small HQ prints

[geesbert]

Although everybody seems to want to print as big as possible, I am aiming for small (around 10x13cm) high quality prints, somehting like I used to do in film days by contact printing large negatives. I have a few inkjet printers, who fail miserably. I have a Dyesub Selphy, which is not much better and I can't get it profiled. Is there any affordable way to get high resolution prints in small sizes?

stefan

[ddk]

Although everybody seems to want to print as big as possible, I am aiming for small (around 10x13cm) high quality prints, somehting like I used to do in film days by contact printing large negatives. I have a few inkjet printers, who fail miserably. I have a Dyesub Selphy, which is not much better and I can't get it profiled. Is there any affordable way to get high resolution prints in small sizes?

stefan

Please define affordable Stefan. From what I've seen you should be able to get fantastic quality from sub $500 printers like the Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II. The Selphy is a great toy and serves a purpose but its not for quality output!

PS. Sorry for stating the obvious but a calibrated and controlled workflow is a necessity if you're after quality...

[dgberg]

What I consider entry level today is Epsons 3880 just about the best quality available. Of course many smaller units out there but the ink costs are much higher. I have 2 larger printers but still use my 3800 for all my small 8 X 10 sheet prints.

[geesbert]

With affordable I mean less than €1000 for the printer and less than €3 per print. and I mean small prints, Postcard size. my most current printers are an Epson r800 and a 4000, both don't have enough resolution for small prints, especially in bright tones. I wonder whether I should look for other systems than inkjet. ist there anything like affordable desktop lightjet machines? or maybe a professional dyesub?

[Pete Berry]

As far as I know, all newer printers can easily match or exceed the eye's detail resolution. Are you looking with a loupe, as this can make any print look soft?

If light areas are a problem, this sounds more like a profile problem with light area detail, which is not where you expect to look for absolute resolution with the thinner ink laydown.

Pete

With affordable I mean less than €1000 for the printer and less than €3 per print. and I mean small prints, Postcard size. my most current printers are an Epson r800 and a 4000, both don't have enough resolution for small prints, especially in bright tones. I wonder whether I should look for other systems than inkjet. ist there anything like affordable desktop lightjet machines? or maybe a professional dyesub?

[Ernst Dinkla]

Although everybody seems to want to print as big as possible, I am aiming for small (around 10x13cm) high quality prints, somehting like I used to do in film days by contact printing large negatives. I have a few inkjet printers, who fail miserably. I have a Dyesub Selphy, which is not much better and I can't get it profiled. Is there any affordable way to get high resolution prints in small sizes?

stefan

Contact prints suggests B&W prints. In that case an Epson desktop model with 1.5 picoliter minimum droplets and a custom monochrome inkset + the tone control possible with QTR will be the ultimate solution. That is already possible with an Epson R1400 or R280.

For color an Epson R1900 or R900 is probably the best choice, similar 1.5 picoliter droplet. Can be converted to B&W inksets too.

I think the Canons with droplet sizes that small are dye models but I could be wrong on that. For custom B&W only the Epsons are QTR compatible



met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

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

[howseth]

I have been making some very small (8 inch) prints with my HP Z-3100 lately, as little gifts. I am using Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Satin. I have been surprised just how good, some of the most detailed and 'busy' large format photographs, look printed at this scale. I am using roll paper - and printing multiple images across the length - so as not to waste paper.

Howard

[Ernst Dinkla]

I have been making some very small (8 inch) prints with my HP Z-3100 lately, as little gifts. I am using Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Satin. I have been surprised just how good, some of the most detailed and 'busy' large format photographs, look printed at this scale. I am using roll paper - and printing multiple images across the length - so as not to waste paper.

Howard

That's what I do too and am very happy with. On RC papers + gloss enhancer with Qimage's downsampling + anti-aliasing + sharpening, below 8". But I expect an even sharper, smoother greyscale print from a 1.5 picoliter droplet printer with 5-7 monochrome inks than from a 4-6 pl droplet printer with 3-4 monochrome inks. Whether that exceeds eyesight of a 15 years old isn't a point either I think, contact prints did that ages ago.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

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

[ddk]

With affordable I mean less than €1000 for the printer and less than €3 per print. and I mean small prints, Postcard size. my most current printers are an Epson r800 and a 4000, both don't have enough resolution for small prints, especially in bright tones. I wonder whether I should look for other systems than inkjet. ist there anything like affordable desktop lightjet machines? or maybe a professional dyesub?

I used to get very decent 5x3 and 6x4 prints from my R1800 but not so good ones with the Epson 3800 in those sizes. I don't have a RIP so I can't comment if that would make a difference in those sizes or not. I also own a couple of Fuji Pictrography printers which I still prefer their output to any of the inkjets that I own, since there's no ink or nozzles you get the same high quality print in any size. They've been discontinued for a while now so you can get one for very little money these days. They had 3000 and 4000 series printers, the only difference between them was the maximum print size. In your case a late 3000 series should suffice. I don't know about their prices in Europe but here in the US you can get a 3500 in good working condition for less than a thousand dollars.

[Ernst Dinkla]

With affordable I mean less than €1000 for the printer and less than €3 per print. and I mean small prints, Postcard size. my most current printers are an Epson r800 and a 4000, both don't have enough resolution for small prints, especially in bright tones. I wonder whether I should look for other systems than inkjet. ist there anything like affordable desktop lightjet machines? or maybe a professional dyesub?

What is the application you print from with the R800 and on what OS it runs?

You see the bright tone resolution artefacts in color or in B&W?



met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

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

[artobest]

You could write to Jon Cone at Inkjetmall (maker of the Piezography inksets) and ask for some free samples. They will astonish you with their resolution. Printed on an Epson 1400 I would guess. Even under a loupe the detail beats my Z3200 hands down.

[Moynihan]

the largest paper size i use is 8.5"x11" (A4 i think?).
Use Lightroom & an Epson R800.
Sharpness & detail etc. are very good (files from a 10 mp camera, sometimes also a 5 stop HDR file).
Very good for color.

The R800 though is not good for B&W (if using standard inks).
Saving my pennies for an Epson 3800 for that reason.

[geesbert]

What is the application you print from with the R800 and on what OS it runs?

You see the bright tone resolution artefacts in color or in B&W?



met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

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

That's Snow leopard and lightroom. whenever I print small on the r800, I can see droplets with the naked eye in the bright tones, this doesn't bother me with A4 prints, but with 4x6 it's not so nice

[Ernst Dinkla]

That's Snow leopard and lightroom. whenever I print small on the r800, I can see droplets with the naked eye in the bright tones, this doesn't bother me with A4 prints, but with 4x6 it's not so nice

Color prints, highest quality setting, 1.5 picoliter droplets cmY in the highlights and you see them? Is the problem the dots you see or a color cast (cyan) as a result of Snow Leopard CM issues?


If it isn't the last and your eyes are that sharp I do not think there's a solution in inkjet.


met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla

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