Home printing with Epson

[OzzyJim]

Gday,

I have just purchased the Epson Stylus Photo R290 printer today for a measly AUS$149. I have got to say that the print quality so far is outstanding, I have been using the ink that came with the printer (full tanks, not the shipping tanks favoured by some makes) and Epson Ultra Glossy photo paper.

Being the first photo printer I have had, I cant say too much about others except that some neighbours use a Cannon pixima that seems to have rather bad quality prints (unsure what inks and paper they use) and another person who uses the bundled printer from a Sony camera/printer pack.

The Sony did produce better prints than the Cannon but was limited to 5x7? prints, so far with the R290 all I can say is that Set-up was a breeze and photo quality is great. I did look at the Epson R1900, but at AUS$1099 I couldn't justify the cost for the few times that I would be printilg larger than A4.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions I would love to hear them, I only plan on using this printer for about the next 12 months anyway.

James

[JDArt]

Regardless of which printer you use, you need profiling equipment to get a good match between monitor and output. I'm sure the Canon printers are marvellous when proper priles are used.

[OzzyJim]

Ah well erm I still haven't gotten round to properly calibrating everything yet, but am pretty close after "Playing" for a while. the profiles for the printer that i have used was just for the paper in the printer - I haven't yet matched monitor output / paper output properly yet.

The issue with the cannon was that although it may not have been profile to the paper properly is that some colours were off and the black areas were raised and looked like a blue "oil slick" when viewed on a angle. This was not the current model but still seemd odd to me.

In reguards to getting a match between printer output and monitor output would it be sufficient to print off a few test cards (of correct colour) and adjust my monitors(Laptop lcd and lcd tv) settings to suit?

James.

[rbcyouthdude]

I have an Epson rx580 with one of these
Continuous Ink System CISS For Epson R270 R290 R390 RX590 RX610 RX690 1410 Printer w/Dye Ink [CISS-Epson-R270-DYE] - $59.95 : Superjet USA! - Continuous Ink System : Superjet USA!, Online Printer Ink Super Store Continuous Ink System : Superjet USA!,
Best investment you will make. Has paid for it's self several times.

Michael

[OzzyJim]

Thanks mate I'll have a look into it, how do the prints compare with the genuine epson ink?. Any need to change any profiles?.

[rbcyouthdude]

They look great to me, I have not changed anything.

Michael

[pop]

Hi Jim;
I am using after market inks ( Ink Power ) In my Epson R350. Cost is $4 against $18-20 for originals. Using different ink or changing paper will nearly always produce differences, but If I hold 2 pics of the same shot at arms length and have used different methods. Sometimes ( truly ) it can't be noticed. I don't know what software you are using, but with PS and your printer use SRGB in your colour space and use the same in you printer colour space...Hope you still have some hair left next week...hehe

[Tareq]

I don't want to share much here, but i use Epson 3800, amazing printer for me, even sometimes i feel that 17x22 is limited for me, now with that quality i wish to get Epson 9880 or even 11880, with my current Epson 3800 i am thinking that the minimum printing size should be A2 or A3, and now with my MarkIII and H3D i can print something around 1 and 2 meters with no fear, and i am a member in a local photography club in our area, the minimum size of prints there is A3.

[OzzyJim]

Nice printer Pop, just had a look on the epson site but I cant get one locally (no stock left). Do you find that you use any of the extra features lke the DSC connectivity and on printer LCD?. I have tried adjusting the colour profiles already and am waiting another week or so (I would be bald for my sisters wedding otherwise ).

Hello Tareq, I was drooling over the R1900 (best one available locally), but cannot justify the cost at the moment I am probably better off getting the few prints that large done at a lab. The extra plugins for photoshop would be a good thing though. How do you find the drivers / Software for the 3800?

One thing I have always been confused over is the ability to print really large prints at commercial labs. Do they adjust printing resolution or bump the actual photo's resolution via software prior to printing. And for billboard type prints are they still on large megapixel 20+MP? cameras or traditional medium and large format camera's. Although I am not looking to make any prints that large yet but maybe about 1.5Mx1M in the next 6 months, would a 10MP besuitable for this or should I go larger. Because I use Penatax I can only go to 14MP with the K20D or wait and see if the 20+MP full frame sensor camera does get released any time soon.

Thanks,

James

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by OzzyJim

Nice printer Pop, just had a look on the epson site but I cant get one locally (no stock left). Do you find that you use any of the extra features lke the DSC connectivity and on printer LCD?. I have tried adjusting the colour profiles already and am waiting another week or so (I would be bald for my sisters wedding otherwise ).

Hello Tareq, I was drooling over the R1900 (best one available locally), but cannot justify the cost at the moment I am probably better off getting the few prints that large done at a lab. The extra plugins for photoshop would be a good thing though. How do you find the drivers / Software for the 3800?

One thing I have always been confused over is the ability to print really large prints at commercial labs. Do they adjust printing resolution or bump the actual photo's resolution via software prior to printing. And for billboard type prints are they still on large megapixel 20+MP? cameras or traditional medium and large format camera's. Although I am not looking to make any prints that large yet but maybe about 1.5Mx1M in the next 6 months, would a 10MP besuitable for this or should I go larger. Because I use Penatax I can only go to 14MP with the K20D or wait and see if the 20+MP full frame sensor camera does get released any time soon.

Thanks,

James

Simply i can say that the prints are ...... AMAZING!!!

[OzzyJim]

Oooooooh I want a new printer hehe.

[jimmy h]

i used the epson r2400 untill recently with the perma jet continuous ink flow system and that was amazing quality, due to an unfortunate incident i now use the r2880 and am waiting for the ink system to become available for that also, love the quality of the prints so far.

[gaopa2]

I would never use ink from a 3rd party in my Epson! There are just too many war stories about bad experiences. I keep my Epson printer pure with only Epson paper and ink and never have had a problem with any of the 4 Epsons I have had over the years. I now use the R1900 and LOVE it! Cheers, Bill P.

[Tareq]

Originally Posted by gaopa2

I would never use ink from a 3rd party in my Epson! There are just too many war stories about bad experiences. I keep my Epson printer pure with only Epson paper and ink and never have had a problem with any of the 4 Epsons I have had over the years. I now use the R1900 and LOVE it! Cheers, Bill P.

Second that, i will never use another ink rather than Epson itself, i don't trust to put another inks without any issue.

[OzzyJim]

Gday,

I have been looking at the continuous ink systems, but am still a little unsure. Does anybody know if there are continuous systems available that use genuine ink?.

James.

[rbcyouthdude]

I have had an Epson with continuous ink system for over a year. I just finished my second project that required 7500 full page prints with several photos. I have used ink from Sam’s and I can tell no difference in quality from the day I bought it. I love my continuous ink system.

[pop]

"Does anybody know if there are continuous systems available that use genuine ink?"
That would imply that it will come from Epson. Never heard of it Ozzyjim
Gaopa2;
"I would never use ink from a 3rd party in my Epson!There are just too many war stories about bad experiences."
I have been using after market inks for nearly 10 years. Have I had problems? Yes I have but it is usually when the cartridge is blocked and needs cleaning and that happens with genuine inks also. I have many friends who also use after market inks. I am yet to hear of a printer fouling up because of it. Epson put out this story a long time ago. $18 against $4...Go figure!!
Difference in quality. Yes there is, but held at arms length unnoticeable.
Hey Ozzyjim...Race your car against my Evo9?

[Dirk]

i myself use a DX 8400 epson printer i like it a lot

[OzzyJim]

Gday,

Thanks for your input, No continuous systems are available locally so I would have to buy one on-line. I have found a major supplier of aftermarket inks that would be happy to supply me with the bulk ink though.

Tempting offer pop, Not my car though, I would get one if I hade a spare 100k laying around though. I think your evo would prob win 70km/h faster top speed, 30yrs younger and 4WD, did you get the rear wing fitted?.

James

[pop]

No mate, standard on EVO9