ImagePrint or EyeOne Photo?

[ehasler]

Hi all,

I'm looking at investing in an Epson 9800 printer in the next few months, and had also originally intended to purchase a Gretag MacBeth Eye One Photo kit to enable me to create my own custom profiles.

I've been reading the latest reviews of ImagePrint though, and am starting to think that this would be a better investment, as I understand that the quality of the profiles will be better than those produced by myself using Eye One. Additionally, there would be the other advantages of Imageprint including the Phatte Black option.

The only downside is the price - Imageprint for the 9800 costs $1000 (~£600 for me in the UK) more than Eye One.

I currently use Epson Enhanced Matte and Ultrasmooth papers, and will also be using canvas with the 9800, however I don't have any plans to use any new or specialist paper that would not already have IP profiles available.

My question really is whether I would see enough of an increase in quality on the final print to justify spending the extra money.

I'd be interested to hear your views on this - especially if you have used and compared both.

[michael]

There is a satisfaction to making ones own profiles, but frankly, the Imageprint profiles are so good that it's a quibble as to whether you can surpase them.

If you use many different papers, especially obscure ones, or new ones as soon as they come out, then making ones own profiles is definately worthwhile. Otherwise, not – if one also has Imageprint.

I see Imageprint as an almost "must have" for anyone doing serious printing.

Michael

[photopat]

I use Imageprint on my 2100 but I'll get a 7800 in the near future.
I'm ok with IP but it has some downsides....I'm not to happy about how IP handles Blues(very poor to be precice)
The upgradepolicy is crap (cost way to much)
I'm actually thinking of getting Colorburst RIP instead if I get the 7800
Colorburst   are shipped with SpectralVision so you can linearise your printer and make your own profiles.
And costs less than IP itself.