the printing quality difference between Epson 3800 and 3880?

[studio347]

Hi,
I know that Epson 3880 has different magenta inks compared with 3800.
What are the important difference other than that?
Does the new magenta ink make improved prints? If so, how much?
Generally speaking, does 3880 make better prints? If so, how much do you think?

I have Epson 3800. And I want to know the difference for the future upgrade.
Thanks in advance.
 

[KeithR]

I don't own either printer, but I believe that the 3880 is a 10 color inkset, adding Green & Orange.

[stormyboy]

I believe it is the Epson 4900 line that begins the use of orange and green.

Tom

[Wayne Fox]

the 3880 moved to the vivid magenta inks.  It does not have the HDR inks (orange and green).

Printing quality differences is subtle.  I believe there were also some screening and dithering improvements.  As far as specifics, it's been so long since the 3880 was introduced I don't recall.  The 3800 does produce great prints.

[Dale_Cotton2]

Used my 3800 for five years until it died a year ago. Replaced it with a 3880. I have yet to see a difference in a print. Presumably, the vivid magenta would give me a bit more gamut in that area, but it's not something I've ever noticed. Physically, they look the same and seem to function pretty much the same. No learning curve for me to make the switch.

Those who have had a 3880 for several years also report that they're a marvel for minimal nozzle clogging.

[Schewe]

Wayne is correct...the differences are subtle but the Vivid Magenta expanded the color gamut in reds/magentas which, depending on the image could be noticeable. And yes, the dithering (screening) was improved a bit. So, the 3880 was a subtle but useful upgrade over the venerable 3800. If you've been happy with a 3800, the 3880 is as good, and just a bit better. But unless your 3800 is dead, upgrading to the 3880 will only bring a mild improvement in print IQ.

[JohnBrew]

Ditto Dale. Both models just keep printing and printing...

FYI, my 3800 did finally die of an un-fixable clog, but the replacement 3880 refuses to die (and a good thing, too!).
I, too, cannot see a difference between the two, regardless of the Epson blurbs.

[studio347]

thanks all.
I think I got some understanding... general overall subtle improvement.
But in terms of print quality, there are no significant differences..

[hugowolf]

thanks all.
I think I got some understanding... general overall subtle improvement.
But in terms of print quality, there are no significant differences..

I think you have it. Pigment inkjet printing is already very good, and each new printer only adds a little. As far as gamuts go, the 3880 widens the gamut a little over the 3880, and the 4900/7900/9900 a little more. A good RIP can also use the additional O and G inks to add to the longevity of prints, by using those to replace the Y in the mix, the yellow being Epson's fastest fading ink.

If you want to compare the gamuts of the 3800 vs 3880 or 4900, then you can upload profiles for those printers and your favorite papers to: http://www.iccview.de/content/view/2/4/lang,en/

... and do a comparison.

The site is down for maintainance at this time, but I'm sure it will be back up again. It only does ICC v2 profiles, not v4.

Brian A

[dgberg]

When my 3800 died I moved straight to the 3880 for my proofing printer.
Don't forget another biggie,you can use all but 2 of the inks from you 3800 in the 3880.

[AFairley]

Used my 3800 for five years until it died a year ago. Replaced it with a 3880. I have yet to see a difference in a print. Presumably, the vivid magenta would give me a bit more gamut in that area, but it's not something I've ever noticed. Physically, they look the same and seem to function pretty much the same. No learning curve for me to make the switch.

Those who have had a 3880 for several years also report that they're a marvel for minimal nozzle clogging.

That's pretty much my experience with the two.

[NashvilleMike]

I upgraded to a 3880 from a 3800 last year after my 3800 finally bit the dust (and I used the hell out of that printer).
As others have said, subtle improvements:

1) A touch more gamut in the magenta/reds; will only be noticeable in some scenes and then just a bit
2) A bit better metamerism characteristics with B&W images

I love the 3880; just like it's earlier sibling, it just works...

-m

[nkpoulsen]

The stark difference between the 38-- series and the clogging that occurs on other Epson printers suggests to me that Epson is deliberately withholding anti-clogging technology from those other printers.  Why not, given the profits they must be making from the ink used to repeatedly clean them. 

And of course, it isn't just the ink used for the color that's clogged.  It's all the inks on the printer, since Epson conveniently omits from their software the capability of unclogging individual colors.

[Chris233]

The stark difference between the 38-- series and the clogging that occurs on other Epson printers suggests to me that Epson is deliberately withholding anti-clogging technology from those other printers.  Why not, given the profits they must be making from the ink used to repeatedly clean them.  

And of course, it isn't just the ink used for the color that's clogged.  It's all the inks on the printer, since Epson conveniently omits from their software the capability of unclogging individual colors.

The technologies needed to feed ink to a 60" wide x 60+" long print is considerably different than 17"w x ~20" long. If Epson could flip a switch and kill clogging, it would've happened already instead of contracts to companies like Glodyne, and the negative press that comes with clogging, imo.

But I agree there are a number of preventative maintenance and useful procedures not included in the consumer-side user guide.

[JRSmit]

The stark difference between the 38-- series and the clogging that occurs on other Epson printers suggests to me that Epson is deliberately withholding anti-clogging technology from those other printers.  Why not, given the profits they must be making from the ink used to repeatedly clean them. 

And of course, it isn't just the ink used for the color that's clogged.  It's all the inks on the printer, since Epson conveniently omits from their software the capability of unclogging individual colors.

Or the nozzles in the x900 series are smaller thus more prone to clogging? Could well be that the clogging process is also there in the 38xx series, but because the nozzles are larger the impact is much less?

[Jeremy Roussak]

The stark difference between the 38-- series and the clogging that occurs on other Epson printers suggests to me that Epson is deliberately withholding anti-clogging technology from those other printers.

Or the nozzles in the x900 series are smaller thus more prone to clogging? Could well be that the clogging process is also there in the 38xx series, but because the nozzles are larger the impact is much less?

How naive, Jan. Can you seriously not believe there's a malignant conspiracy at work?  

Jeremy