HP Z3200 Ink Costs

[Gerryb]

I have the new Z3200 24" printer and I need to get an idea on how to calculate the ink cost per print. I have been asked to price a job printing 150 A1 posters. Can anyone help with this?

[howardm]

when I was looking at Epson 3800 & Canon 5100 and scouring the net for that information, it all distilled down to APPROX 0.9-1.1 mL per 8.5x11 which is approx A4 or something like 0.012mL/sq-inch

then just turn the math crank regarding cart cost / # mL.  An A1 is around 800 sq-in equiv so 800 * 0.012 is 9.5-10mL per A1 print.

a Z3200 seems to cost approx $65/130mL for a $0.50/mL, soooooo, it appears that you'll burn through approx $5 of ink alone per A1.   Then
add in paper cost, amortization, etc etc

If the Z3200 is more ink efficient, the number goes down but I suppose the numbers aren't going to be dramatically different.

Actually, I'd be interested in hearing what you come up w/ for a quote.  It seems like there is something like a 2-4+x cost multiplier to make it all worthwhile.

[Gerryb]

when I was looking at Epson 3800 & Canon 5100 and scouring the net for that information, it all distilled down to APPROX 0.9-1.1 mL per 8.5x11 which is approx A4 or something like 0.012mL/sq-inch

then just turn the math crank regarding cart cost / # mL.  An A1 is around 800 sq-in equiv so 800 * 0.012 is 9.5-10mL per A1 print.

a Z3200 seems to cost approx $65/130mL for a $0.50/mL, soooooo, it appears that you'll burn through approx $5 of ink alone per A1.   Then
add in paper cost, amortization, etc etc

If the Z3200 is more ink efficient, the number goes down but I suppose the numbers aren't going to be dramatically different.

Actually, I'd be interested in hearing what you come up w/ for a quote.  It seems like there is something like a 2-4+x cost multiplier to make it all worthwhile.

Thats great, I will post againg when I get a final price for the job. Thanks  

[Jim Cole]

My last calculation based on about 400 sq ft of a wide range of papers (pro Satin, Ceramic Luster, Illford Gallery Gold, Photo Rag) with my Z3100 yielded the following results:
   

                Paper Total:   385.94   sq ft

                Ink used:    405.21 ml

   Ink Used in ml / Sq Ft:   1.05 ml   

   Ink Cost in $ / ml:  $0.5

   Ink Cost in $ per Sq Ft:   $0.48


As a note, I only buy my inks in the single cartridges. More money could be saved by purchasing HP's double cart packages.

Jim

[Ernst Dinkla]

when I was looking at Epson 3800 & Canon 5100 and scouring the net for that information, it all distilled down to APPROX 0.9-1.1 mL per 8.5x11 which is approx A4 or something like 0.012mL/sq-inch

then just turn the math crank regarding cart cost / # mL.  An A1 is around 800 sq-in equiv so 800 * 0.012 is 9.5-10mL per A1 print.

a Z3200 seems to cost approx $65/130mL for a $0.50/mL, soooooo, it appears that you'll burn through approx $5 of ink alone per A1.   Then
add in paper cost, amortization, etc etc

If the Z3200 is more ink efficient, the number goes down but I suppose the numbers aren't going to be dramatically different.

Actually, I'd be interested in hearing what you come up w/ for a quote.  It seems like there is something like a 2-4+x cost multiplier to make it all worthwhile.

Twin pack's ml price is 30 Eurocents a ML without VAT in Europe. Shouldn't the US price be around 40 Dollarcent a ML then?
On average and without using gloss enhancer the estimation has been 10 ML a square meter = 11 square feet. A0 is a square meter, A1 half a square meter. 5 ML x 40 dollarcent is 2 $ per A1.  There's variation between inklimits per media preset, from 30% to 60% (HP docs) so it would be save to set the price at 2.60 $ per A1.
Wonder why it is only half your ink cost estimation.


Ernst Dinkla

Try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

[Ernst Dinkla]

My last calculation based on about 400 sq ft of a wide range of papers (pro Satin, Ceramic Luster, Illford Gallery Gold, Photo Rag) with my Z3100 yielded the following results:
   

                Paper Total:   385.94   sq ft

                Ink used:    405.21 ml

   Ink Used in ml / Sq Ft:   1.05 ml   

   Ink Cost in $ / ml:  $0.5

   Ink Cost in $ per Sq Ft:   $0.48


As a note, I only buy my inks in the single cartridges. More money could be saved by purchasing HP's double cart packages.

Jim

Your message went by when I was calculating. While you were calculating with some other basics the end price comes very close: A1 = 5.5 square feet x 0.48 = 2.64 $.



Ernst Dinkla

Try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

[howardm]

I can only say that I took the price of a Z3200 cartridge from some random website/store.  It certainly seems like the Z series is more efficient or lays down less ink plus the fact that the Epson 3800 carts are only 80mL (approx $$  $45-60 per cart).

A 2x error factor is a lot but if it's to the OPs advantage, go with it  

I think I may need to rework my numbers a bit before I say more.

Time passes........

I think there are some inaccuracies and other oddities in the way Epson is reporting so once I take the oddball outliers out of the calculations, I get $0.48 ink cost per sq-ft which makes a lot more sense.  I'll need to burn through more prints (data points) to get more confidence.

[Colorwave]

FWIW:  I buy my ink in twin packs from Provantage.com for $93 per twin pack.  Gloss enhancer is $78 a twin pack.  Since there are 260 ml in a twin pack, that comes out to $0.37 per ml for ink cost.  

I print with full coverage gloss enhancer on any paper that accepts it, and factoring in all paper and canvas types, I average almost exactly 1 ml of ink per square foot.  

That makes the math rather easy:  $0.37 ink cost per square foot.

For an A1 page size of 5.4 square feet, then my ink cost will be $2.00.

If there is one thing HP owners should not be complaining about, (not that anyone on this thread is) it is ink sipping.  The Z printers are about as frugal as they get.

[jjj]

I was at a photo trade show last Friday and stopped at the HP stand, as there wasn't much else to look at after a couple of hours and asked about the cost of the print from the 44" printer - it was very big and they claimed £8.
After picking myself off floor I then asked about the cost of an A3 print and was told about £6. That's a huge difference in cost.
Not including printer cost BTW.
I now have some ideas, that may make a 44" printer viable if that is indeed the cost. Printer will pay for itself very quickly if true.
Having said that the Epson prints did look nicer.

[pierre.goyette]

I developed a simple Excel spreadsheet where you enter the cost of your paper, the length of the roll, the cost of 1 ink cartridge (they all basically cost the same) and then copy the data from the job statistics from the printer and you get an exact cost of each and every job.

I also support multiple types of paper so that for each job I can select the paper type and get the precise cost of a job.

If anyone is interested, please let me know and I'll upload it or mail it to you...

Pierre

[bill t.]

Don't forget the considerable amount of ink that goes down the drain, and the ink and media used for test prints, damaged prints blah blah blah.  Bottom line is, whatever the rigorous math tells you, you are probably robbing yourself unless you apply a factor of at least 2 to your raw calculations.  Every spreadsheet should have a "waste factor" term that applies to all consumables.

[dct123]

when I was looking at Epson 3800 & Canon 5100 and scouring the net for that information, it all distilled down to APPROX 0.9-1.1 mL per 8.5x11 which is approx A4 or something like 0.012mL/sq-inch

then just turn the math crank regarding cart cost / # mL.  An A1 is around 800 sq-in equiv so 800 * 0.012 is 9.5-10mL per A1 print.

a Z3200 seems to cost approx $65/130mL for a $0.50/mL, soooooo, it appears that you'll burn through approx $5 of ink alone per A1.   Then
add in paper cost, amortization, etc etc

If the Z3200 is more ink efficient, the number goes down but I suppose the numbers aren't going to be dramatically different.

Actually, I'd be interested in hearing what you come up w/ for a quote.  It seems like there is something like a 2-4+x cost multiplier to make it all worthwhile.

I'm not sure that all versions of the Z3200 have this feature, but my Z3200ps has an 'Accounting' tab in the HP Printer Utility that calculates both the ink and paper used for a each print. I entered cost assignments for the inks and each paper that I use. An overhead factor is added and I then have a total 'cost' of every print.

[attachment=11013:Z3200_Accounting.jpg]

The second column, 'cost value', is in US dollars. Just do a test print and you'll have your exact cost for an accurate estimate to give your client.

[dandeliondigital]

If anyone is interested, please let me know and I'll upload it or mail it to you...

Hi Pierre,
I'd be interested.

Please e-mail me a copy to <tom@dandeliondigital.com>

Thanks, and so long for now, TOM

[chilehead]

Along with what Bill said, don't forget to factor in the most important cost of all:  The initial cost of your printer and any maintenance contract.  

Mark