User Interface/Qimage

[edt]

I have a 5 year old Epson 2200, and print using Imageprint RIP, and I use an outside lab for most prints. I am ready to move up and I will likely purchase a 7900 or a Z3200. I love the quality of the prints they produce.

My question has to do with the User Interface and it's ease of use. From the posts, it's clear many who use wide format printers mostly print large "fine art" poster sized prints. I shoot a lot of sports and family portraits. While I do print 20x30 or 20x24 in both color and B&W, I often have print sessions where I print multiple print sizes from the same file. For example--from file "A" I might print 6ea 5x7, 2ea 8x10 and 1ea 16x20. Random numbers of additional prints from other files....so the the entire print session might result in 2ea 20x30's, 1ea 16x20, 4ea 11x14, 9ea 8x10, 16ea 5x7 and 8ea 4x6 (yes, I will admit it!)

Since I have no experience with how the interface allows these kinds of jobs to be laid out, I fear that without the RIP for layout, I will need Qimage. Other than it being awkward to learn, it seems all who use it praise it.

But I use Mac, and the plot thickens. I'm tired of trying to sort out the complexity--I want to buy a printer and I want to LIKE USING IT.

I want an excellent printer. I want to be able to layout multiple prints on the same sheet or roll. I do not want to have to create multiple jobs due to a simplistic interface.

Questions include:
Is there a significant difference in the capability, the degree that it is user friendly, of the 7900 compared to the Z3200?
How much would I benefit from Qimage from the standpoint of layout, ease of use, consistency of output quality?
If I am willing to install VMware Fusion on my Mac Pro so I can run Quimage, do I also need to buy Windows XP?

Finally, if all this is "too many questions" for the forum to answer, what's the best way for me to answer all this so I can move on!?  


Thanks Folks,

Ed T

[vjbelle]

I have a 5 year old Epson 2200, and print using Imageprint RIP, and I use an outside lab for most prints. I am ready to move up and I will likely purchase a 7900 or a Z3200. I love the quality of the prints they produce.

My question has to do with the User Interface and it's ease of use. From the posts, it's clear many who use wide format printers mostly print large "fine art" poster sized prints. I shoot a lot of sports and family portraits. While I do print 20x30 or 20x24 in both color and B&W, I often have print sessions where I print multiple print sizes from the same file. For example--from file "A" I might print 6ea 5x7, 2ea 8x10 and 1ea 16x20. Random numbers of additional prints from other files....so the the entire print session might result in 2ea 20x30's, 1ea 16x20, 4ea 11x14, 9ea 8x10, 16ea 5x7 and 8ea 4x6 (yes, I will admit it!)

Since I have no experience with how the interface allows these kinds of jobs to be laid out, I fear that without the RIP for layout, I will need Qimage. Other than it being awkward to learn, it seems all who use it praise it.

But I use Mac, and the plot thickens. I'm tired of trying to sort out the complexity--I want to buy a printer and I want to LIKE USING IT.

I want an excellent printer. I want to be able to layout multiple prints on the same sheet or roll. I do not want to have to create multiple jobs due to a simplistic interface.

Questions include:
Is there a significant difference in the capability, the degree that it is user friendly, of the 7900 compared to the Z3200?
How much would I benefit from Qimage from the standpoint of layout, ease of use, consistency of output quality?
If I am willing to install VMware Fusion on my Mac Pro so I can run Quimage, do I also need to buy Windows XP?

Finally, if all this is "too many questions" for the forum to answer, what's the best way for me to answer all this so I can move on!?  


Thanks Folks,

Ed T

I can't answer your first question..... I print on a Canon large format printer.  You may want to look at other posts regarding happiness with the Epson or HP.  With regards to Qimage I can only tell you that it is not a true rip.  It will not allow you to do some of the layout capabilities of a true rip.  However, its output quality is second to none.  In fact, it is so good that I have taken the extra steps to not only install VMware but also use bootcamp so that I have options for the use of Qimage.  

You will need a copy (retail copy) of Windows to use either bootcamp or VMware.  I suggest that you look around on Ebay for a new unopened copy of Windows..... I suggest Vista only because its readily around and its current.  I only use my Windows for Qimage so I'm not interested in other aspects or criticisms of one version (XP) over another.  

Bottom line..... Qimage is a fantastic program.  I print lots of large stuff and wouldn't think of using any other printing software.  

You may want to visit the Qimage Yahoo user group and post some questions.  They are VERY prompt in answering and always helpful.

Victor

[Ernst Dinkla]

I have a 5 year old Epson 2200, and print using Imageprint RIP, and I use an outside lab for most prints. I am ready to move up and I will likely purchase a 7900 or a Z3200. I love the quality of the prints they produce.

My question has to do with the User Interface and it's ease of use. From the posts, it's clear many who use wide format printers mostly print large "fine art" poster sized prints. I shoot a lot of sports and family portraits. While I do print 20x30 or 20x24 in both color and B&W, I often have print sessions where I print multiple print sizes from the same file. For example--from file "A" I might print 6ea 5x7, 2ea 8x10 and 1ea 16x20. Random numbers of additional prints from other files....so the the entire print session might result in 2ea 20x30's, 1ea 16x20, 4ea 11x14, 9ea 8x10, 16ea 5x7 and 8ea 4x6 (yes, I will admit it!)

Since I have no experience with how the interface allows these kinds of jobs to be laid out, I fear that without the RIP for layout, I will need Qimage. Other than it being awkward to learn, it seems all who use it praise it.

But I use Mac, and the plot thickens. I'm tired of trying to sort out the complexity--I want to buy a printer and I want to LIKE USING IT.

I want an excellent printer. I want to be able to layout multiple prints on the same sheet or roll. I do not want to have to create multiple jobs due to a simplistic interface.

Questions include:
Is there a significant difference in the capability, the degree that it is user friendly, of the 7900 compared to the Z3200?
How much would I benefit from Qimage from the standpoint of layout, ease of use, consistency of output quality?
If I am willing to install VMware Fusion on my Mac Pro so I can run Quimage, do I also need to buy Windows XP?

Finally, if all this is "too many questions" for the forum to answer, what's the best way for me to answer all this so I can move on!?  


Thanks Folks,

Ed T

Reading the threads here over the last two months I get the impression that the HP Z3100-Z3200 are still more economic in ink consumption than the Epson models including the 7900-9900. Clogs and cleaning are a non issue for the HPs it seems and that is my experience as well. B&W is the best of OEM printers. The speed of the HPs will be lower though so must be considered if there's a lot of work to be done.

On Qimage. I still think a cheap Windows system running as a networked print server is the best solution. Qimage will do what you need. Saving templates with different sized images on the print page is the way to go for you. Complete job configurations including the profile, rendering, sharpening etc etc can be saved too. Combined with a printer that can be calibrated there's little that can be inconsistent. That still allows temporary lay-outs per job and changed CM settings. It is even possible to give different renderings or profiles to different images in one print job. On one hand Qimage delivers a fast automatic printing workflow, on the other hand it has far more flexibility than other applications that try to deliver the same.


Ernst Dinkla

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

[rdonson]

My question has to do with the User Interface and it's ease of use. From the posts, it's clear many who use wide format printers mostly print large "fine art" poster sized prints. I shoot a lot of sports and family portraits. While I do print 20x30 or 20x24 in both color and B&W, I often have print sessions where I print multiple print sizes from the same file. For example--from file "A" I might print 6ea 5x7, 2ea 8x10 and 1ea 16x20. Random numbers of additional prints from other files....so the the entire print session might result in 2ea 20x30's, 1ea 16x20, 4ea 11x14, 9ea 8x10, 16ea 5x7 and 8ea 4x6 (yes, I will admit it!)

Since I have no experience with how the interface allows these kinds of jobs to be laid out, I fear that without the RIP for layout, I will need Qimage. Other than it being awkward to learn, it seems all who use it praise it.

Qimage will do the job you describe without breaking a sweat.  

You can become proficient with Qimage is just a few of hours for the work you outline.    I do enjoy all the fuss about the Qimage UI from people who have spent years learning how to do things in Photoshop.  I think they forget what it was like to open Photoshop for the first time and be completely overwhelmed by how user unfriendly it is.  Follow the Quick Tutorial and the "Learn by Example" you'll get going faster than you might imagine.

[NikoJorj]

You can become proficient with Qimage is just a few of hours for the work you outline.    I do enjoy all the fuss about the Qimage UI from people who have spent years learning how to do things in Photoshop.

From what I tested, I couldn't manage to be proficient after a few days of use - yes I've learned PS, then LR... May be I was younger at that time?  
I also didn't have much need for the complex multi-images layouts (NB : LR can do some too, if you already use it). That obviously did lessen my motivation.

Just to say that the steepness of Qimage's initial learning curve is not to be underrated.

[fike]

Qimage will bamboozle you at first, but it is very flexible and convenient once you learn it.