z3100 for printing repros of paintings

[Roscolo]

This topic is only for z3100 users who are printing reproductions of paintings on heavy matte "watercolor" syle papers. It looks like the printer is great for printing photos, so if you're using it for this, great, but not looking for your opinion on this thread.

I was set on this printer, then posts about people having problems printing on matte papers arose on this forum, and some posts about problems with the reds showed up as well.

If you are using the z3100 to print paintings on heavy watercolor papers (pro work where colors must match), how is the printer performing?

Thanks

[Ernst Dinkla]

This topic is only for z3100 users who are printing reproductions of paintings on heavy matte "watercolor" syle papers. It looks like the printer is great for printing photos, so if you're using it for this, great, but not looking for your opinion on this thread.

I was set on this printer, then posts about people having problems printing on matte papers arose on this forum, and some posts about problems with the reds showed up as well.

If you are using the z3100 to print paintings on heavy watercolor papers (pro work where colors must match), how is the printer performing?

Thanks
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With the latest firmware versions, the new media profiles and good profiling there's no problem at all for reproducing paintings. Color is as good as in the Epson prints I made of the same paintings, the profile tweaked to get closer to Epson output in that case. The Z3100 prints should last longer though considering the fade resistance.

Ernst Dinkla

try: [a href=\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/[/url]

[Roscolo]

Thank you, Ernst...that's good news. I'm primarily a photographer, but I do a pretty large amount of printing for artists.

[Haraldo]

With the latest firmware versions, the new media profiles and good profiling there's no problem at all for reproducing paintings. Color is as good as in the Epson prints I made of the same paintings, the profile tweaked to get closer to Epson output in that case. The Z3100 prints should last longer though considering the fade resistance.

Ernst makes a good point. The Z3100 permanence ratings by Wilhelm (www.wilhelm-research.com) are by far the best, i.e. longest, of most other digital printing options right now. In some cases, they are double-triple the other options in expected permanence. This is a marketing point that can be made to clients (artists/galleries). And for artists considering going to offset for reproductions, pigment inkjet blows that away (in quality and permanence).

Harald Johnson
author, "Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition"
DP&I.com (http://www.dpandi.com)
digital printing and imaging consultant

[hilljf]

I agree that the color issue regarding red has been fully addressed.

One potentially small consideration is that the printer will only accept paper that is less than 500 gm/m and 0.08 mm thick or less.     When I tried to put Somerset Velvet through the printer (508 gm/m and 38 mills=.09 mm thick) the paper got scuff marks from the carraige every time it passed over the paper.   Most fine art papers are thinner than this in the 300-350 gm/m range.     So the Somerset Velvet will be an Epson 9800 paper for me.  The Epson 9800 accepts papers up to 1.5 mm thick, about twice as thick.

John

[EirWil]

I was not aware of the thickness limitation on the z3100.  Some one quoted max thickness at .09 mm that is pretty thin sure you did not mean .9 mm.  How does this affect canvas will I have any trouble?

[jpgentry]

It's been addressed but not fixed.  The Canon and HP just can't produce reds that match the Epson inks.  The Canon like the Epson can also print on thick media up to 1.5mm.

-Jonathan

I agree that the color issue regarding red has been fully addressed.

One potentially small consideration is that the printer will only accept paper that is less than 500 gm/m and 0.08 mm thick or less.     When I tried to put Somerset Velvet through the printer (508 gm/m and 38 mills=.09 mm thick) the paper got scuff marks from the carraige every time it passed over the paper.   Most fine art papers are thinner than this in the 300-350 gm/m range.     So the Somerset Velvet will be an Epson 9800 paper for me.  The Epson 9800 accepts papers up to 1.5 mm thick, about twice as thick.

John
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[Roscolo]

So, regarding the reds, does everyone consider this issue resolved?

I'm getting close to making a purchase, but I don't want to have problems reproducing reds in paintings.

[hilljf]

Sorry, I typed in my numbers above incorrectly.  The HP z3100 can take papers up to .8mm thick and the Somerset Velvet sheets are .9mm.

Canvas is thinner than .8mm and goes through fine.

John

[Andrew W]

The following link is of a guy who does art history for a living. I have emailed him in the past and he responds.

You might drop him a mail as it might answer some questions.

http://www.sandstead.com/images/artists/parrish/parrish.html

I hope this helps.