Posted by Carroll Breaux on October 28, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Is anyone using an Epson Stylus Pro 3800 printer. If so what are your likes and dislikes. Also, which color ink cartridges are used up first.
Thanks
Carroll
Posted by Robert Fisher on October 29, 2008 at 8:38 AM
I've got the 3800 as well. It's a terrific machine. The 2nd generation pigment inks are leaps and bounds better than the original Ultrachrome inks that came in the earlier printers.
I can't count how many prints I've made with it and have yet to replace any cartridges. It's well over 100 though. I print mainly on matte papers. I've not done much on glossier stock but the photo black ink does seem have run lower faster than the matte black ink from what prints I've made on glossier papers. The light cyan and light magenta are also lower than the others, which is to be expected.
My only real complaint with it is that it's very difficult to get canvas to get picked up. To print on canvas, I have to manually push the paper into the printer. Once it gets picked up it's fine but getting it to start is a pain. It usually takes several attempts before I get it.
The Advanced B&W mode is a good addition to the driver. Epson tells you not to use a paper profile with ABW mode. I've found this is not the best way to go, particularly if you're using non-Epson papers. Using ABW on non-Epson papers with no profile results in an overall darkening of the print and a distinct loss of shadow detail. Using ABW with a profile I get the tonality I want and the print has a crisper, cleaner look than using full colour mode to print a b&w photo. I've not yet used ABW with Epson papers so I don't know what using a profile vs. not would do in that case.
Posted by Nathan Lovas on October 29, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I have used the 3800 for about a year now. I have been able to get great results from it and have been very happy with it in general. That said, if I had it to do over and had the money I would get the 4880. I wish i had roll printing capability...i didn't know how much i would like this until i really started printing a lot but now i wish I had it....also you can buy the larger ink cartridges which are cheaper per oz with the 4880. I believe the 4880 may use more ink when you switch from matte to photo black, but for me it would have been worth it. I still love my 3800...i echo the above thoughts on ink quality....nate
I've had the 3800 for 18 months as well. I'd echo most of what the others have written. The prints are wonderful. I print on Moab Entrada Natural almost exclusively. I've sold several prints and have never had any issues. It is recommended to let the prints dry awhile before matting and framing. My first batch of ink lasted more than a year. I don't remember what I replaced first, but I found my second set is lasting longer because I was a printing fool when I first got it and made print after print after print to see how things look. Now I just make prints if they are going to be sold or displayed in my home.
I don't miss having roll feed that much. I buy some roll paper and cut longer, but its pretty rare. I print on cut sheets 95% of the time.
You can't go wrong on the quality.
Posted by John Reed on October 31, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Carroll,
Regarding which inks go first, the cartridges that are used up first are typically the same as with all other Epson printers I have or have had and that is the "light" ones. These are the ones that rather "tune" the print and they go first...light cyan, light magenta, light black, light light black will all go before the "regular" inks. Hunts Photo Video also has verrry good prices. Don't forget too that you will need a maintenance tank with this printer too. Life on that is very good though and you should not have to worry over it for a while. The printer will give you lots of warning when the tank is getting near the end of life.
JR
Discussion
4 repliesThanks
Carroll
I can't count how many prints I've made with it and have yet to replace any cartridges. It's well over 100 though. I print mainly on matte papers. I've not done much on glossier stock but the photo black ink does seem have run lower faster than the matte black ink from what prints I've made on glossier papers. The light cyan and light magenta are also lower than the others, which is to be expected.
My only real complaint with it is that it's very difficult to get canvas to get picked up. To print on canvas, I have to manually push the paper into the printer. Once it gets picked up it's fine but getting it to start is a pain. It usually takes several attempts before I get it.
The Advanced B&W mode is a good addition to the driver. Epson tells you not to use a paper profile with ABW mode. I've found this is not the best way to go, particularly if you're using non-Epson papers. Using ABW on non-Epson papers with no profile results in an overall darkening of the print and a distinct loss of shadow detail. Using ABW with a profile I get the tonality I want and the print has a crisper, cleaner look than using full colour mode to print a b&w photo. I've not yet used ABW with Epson papers so I don't know what using a profile vs. not would do in that case.
I don't miss having roll feed that much. I buy some roll paper and cut longer, but its pretty rare. I print on cut sheets 95% of the time.
You can't go wrong on the quality.
Regarding which inks go first, the cartridges that are used up first are typically the same as with all other Epson printers I have or have had and that is the "light" ones. These are the ones that rather "tune" the print and they go first...light cyan, light magenta, light black, light light black will all go before the "regular" inks. Hunts Photo Video also has verrry good prices. Don't forget too that you will need a maintenance tank with this printer too. Life on that is very good though and you should not have to worry over it for a while. The printer will give you lots of warning when the tank is getting near the end of life.
JR