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Author Topic: 4x6 on a big printer  (Read 2639 times)

jpgentry

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4x6 on a big printer
« on: December 14, 2010, 04:01:56 pm »

I get calls for alot of 4x6 prints and hate cutting them out of large sheets.  Does the new 17 inch Epson or any other printer support 6 inch rolls or a stack of 4x6 cut sheets?
Please don't say "buy a small printer" as the price per print skyrockets to my knowlege on the "toy" printers.  Also the 3880 does not do roll paper so it's out.
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mfryd

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2010, 04:52:46 pm »

According to Epson's web site, the narrowest roll supported by the 4900 is 8 inches.  The smallest supported cut sheet is 8 by 10 inches.

The 3880 will certainly take a pile of 4 by 6 paper.  Ink costs for the 3880 are much lower than for Epson's 13" and smaller printers. 

Although the 3880 doesn't take roll paper, I don't think it's fair to categorize it as a "toy printer"

I routinely use my 3880 to print piles of 5 by 7 proofs for clients.
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jpgentry

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2010, 04:55:07 pm »

Personally I don't see why Epson or Canon don't see that we need a printer that does the smaller prints.  I would buy the printer that would do roll printing and cut sheet.
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mikev1

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2010, 04:55:24 pm »

Man I hate cutting small prints as well.  Just did 100 4 x 6's.  A lot of labour for not a lot of money.  I wonder if a cutting plotter could be used or adapted for something like this?
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Ken Bennett

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2010, 06:50:03 pm »

My 3800 can eat 4x6 paper just fine.

I have a friend who owns both an Epson 4000 and a 3800. She uses the 3800 for small prints and cards, and the 4000 for larger prints, panos, etc.
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digitaldog

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2010, 08:30:48 pm »

My 3800 can eat 4x6 paper just fine.

Same with my 3880.
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Gemmtech

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2010, 10:57:37 pm »

Obviously Epson has the technology to make a printer which handles both rolls and cut sheets; the 1280 can do it and it
came out 10 years ago!  >:(  I can't figure out why it's so difficult to make a 17" or 24" printer handle both, but they don't seem to believe there's a market for it?  And I'm assuming if enough people asked for one they would build it?

I use the 3880 for cut sheets, if they are a client that wants Sams Club or Costco pricing then that's where they should go!


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mfryd

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2010, 11:12:16 pm »

Epson makes lots of printers that can handle cut sheets and/or rolls. 

What they don't make is a printer that will handle both small cut sheets (less than 8 x 10) and large rolls (greater than 13 inch).

The 3880 easily handles cut sheets from 4 x 6 through 17 x 25.

The 4000 series handles both cut sheets and rolls, but has a minimum width of 8 inches.

If you want to print 4x6 on roll paper on a larger Epson, use 8 inch paper and print two side by side (8 by 6 inches).  Your prints will come up two at a time and you will need one cut to separate each pair.

My sol ution ould be to get two printers. An Epson 3880 for small to medium cut sheets,nand something that takes rolls for larg prints.
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jpgentry

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2010, 11:41:27 pm »

Ok thanks guys.  Can someone Check to see if there is a way to trick the 4900 into cutting 4 or 6 inch roll paper?

Canon and Epson have missed a sale on me. I'm not buying a 3880 when it can't do rolls.  I'm not buying a 4900 when it can't do 6 inch rolls.  I already have an ipf9100, ipf5100, r1800 with bulk ink.  I'm not looking to add a 3880 or any more printers.  My goal is to get rid of junk, not have more.  The last few batches of printers have not been compelling in the least.  There have been very little real world improvements.

Epson, Canon!  Please make a printer that will roll feed 4 and 6 inch and do cut sheet!  How about a little innovation for the customer instead of just you bottom line?
« Last Edit: December 14, 2010, 11:54:22 pm by jpgentry »
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jpgentry

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2010, 11:42:49 pm »

The 3880 will certainly take a pile of 4 by 6 paper.  Ink costs for the 3880 are much lower than for Epson's 13" and smaller printers.  

Although the 3880 doesn't take roll paper, I don't think it's fair to categorize it as a "toy printer"

I didn't call the 3880 a toy.  Go back and read again.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2010, 11:44:36 pm by jpgentry »
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Czornyj

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Re: 4x6 on a big printer
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2010, 04:08:18 am »

Epson, Canon!  Please make a printer that will roll feed 4 and 6 inch and do cut sheet!  How about a little innovation for the customer instead of just you bottom line?

I'm with you, but I'm rather dreaming of on-board adjustable roll cutters, that cut a whole 24" roll to 2x12", 3x8", 4x6" stripes.
 
I have a problem with the customers who like the quality of larger pigment prints, and variety of fineart papers, cannot reproduce the effect in traditional minilab, and who demand to make them small album prints. After all that paper cutting I could easily work as a surgeon...
« Last Edit: December 15, 2010, 04:11:02 am by Czornyj »
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