| How
to get a 24 inch enlargements?
To
get 24 inch enlargements (and larger) it is easier and more economical
to use a wide-format ink jet printer such as the Encad
Chroma 24. We tried the ENCAD; coupled with an EFI Fiery PostSript
RIP server, it was quite a wonder. In 1996 color laser technology produced
only letter size. By 1998 desktop color laser printers had reached 11x17
inch full bleed (11.7 x 17.7 inches).
If you wish to get 24 inch enlargements
in black and white, try the QMS 2060. The QMS goes up to 13 x 26 inches
at 1200 dpi. If you need a longer enlargement, try the GCC black-and-white
laser printer. It can print over a Snapshot with Sony Mavica of a rollout
enlargement by ENCAD.
The ENCAD Nova Jet Pro wide format
ink jet printer arrived in January. By August we had still not used
up even one bottle of any color ink.The ENCAD was churning out yard
after yard of immense enlargements, usually each one 36 inches wide.
After eight months we still had ample ink left in the reservoirs.
In this same period our Epson printers
had practically bankrupted us. If yellow went empty then the Epson system
forces you to throw all the other colors away just to buy a new multi-color
ink cartridge.
More insidious, and the reason we
filed a claim of false advertising, was that the model 1500 locked up
the ink supply after about 28 copies, turned itself off, and demanded
more ink. We tried three different models;
two we threw away.
-Once we filed a case of false advertising against
Epson until they returned our money.The other devious aspect of some
Epson ink jet printer is that they require you to use super-expensive
paper if you want photo-quality prints.An additional problem of Epson printers
is that their printer drivers may not work as you expect; you may be
required to spend lots of extra money and buy a RIP (something they
don't warn you about in their slick adverting).
This is Epson's way
to keep you from refilling their cartridges with some other company's
more economical ink.
Color laser is 12 cents a page.
Epson is about 90 cents a page or $1 or more with good paper.Epson ink fades quickly; you lose
all the nice color.
If you are stuck with an Epson printer, use VanSon
or AmericanInkJet inks.
Some models of Epson printers are
the standing joke of graphics professionals. You get a cheap printer
of plastic, wretched software, and promises of awesome color quality
that are certainly hardly ever actually achieved. The glossy ads do
not warn you of the excessive costs of paper, ink, nor do the ads appraise
you of how long the lethargic printer takes to do a single print.
Warning: avoid buying an Epson ink jet printer.
|
