[ChillieMac]

Hi all!

I'm a graphic artist trying to do more work from home. To that end I need a printer to do the following:

1) Print Postscript : To be able to print directly from Adobe Illustrator. Photoshop, InDesign and Quark without issues.

2) Print large format: 11x17 minimum

3) Color or can be B&W only

4) UB2/Firewire or Ethernet

5) Under $1,500 US dollars

Would be great if it could handle upto 70lb Cover Stock weighted paper!

Any input from you guys who have experienced printers able to fit the bill.

Thanks!

[OreoCookie]

Sounds like you should take a look at the Canon i9950 and the Epson 2200. In combination with a software RIP, you should get what you want. If you don't necessarily need to make proofs, the Canon should be the better choice.

Goods review of both can be found at Steve's Digicams, albeit they are pretty much photo-centric.

The Canon is a lot faster (according to the review, even two generations ago, Canons were a lot faster; according to the page, the Canon prints a 13x19 print in 2.40 minutes, whereas it took the Epson 27.05 minutes!).

[Lee33]

Canon just came out with a new iP9910 that would fit your needs. I'm not sure about the i9950 Oreo mentioned. I've never heard of that one. That could be a typo.

[ihatesuvs68]

Epson something or other. Avoid HP.

[OreoCookie]

Originally posted by Lee33:
Canon just came out with a new iP9910 that would fit your needs. I'm not sure about the i9950 Oreo mentioned. I've never heard of that one. That could be a typo.

The i9950 seems to be the previous model. In Germany, the iP9910 is not mentioned on the website. In any case, even if the iP9910 is not an improvement, Canon is still lightyears away in terms of speed. The only disadvantage I can see is that the Epson has better support on the software RIP side.

[tooki]

How much work do you plan to do? An inkjet is great for very, very low volume stuff, but for a full-time designer, it'd be frustrating. Inkjets are also the undisputed kings of photographic output.

My best client, a designer, leases a Xerox Phaser 7750, which prints letter size at 35ppm in color, 11x17 at just over half that, does 12x18, and has a fast built-in PostScript 3 RIP -- no software RIP nightmares. She describes being able to print a tabloid spread in 20 seconds as her having "died and gone to heaven".

Depending on how much you will be doing, leasing a mid- to high-end color laser may be a better option.

The i9950 is the European version of the i9900. (The Euro version can print on CDs, the US one can't.) It stands to reason that the i9910 is the successor to the i9900, and that perhaps i9960 will be the Euro equivalent.

tooki

[Lee33]

Thanks for the clarification.

[OreoCookie]

Originally posted by tooki:
How much work do you plan to do? An inkjet is great for very, very low volume stuff, but for a full-time designer, it'd be frustrating. Inkjets are also the undisputed kings of photographic output.

My best client, a designer, leases a Xerox Phaser 7750, which prints letter size at 35ppm in color, 11x17 at just over half that, does 12x18, and has a fast built-in PostScript 3 RIP -- no software RIP nightmares. She describes being able to print a tabloid spread in 20 seconds as her having "died and gone to heaven".

Depending on how much you will be doing, leasing a mid- to high-end color laser may be a better option.

The i9950 is the European version of the i9900. (The Euro version can print on CDs, the US one can't.) It stands to reason that the i9910 is the successor to the i9900, and that perhaps i9960 will be the Euro equivalent.

tooki

Do you think this will still be in the $1500 envelope

[tooki]

Hence "lease" as opposed to "buy" -- $7000+ is a big pill to swallow at once!

tooki