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Author Topic: Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions  (Read 4069 times)

dgberg

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Have been looking at everything from Color Munki to the onboard Spectrophotometer for either my Epson 7900 or 9900.
I am leaning towards the onboard unit for one of the Epsons. It costs about $1000 more for the larger 9900 model. I would guess that the smaller unit would handle 90% of what we are doing. Is there any real reason to have a 44" spectro or would the smaller 24" handle most jobs? This will mainly be used for demonstrating the profiling process at our canvas workshops and of course doing our own profiles. With the addition of the larger 9900 we are pushing fine art printmaking to area professional photographers and do not want to purchase the small unit to save a few bucks. I know there are many cheaper alternatives but table top space is limited and the Epson/Xrite proofers are a pretty slick package. The sales folks suggest we purchase the Efi bundled software package which is quite expensive. What about the express version? Any help is greatly appreciated.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2009, 06:03:22 am by Dan Berg »
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dgberg

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2009, 01:21:35 pm »

Just got word that you cannot buy the Spectro and bundled Efi sofware aftermarket as a package. The sales rep has suggested the Efi Fiery Extended 4.0.
Anyone using this?

Scott Martin

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2009, 02:04:31 pm »

If you are looking for a high end package and have multiple printers to profile, it's hard to beat a Monaco Profiler/ iSis bundle right now. If you can wait a little longer there might be some exciting options on the horizon.
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vgogolak

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2009, 05:53:42 pm »

Quote from: Onsight
If you are looking for a high end package and have multiple printers to profile, it's hard to beat a Monaco Profiler/ iSis bundle right now. If you can wait a little longer there might be some exciting options on the horizon.

such as? I am looking to upgrade from my eyeonedisplay1 and add a spectro for printing (for a 7900 and a Kodak dyesub as well as six monitors)

How much longer to wait?

Victor
« Last Edit: December 13, 2009, 05:54:41 pm by vgogolak »
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Farmer

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2009, 12:13:26 am »

Also, to clarify, you can't use the 24" on the 44" - the carrier doesn't fit as it's too small.
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Phil Brown

dgberg

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2009, 05:29:30 am »

Yes I know that! I am probably going to buy the one for the 7900 (24") and use it for profiles. Unless I get a good deal on the 44" unit for the 9900. You call Epson and you get the person at the other end reading you the specifications right out of the manual. You try to dig deeper and they put you on hold and come back with another canned answer. Its amazing the lack of information. I talked to one EFI/color management expert/ salesman and the conversation started with me asking a question about the Epson Spectrophotometers onboard dryer. He insisted he had never heard of such a thing. End of conversation.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2009, 05:32:12 am by Dan Berg »
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Jonathan Wienke

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2009, 06:51:12 am »

I would not get the dedicated Epson unit; for not much more than $1000, you can get an EyeOne spectro that you can use to profile monitors, printers and scanners. There is an advantage to having all your color devices calibrated with the same tool.
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dgberg

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2009, 07:15:22 am »

Thanks Jonathon a very good point. I was trying to get more info about the onboard spectro to compare with the Eye One. It really is slim pickings when trying to get comparisons on this equipment.
The Eye One with automated io robot and profiling software package is probably the top of the line package but pushes 5k real quick. I also looked at the Sis unit but thats another grand+. This is what drove me back to the onboard unit plus software comes in at around $3500.

Jonathan Wienke

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2009, 07:25:32 am »

Quote from: Dan Berg
The Eye One with automated io robot and profiling software package is probably the top of the line package but pushes 5k real quick. I also looked at the Sis unit but thats another grand+. This is what drove me back to the onboard unit plus software comes in at around $3500.

Unless you're making several profiles a week, skip the i0. It's certainly cool and convenient, but measuring by hand isn't that inconvenient or time-consuming. That will save you about $2500, and put the i1 system cost (which can profile everything) well below the Epson option (which can only profile your printer). The other thing to consider is that you usually need at least 24 hours (and sometimes longer) for Epson prints to completely dry and the colors to stabilize enough to make a really good profile. I'm skeptical that an onboard print dryer is going to completely solve this issue...

And if you have more than one printer, it's a no-brainer--the i1 system + i0 is still cheaper than the Epson option for two printers, and can profile both of them.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2009, 07:30:13 am by Jonathan Wienke »
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dgberg

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2009, 08:58:44 am »

Thanks Jonathon,
I ended up some how getting a duplicate thread going and I hate when that happens,sorry my fault.
Thanks again for the valuble information.

digitaldog

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2009, 09:47:51 am »

Jonathan is correct, there’s little reason for anyone other than a big prepress shop or someone with multiple units to get the on board Spectrophotometer rather than an external unit like the EyeOne Pro which can provide so much functionality the on-board unit can’t.
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dgberg

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2009, 10:35:13 am »

Thanks Andrew,
If you were a little closer I might have you here for a day to help me with setup.
Dan

Jonathan Wienke

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2009, 10:40:05 am »

Quote from: Dan Berg
Thanks Andrew,
If you were a little closer I might have you here for a day to help me with setup.
Dan

Where are you located? I've done that kind of setup before (most recently for the US Capitol photo lab setting up an Epson 9600 + 3 other printers and i1 + i0 profiling system). I could help with software install, hardware setup, configuration, etc...
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dgberg

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2009, 10:44:17 am »

Reading ,Pa
1 hour west of Philly or 1 1/2 north of Baltimore,Md.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2009, 10:45:48 am by Dan Berg »
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Jonathan Wienke

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Purchasing Spectrophotometer for 7900 and have several software questions
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2009, 03:18:33 pm »

I'm just north of DC, so if you'd be interested in having me come out, PM or email me jonwienke at yahoo.com.
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