replacing inks more than needed if things get blocked up..!
I'll try getting a store to do a print for me when next in London, but don't think I have ever seen a place with a printer up and running to do that...!
Maybe I ought to come to Sydney to look..!!

 

[nsouto]

the 8750 is a dye ink printer.

 

[jd callow]

"I don't need 100 years, but 20 would be nice in the hard southern Spanish light..!"

I'd pick a pigment based printer based upon that need alone. Both dye and pigment will produce an attractive print.

 

[steveinspain]

One whoel lot of research later, I am now wondering if the Epson 3800 is the one to go for - way more money, but loads more ink too...
Not sure how I will afford this, but unless anyone has better ideas, it might be the target to go for...

 

[nsouto]

This review seems to indicate you're onto a good hing.

Whatever your choice, make sure you get some results here for all to see!

A2, eh? I'm jealous, now!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've had an HP B9180 for several months now, and I'm happy with it. I bought it to replace the printer I was using for printing documents, so I could also have the option of printing photographs and experimenting a bit with digital negs. I don't make that many prints with it, but I haven't had clogging problems. It seems to do a lot of printhead maintenance on its own, which is probably using ink, but that's preferable to clogged heads.