Canon ip4700/Epson px810fw? Or other duplex printer that also does negatives?

[singerb]

Hi all,

Having just moved across the ocean (US to UK) it's time to get a new printer and get back into the alt processes. Previously I was using the crappy HP inkjet we had lying around, which actually worked fine. However, I now find myself in the position of having to shop for a new printer, and need some help. At first, I thought this would be easy - find an Epson R800, and done - good photo printer, good digital negative printer. However, my better half today requested that if possible, our new printer should be able to do double-sided printing (to save paper on articles she anticipates printing out). Thus, I'm now trying to find a printer that can do duplex, but also has decent digital negative performance. I've found the Epson px810fw, which looks like a decent printer with a bunch of stuff I don't need, but it does duplex, as well as the Canon Pixma ip4700, which is just a printer, and also does duplex. However, what I can't find is any information on transparency support for these printers, or digital negative performance from them. My guesses are that 1) they're both just too new, and 2) since they both do glossy photo paper, which is what Pictorico says to tell the printer the OHP is anyway, that they would both print fine on it. But then there's the question of UV blocking, etc.

TLDR; any experience with Canon ip4700/Epson px810fw or printers using similar inks? Or any recommendations for a good digital negative printer that will also do duplex regular printing?

Thanks!

 

[pschwart]

Hi all,

Having just moved across the ocean (US to UK) it's time to get a new printer and get back into the alt processes. Previously I was using the crappy HP inkjet we had lying around, which actually worked fine. However, I now find myself in the position of having to shop for a new printer, and need some help. At first, I thought this would be easy - find an Epson R800, and done - good photo printer, good digital negative printer. However, my better half today requested that if possible, our new printer should be able to do double-sided printing (to save paper on articles she anticipates printing out). Thus, I'm now trying to find a printer that can do duplex, but also has decent digital negative performance. I've found the Epson px810fw, which looks like a decent printer with a bunch of stuff I don't need, but it does duplex, as well as the Canon Pixma ip4700, which is just a printer, and also does duplex. However, what I can't find is any information on transparency support for these printers, or digital negative performance from them. My guesses are that 1) they're both just too new, and 2) since they both do glossy photo paper, which is what Pictorico says to tell the printer the OHP is anyway, that they would both print fine on it. But then there's the question of UV blocking, etc.

TLDR; any experience with Canon ip4700/Epson px810fw or printers using similar inks? Or any recommendations for a good digital negative printer that will also do duplex regular printing?

Thanks!

As far as I know, the Epson px810fw uses Claria ink. My experience with Claria in an Epson 1400 was that it was not a good choice for digital negatives (insufficient UV blocking). I think an 8-color Ultrachrome printer would be a better choice.

 

[singerb]

As far as I know, the Epson px810fw uses Claria ink. My experience with Claria in an Epson 1400 was that it was not a good choice for digital negatives (insufficient UV blocking). I think an 8-color Ultrachrome printer would be a better choice.

Thanks for the good info; I believe that's correct on the ink type, so I'll cross that one off (which is fine, it's more expensive and does stuff I don't need). Anybody with any info on the Canon or their inks in general?

 

[R Shaffer]

You could look into laser printers if duplex is a must. My inexpensive Brother 5250 is a pretty decent laser printer. I use it for work and is quite fast, although duplex really slows it down. I have not tried it for digi-negs.

While not as much info out there on laser printer digi-negs, I know that Jim Larimer, who posts regularly to this site, uses a laser printer for his digital negatives.

Here is a link to one of his images here in the gallery.

http://www.hybridphoto.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=789&c=8