Ramblin Lamb Photography just bit the bullet and we bought an Epson 4800 printer!! We had initially planned on buying an Epson 2400 to match the ink/paper that Mark Hudon is now using so we could get a good match prior to sending images to him to print on his 7800 for us. But in looking at the econonmics of the ink we realized that the 4800 with it's MUCH bigger ink cartridges (220mil vs 11+/- mil per cartidge) makes for MUCH cheaper prints per sheet.
So along with the change to Moab Entrada paper (I cannot say enough great things about this paper!!!) we're in a bit of a rebirth of printing here. Our printer prior to this is an Epson 1280 which in it's prime was and actually still is impressive. But that was 2 generations ago and the prints coming off the 4800 are simply awesome by comparison.
This printer is a beast though!! That's 88 pounds before the 8 ink cartidges go in and AFTER unpacking it!! It took me and my neighbor to get it upstairs after unpacking it in the garage!! Sure I can heft 88 lbs no problem but 88 lbs AND this large was asking for a disaster halfway up the stairs!!
Another fun event that happened yesterday was Nancy & I spent an afternoon with a master matting and framing guy we met recently to learn the little tricks & gotchyas to making top quality matting.
I enjoy making my own mats but have never been very "good" at it. The bugger really is in the details... Our friend showed us what we've been doing wrong & how to do it right & efficiently which has instilled a new found energy into mat making here.
All of this has been a prelude to our displaying at the Issaquah Art Walk this coming July 7th!! This will our FIRST step into the gallery world so Nancy & I are VERY excited about this!! If any of our local photogs also want to participate just drop me a line and I'll get ya hooked up with the folks from the Downtown Issaquah Art Commission. They are always looking for new artists to add to the Art Walk!! Do understand that to display at the Art Walk you will have to be present for the event.
So all of the above is fun and exciting!! With things settled in in the new home we're ready to get back on track with Ramblin Lamb Photography!!
you are gonna LOVE this printer! I have the 4000 and it has been wonderful. I understand that Epson has produced much better color management for these than was available when I got my printer. I resorted to the purchase of ImagePrint software by ColorByte (excellent but spendy) for good color results. Good luck with your matting and framing efforts - it's amazing how a great double mat makes a picture look fantastic. What's required to show your work at the Art Walk? Is there a web site...
Rick----any chance you're coming our way soon? I keep meaning to make my first matts, we've got the tools & all, let me know if you're headed Portland-way. Plus when I get a little more PS actual knowledge filed away, I can talk about sending some images to you or Mark H. for quality printing. Damn it's cool to lurk here and get an apprenticeship by tugging at the sleeves of your master-guys (and -gals). Marc Adamus, are you back from your travels?
Well I'm not a master of much at all Eric but thanks for the compliment!
As far as printing goes I have no current intentions of stealing the show from Mark Hudon. And Eric since you are in the Portland area anyway doing large prints through Mark who is in Hood River would make much more sense logistically.
So I defer to Mark for both the large printing needs and for consulting on matting for those of you in the Portland area.
Rick - Just wait, until the do your first power cleaning cycle. It will consume something like 15-20% of you ink. My suggestion (after 1 years use) is to try to print frequently, and ALWAYS leave it powered up. It will wake itself up, and do a few things, then go back to sleep. I would also suggest that you NOT freqently switch between photo and matt, as this simple task will consume additional inks as the lines are purged. Save up your work and make large runs of one or the other. With the standardization on MOAB Entrada (usually natural), I seldom, seldom use glossy; why? because nothing in our world is glossy (just my opinion). I also use a 2400 for smaller 4x6 and 5x7 borderless singles. If I have time, it is far less costly to print two 5x7's on an 8x10, then cut them. Once I run out of by 15 boxes of 5x7s I will likely only use the 4800.
by the way, drop me a line and I will share with you the best prices on both the 110 and 220ml (only way to go) carts that I have found anywhere.
USE THE COLOR ICCs from MOAB. They are soooooo close is it simply grand. Get your monitor cal'ed to the same spec at the ICCs (gamma 2.2, temp 5000K) that way you will see exactly what your printer sees.....
Thanks Randy for the kind advice!! We're already using the Moab ICC files and are planning on NEVER switching to Photo Black ink if we can help it. We'll also be buying 220 mil cartridges from Hunts Photo and Video:
DTG is a great source for Moab paper among other things.
I had to go back to Glazers to get a Matte Black 110mil cartridge the day after we bought the 4800. I wasn't aware it didn't come with and this put printing the 1st day on hold which DIDN'T satisfy my driving need for IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION!!! LOL!!! I just couldn't justify spending $40.00 on an ink swap just to satisfy my "immediate gratification" needs for that evening....sigh
A 110mil matte black cartridge from Glazers cost us $59.95 so $67.99 from Hunts for the same ink in a 220mil size is quite the deal.
Oh and our monitors are already calibrated and have been getting calibrated for years now.
Glad to see that Hunts is getting around. I've been buying from them for several years. An other source for specialty papers is Digital Art supplies in southern CA. Sign up for their news letter and you will be surprised what they often put up for sale. I'm engineering an inset for the feeder tray which should allow for the use of paper smaller than 8x10. I'm on my third try and almost have it down. Will advise later if true sucess comes my way (it is an alignment issue with the head, roller vacuum mech and the rear of the paper feeder support).
I actually bought the full set of 220 mil inks from Hunt's over the phone yesterday. When I mentioned the price he said "What? That's not right!" I said, well you better hurry up and change it because if I had ordered via the web I'd demand that you honored it"!
The real price is 79.99, still the best price I could find on the web and still a big savings over the 49.99 of the 110 mil cartridges.
I have the 4800 and print with Moab Entrada Natural. Great combo. Love the prints. The only caution is that the paper can really warm up some prints. I often have to use the cooling filters in PS to compensate for the paper. Doesn't happen with all prints, but warm images can get way too warm if you are not careful.
Discussion
12 repliesSo along with the change to Moab Entrada paper (I cannot say enough great things about this paper!!!) we're in a bit of a rebirth of printing here. Our printer prior to this is an Epson 1280 which in it's prime was and actually still is impressive. But that was 2 generations ago and the prints coming off the 4800 are simply awesome by comparison.
This printer is a beast though!! That's 88 pounds before the 8 ink cartidges go in and AFTER unpacking it!! It took me and my neighbor to get it upstairs after unpacking it in the garage!! Sure I can heft 88 lbs no problem but 88 lbs AND this large was asking for a disaster halfway up the stairs!!
Another fun event that happened yesterday was Nancy & I spent an afternoon with a master matting and framing guy we met recently to learn the little tricks & gotchyas to making top quality matting.
I enjoy making my own mats but have never been very "good" at it. The bugger really is in the details... Our friend showed us what we've been doing wrong & how to do it right & efficiently which has instilled a new found energy into mat making here.
All of this has been a prelude to our displaying at the Issaquah Art Walk this coming July 7th!! This will our FIRST step into the gallery world so Nancy & I are VERY excited about this!! If any of our local photogs also want to participate just drop me a line and I'll get ya hooked up with the folks from the Downtown Issaquah Art Commission. They are always looking for new artists to add to the Art Walk!! Do understand that to display at the Art Walk you will have to be present for the event.
So all of the above is fun and exciting!! With things settled in in the new home we're ready to get back on track with Ramblin Lamb Photography!!
you are gonna LOVE this printer! I have the 4000 and it has been wonderful. I understand that Epson has produced much better color management for these than was available when I got my printer. I resorted to the purchase of ImagePrint software by ColorByte (excellent but spendy) for good color results. Good luck with your matting and framing efforts - it's amazing how a great double mat makes a picture look fantastic. What's required to show your work at the Art Walk? Is there a web site...
Janet B
As far as printing goes I have no current intentions of stealing the show from Mark Hudon. And Eric since you are in the Portland area anyway doing large prints through Mark who is in Hood River would make much more sense logistically.
So I defer to Mark for both the large printing needs and for consulting on matting for those of you in the Portland area.
by the way, drop me a line and I will share with you the best prices on both the 110 and 220ml (only way to go) carts that I have found anywhere.
USE THE COLOR ICCs from MOAB. They are soooooo close is it simply grand. Get your monitor cal'ed to the same spec at the ICCs (gamma 2.2, temp 5000K) that way you will see exactly what your printer sees.....
Cal if you have trouble with this beast.
Randy
Hunts Photo
I got this tip from Mark Hudon. I also got this one from Mark:
DTG
DTG is a great source for Moab paper among other things.
I had to go back to Glazers to get a Matte Black 110mil cartridge the day after we bought the 4800. I wasn't aware it didn't come with and this put printing the 1st day on hold which DIDN'T satisfy my driving need for IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION!!! LOL!!! I just couldn't justify spending $40.00 on an ink swap just to satisfy my "immediate gratification" needs for that evening....sigh
A 110mil matte black cartridge from Glazers cost us $59.95 so $67.99 from Hunts for the same ink in a 220mil size is quite the deal.
Oh and our monitors are already calibrated and have been getting calibrated for years now.
The real price is 79.99, still the best price I could find on the web and still a big savings over the 49.99 of the 110 mil cartridges.