[as2]

Hi,

I am currently working for my dad's graphic design company, and he has asked me to research new printers for the company.

We need either of both of the following.

1. Colour accurate A3+ Inkjet printer with RIP (either Server based for Mac OS X or client based for OS 9)

2. Colour accurate A3+ Colour Laser printer.

Both need to be networkable via Ethernet, with 4-6 machines printing to them.

I've been looking at the HP DesignJet 50ps, with the 610n print server, but can't find out if you require seperate RIP software for the client machines. It says that it comes with a built in print server, but the HP website is very sketchy on the details. If anyone has any experience with this printer, or the HP 610n/615n print servers could they let me know.

Also, for the Colour Laser i've been looking at the OKI C9500hdn (http://uk.oki.com/fcgi-bin/public.fc...hid=1&prid=404).
Does anyone know what the colour accuracy is like on this.

Thanks for any help.

Adam

[OreoCookie]

The Oki printer has been rated as the best color laser printer for color proof stuff by the German MacUP magazine. They are known to be very fast and reliable machines. AFA the HP is concerned, I don't know, I don't have any experience with them.

An alternative could be the Epson 2100.

[as2]

Have just bought the epson 2100, as it was almost half the price of the HP... my only problem now is finding some RIP software to use on my server with it.

I've been looking at PowerRIP or ProofMaster.

any thoughts?

Adam

[spiznet]

2. Colour accurate A3+ Colour Laser printer.

Both need to be networkable via Ethernet, with 4-6 machines printing to them.

As mentioned in other threads, Xerox (Tektronix) Phaser 7700 can't be beat for color laser printing/proofs.

[art_director]

Originally posted by spiznet:
2. Colour accurate A3+ Colour Laser printer.

Both need to be networkable via Ethernet, with 4-6 machines printing to them.

As mentioned in other threads, Xerox (Tektronix) Phaser 7700 can't be beat for color laser printing/proofs.

i have the phaser 7700and can say it's an incredible value for the money. the quality is brilliant and it's one fast bugger. that said, i would NEVER trust that machine for proofing color.

i work on magazine and newspaper ads, direct mail, p.o.s., misc collateral, etc. and feel there is no substitute for a true proof. period. in fact, my clients (ad agencies, diesgn firms and a number corporations) would not accept laser proofs for color matching purposes. when working with small clients it can serve for cost-savings but it is not entirely accurate.

[spiznet]

Originally posted by art_director:
i have the phaser 7700and can say it's an incredible value for the money. the quality is brilliant and it's one fast bugger. that said, i would NEVER trust that machine for proofing color.

i work on magazine and newspaper ads, direct mail, p.o.s., misc collateral, etc. and feel there is no substitute for a true proof. period. in fact, my clients (ad agencies, diesgn firms and a number corporations) would not accept laser proofs for color matching purposes. when working with small clients it can serve for cost-savings but it is not entirely accurate.

Art Director-

I think you may agree this printer is the "closest" pressmatch for the money, as well as having great rip & print speeds. Short of a matchprint or digital proofer are you going to find much better? This is alot to say for a machine significantly under 10k.

That being said, I don't think many people put the time into setting up their 7700 color calibration settings, especially the newer driver that allow specific lighten/darken of highlight/midtones/shadows modifications to the standard presets like Commercial Press or SWOP Press.

One thing to be aware of (and this may be "coloring" your response): unlike all earlier Phasers, the PRINT QUALITY must not be set to Photo mode. Use Standard mode to do press proofs. Otherwise its too "hi-res" and, as you say, cannot get the color match. I have never seen this documented or recommended anywhere, but we stumbled onto it.


Color calibration methodology:

1) make a $100 matchprint or digital proof of the Adobe file Olé No Moiré
2) calibrate your monitor to it (Adobe Gamma or other)
3) calibrate your printer, you are good to go!

And this printer can match it dead on.

-Mark Scott
Director of Technology
J/B Woolsey Associates
graphics that educate

[art_director]

Originally posted by spiznet:
Art Director-

I think you may agree this printer is the "closest" pressmatch for the money, as well as having great rip & print speeds. Short of a matchprint or digital proofer are you going to find much better? This is alot to say for a machine significantly under 10k.

That being said, I don't think many people put the time into setting up their 7700 color calibration settings, especially the newer driver that allow specific lighten/darken of highlight/midtones/shadows modifications to the standard presets like Commercial Press or SWOP Press.

One thing to be aware of (and this may be "coloring" your response): unlike all earlier Phasers, the PRINT QUALITY must not be set to Photo mode. Use Standard mode to do press proofs. Otherwise its too "hi-res" and, as you say, cannot get the color match. I have never seen this documented or recommended anywhere, but we stumbled onto it.


Color calibration methodology:

1) make a $100 matchprint or digital proof of the Adobe file Olé No Moiré
2) calibrate your monitor to it (Adobe Gamma or other)
3) calibrate your printer, you are good to go!

And this printer can match it dead on.

-Mark Scott
Director of Technology
J/B Woolsey Associates
graphics that educate

no doubt, mark. this is the best machine money can buy under 10K. it prints a darn close match but i still wouldn't trust it for prinet ads running in national pubs or for large press run jobs -- both what i usually do.

thanks for the tip, i'll have to try your trick. i've never heard that one before.

[Super Glitcher]

The epson C40UX was free with my last powerbook. If only it printed oversize....