Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I'm seeing a couple of similar questions asked in the forums over time but no good answers so I will try it myself. I work for a small design agency and am planning to purchase a new inkjet printer to produce comps to show clients before things are commercially printed. We have a nice laser printer but want a new inkjet printer as well. We currently use an old Epson Stylus Photo 1400 but it's starting to die. Any suggestions on what you think works best for a design agency? We probably only need it to print on 19" wide paper.
Ideally this inket printer would:
• Print on a variety of different papers (coated, uncoated, different weights, etc.)
• Not go through more ink than other comparable printers
• Produce reasonably accurate color compared to other inkjet printers
We had a Canon and HP at one point for GraCol proofing. We ended up going with Epson with a built in Photospectrometer.
Haven't looked back since.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks Derek, I'll check it out. I really appreciate it. Any particular reason you like this one over other options? Or are you just saying it's a good option? Curious.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I don't have this printer but I read about it recently and it seemed to offer a number of facilities, from being able to print accurately either a wide gamut (for art shots) or CMYK colour (for match colour proofing) on a range of papers and weights and up to A2 size at not a bad price of less than a £1000.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks, sounds like a good option.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Let us know how you get on.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
We had a Canon and HP at one point for GraCol proofing. We ended up going with Epson with a built in Photospectrometer.
Haven't looked back since.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Built in Photospectrometer sounds pretty awesome. Sounds like one of the large format printers though and probably a little bit overkill for what we need. I'll take a look though. Great recommendation, thanks.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Can I know your Epson model numbers?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
@kevin stohlmeyer, which Epson printer did you get?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
We use an Epson Stylus Pro 4900 with GMG ColorProof – works fine.
But I would consider buying an external measurement device, since you can use it for other things as well. We use an x-rite i1pro2 for that.
If you buy it built-in, you just can measure/verify your proofs – but not e.g. compare your proof with a physicial reference you want to get close to.
Or you have a reference and want to know the closest PANTONE match... you can do so much with an external spectralphotometer 😉
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I have an Epson SureColor P5000 its a 17" wide model so I can run larger prints as needed. If you are color critical, I would follow Jens post and get an i1 calibrator.
As for work we have two - a SureColor P8000 and P9570 large format 44" printers. Both of those have inline spectrometers to calibrate. We also use the i1isis calibrator. It it automated so it reads an entire sheet instead of the i1 Pro which needs a cradle or steady hand.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
@kevin stohlmeyer, that Epson P5000 looks like a sweet printer. I totally agree with Jen and already have a 2017 X-Rite Colormunki Photo, which uses the i1Studio software.
So has the P5000 been reliable? How are your supply costs? What papers have you been using with it? I'll probably need a paper that's coated two sides for the type of work I'm doing. In the past, I've had a lot of success with paper from Red River. Thanks for your help. 🙂
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thumbs up on Red River paper. Beautiful results and reasonable prices.