Question about the new hp printers, z6 and z9

[Nora_nor]

Failing and end of life printers (z2100, 5200, 3200 ) A question about the new printers that hp recommends now, z6 and z9.
I print from Adobe Lightroom.
I do not use a rip. But these printers are meant to use hp click or a web based interface. Also, they are not usb but need to connect with the Mac with a network adapter
Will it be possible to print from Lightroom, like will the printer driver dialogue pop up like before?
The new way  sounds like working on the photo in Lightroom, saving it and then dragging it over to hp click.
Also, the z6 has no grey. How is that for black and white photos? Need to print black and white photos, and color photos for exhibitions and sale. Also canvas. Not huge amounts.
I hope Lightroom just accesses the printer driver the ordinary way.
The HP rep said to use a web based interface. And bragged about the Adobe PDF capabilities. This sounds like they think the customers just feed pdfs to the printers. We have only seldom pdfs to print.
The z6 has no spectrophotometer , how to get icc profiles for the papers I use?
Here it says the z6 is for rollups and banners and posters https://www.plot-it.co.uk/files/hp_designjet_z6_z9_faqs.pdf and does not quite sound like a photo printer

I did find a review
https://www.designgaff.com/post/hp-designjet-z6-printer-review

and https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63876018

and https://www.fantasio.info/2018/09/hp-designjet-z6-review-from-digital.html

[kers]

There is more information in this forum about these printers - just do a search.
I believe the B+W is very good.

[Paul_Roark]

...
I believe the B+W is very good.

I mix my own dedicated B&W inksets.  In the past, I found just using HP's LLK, LK, and K made excellent, neutral B&W images.  See, for example, https://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/1100-HpGO.pdf .

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

[deanwork]

As you can read from the really good past posts on the Z9+ on this forum , the internal profiling software is not up to the excellent  control of the Z3200 with extended profiles, or even the oldest Z3100s. They dumbed down the  control of their icc profiling and linearization software. And, that is a crying shame. They just never finished the job, for whatever reason. To me it’s currently a fancy poster printer and I think they are happy with that. I don’t think they care, in that latex is where their interest is, not precision art or commercial photography. But it’s really fast.  My HP tech who works on them says they are very durable, dependable, and don’t have mechanical issues to speak of.

The color tests I had made from my files were not up to the new Canon 4100 quality ( color) and nowhere near the recent Epsons in regard to either gamut, smoothness,  or resolution. Tests I received looked coarse, especially in color highlights in comparison to the other brands done on the same papers. Others confirm this. But it is pretty amazing they can do what they do with NO light inks and 6 inks compared to 12 in the Z3200, Canon, and Epson 9570.

Now the neutral bw is pretty damn amazing on the Z9 with with no light grays and no color inks involved. They are really on to something. Making your own profiles with large patch x-Rite software will certainly do a lot better. I never had one to test in that regard, or know if any rip can help.  That’s possible. In my opinion they never finished designing the software.  I don’t know how they did it with the dual drop tech at all. They aren’t up to the precision of the more recent Epsons but much better than the Canons for totally clean neutral bw. I was not at all impressed with the gloss enhancer on fiber gloss though compared to my old Z printers. So, that alone would be a non starter for me. I’d have to spray all my bw prints with a uv spray and I’m not into that.

John

I mix my own dedicated B&W inksets.  In the past, I found just using HP's LLK, LK, and K made excellent, neutral B&W images.  See, for example, https://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/1100-HpGO.pdf .

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com

[Nora_nor]

Yes I noticed the dumbed down profiling comments!
I got an offer for a z6 to replace a 5200 with some harddisk error presumable
The z6 without capability for icc profiles is just a poster printer in my mind. We have never bought hp paper either. Hahnemuhle rag, rollups and pp poster material (matte polypropylene) and luster portrait paper is what we use
One of the reviews said it was kinda like the z2100 but a bit better.
We need icc profiles, but how did hp think when designing the z6? It is the replacement for the z2100

[deanwork]

Yes I think so, more a designers printer. The Z9+ is the replacement for the Z3200 high-end photo printer. It’s a big improvement in many ways and a step back in other ways……profiling and gloss enhancer function primarily.

I’ve found the only way to know if a printer will suit your needs is have someone make a print for you on that printer from a file you have used successfully on your previous machine.




We need icc profiles, but how did hp think when designing the z6? It is the replacement for the z2100
[/quote]

[Nora_nor]

The z5200 had no calibration unit either, so one just had to use something close

I found a cheap and not much used z3200 for sale quite a distance away, but it would also have needed firmware update and hp service technician

[dgberg]

Very lightly used z3200 here in se Pa. for sale.
100 prints on it if that.

[GST]

The z5200 had no calibration unit either, so one just had to use something close

I found a cheap and not much used z3200 for sale quite a distance away, but it would also have needed firmware update and hp service technician

Not true, the Z5200 has the same i1 sensor and the same (crippled) software limitations as the Z9. Its probably about the same speed (twice the Z3200) as well.

[neil snape]

I am surprised you didn't find my review on the web of the Z9+.

There is so much potential with these machines, yet HP ran away from them never resolving issues.
I still have one as I was not able to sell it. I should have insisted that they try to fix the calibration and profiling issues under warranty. I didn't and left it off line for an extended period. My fault. These printers MUST be left on, as the daily maintenance ( CRON tasks) must be performed. IF not all the heads will show far beyond expected life. I replaced one that was no longer working, with a new one from HP. That was defective from the start, and cost me a lot of ink, and paper. Replaced with another, yet it reached far beyond expected life quickly. I am sure the reason is the other heads, they all work together.
So now the output no matter what the calibration or hand made profile in colour are biased with a bad magenta tint for skin tones. So I have this big beautiful printer that is only capable of greyscale prints.
While I loved the Z3200 for its total control on colour and adaptability to 3rd party media, the Z6 Z9 I cannot recommend for individuals, only for installations where an extended warranty is in place, and the machines can be left on 24/7. In Paris Picto labs have the Z9+ and it is perfectly suited to high production, equal to the Epson series.

[Nora_nor]

Sorry, my bad about the calibration unit on the 5200
Must look for the review by Neil

Interesting about the awful story with the printhead error messages. This is exactly what is the problem with the 5200 right now. The only thing hp can offer is to sell us the z6. Which has the same story...

I found the review on Neil´s website, had not found it when searching
https://neilsnape.com/hp-designjet-z9-plus-dr-review/

Next question, can the z5200 be revived... and did this happen because of some firmware

[GST]

So what issues exactly do you have with the z5200 then?
Other than z6 and z9 they can be easily repaired, they are about the same as the z2100, z3100 and z3200.
I would not give up on them!

cu

[Nora_nor]

What is wrong with z5200.  The 5200 got these multiple new head failures! Suspected old ink... Contacted hp and they offered repairs, but did not show up but offered to sell us new z6

[GST]

so what means" these multiple new head failures"
Does the printer reject heads, or does it print nothing. Are there stripes and such?
Never heard of "old ink", I am using expired cartriges for years now.

[Nora_nor]

Like Neil wrote on his website, first you change one printhead. Then you get notice all printheads have failed. Which is impossible. Printer not printing. Neil has z9, we have z5200.

[GST]

Try this:
Remove all printheads and all carts. Clean contacts on the printheads. Power the printer of hard, leave it off for a few minutes and power on again.
Follow the instructions on the display.
If this doesnt help its probably the drop detector Q5669-60666. Can be replaced by user.

cu

[Nora_nor]

Thanks for the info on drop detector. Makes sense. Must look into that.
I seem to remember there was some comment on sensors and detectors here before, must look

I am worried about z6, no USB connection