Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/10/26

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Subject: [Leica] How low does pigment go?
From: hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson)
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:56:55 +1000
References: <CAE3QcF7Apo9U7aKKumAhjLj-T0Lo8PZrusx=WuYfhxDNpmYnqw@mail.gmail.com> <CACCF3EE.15EF3%mark@rabinergroup.com>

Mark I very seldom print larger than 13x19 (and my Leica dealer is also a
good but cheap printer!) but I got the 3800 and now 3880 due to the larger
ink tanks and economy over the smaller carts.

The ink itself is the same in the 3000 (Ultrachrome K3) and it is also a 9
cart set with the new vivid magenta too.
I think that the consumables are priced higher here than in your market. On
our prices the 3880 set costs twice as much but you get 3 times as much ink.
Remember you get a full set with your new printer.

But everyone has to do their own sums as far as how much you will use the
printer and print sizes of course as well as your own priorites.
Pigment inks can and do clog if you use them little and the bigger carts
might be false economy if you never used them up before they died of old
age. I think I used about 3 of everything else before my first matt black
curled up its toes owing to underemployment (18 months). Later I began
printing more Rag and the new MK was a happy participant. So volume of
printing and on what media will influence economy too.
BTW that 3000 is still 2 feet long and weighs 33lbs.  The other one is only
about 3 inches wider but it's 10lbs heavier. Neither sound very fun to carry
on the bus!


Cheers
Geoff

*Lighting- eyes- action*
http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman



On 26 October 2011 13:17, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote:

> As I have just gotten this month about 4 new carts for my 3800 your
> suggestion to just upgrade to the 3880 makes extra sense for me as I'm in a
> sense getting 200 dollars off using those carts as needed. Its just that's
> not going to happen its too much money for a big thing which I don't really
> need nor can afford nor can put in a bus or cab with me to get fixed should
> it need be.
> I'm inspired by the show I just saw and is still up at the NY Leica gallery
> of flowers black and white and full color:
> - Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing / Notables of Note"
> In which her large prints were I think 13 by 19's and many were smaller and
> it was all looking fine.
> My past shows were 16x20 darkroom prints and I was seeing less and less
> shows done with 11x14's. So I was happy about getting that 3800.
> Now in an interim phase I do think a 13 inch printer for half the money and
> more compact might do me well.
> If I get lucky ands some gallery is scaled to large prints I'll then move
> up
> to a 17 inch printer I can see that happening in a year or two.
>
> Hoppy and others do you think an R3000 would be a step down quality wise
> from the 3880? I'm guessing no as I continue to look into it.
>
> In the mean while I'm looking at infusing my portfolios  with small prints
> made with a dye based printer. On rag paper as usual which they make for
> them. I suppose using such printers I'd be smart to do less black and white
> and more color.
> I carry around 5x7's in my Domke satchel where ever I go for years now.
> They are great for showing people a few of your prints on a bus or
> restaurant and seem impressive without looking like an overly big deal. And
> I can afford better better which I like.
>
> Id run so many nozzle checks in the past few years that I've must have
> blown
> hundreds of dollars worth of pigment into my maintain ace carts. That's
> what
> happens with a less than happy printer.
>
> A printer that size to bring in to get tweaked or CLA'd by a maintenance
> place is quite a production.
> I think a 13 inch printer I could carry on the bus.
>
> 13 x19s are more like 16x20's run through the dryer than bionic 11x14's.
> I'm happy about them. I already have a portfolio with that sized prints in
> it.
>
> Thanks for looking
>
> --
> Mark R.
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/
>
>
> > From: Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com>
> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:16:08 +1000
> > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] How low does pigment go?
> >
> > If you get the 3880 most of your existing cartridges will fit (if you
> have
> > good ones remaining) .
> > Any custom profiles for the 3800 won't work of course.
> > My 3800 died eventually too and labour and parts for print heads would
> have
> > nearly equalled new replacement cost here.
> > So nice now to run a nozzle check before a print and see a perfect
> pattern
> > each time.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Geoff
> >
> > *Lighting- eyes- action*
> > http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 6:12 PM, Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> How low does pigment go?
> >>>> My Epson 3800 has bit the farm after 5 years. The past years have not
> >>>> really
> >>>> worked. I need something to buff up my 5x7 inch portfolio before a key
> >>>> visitor see's it and that's in a few weeks.
> >>>> I also need to print my laundry list.
> >>>> I may have to stray outside Epson.
> >>>>
> >>>> I guess in a few months I'll get the
> >>>>  Epson Stylus Photo R3000 Inkjet Printer
> >>>>
> >>>> I see a Canon letter sized ( 8.5 inch wide) for 89  bucks but it I'm
> >> sure
> >>>> prints dye not pigment.
> >>>> I'm hoping some quirk has made one of those guys come out with a cheap
> >>> mini
> >>>> which is a pigment based printer form.
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Mark R.
> >>>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/
> >>>>
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


Replies: Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] How low does pigment go?)
In reply to: Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] How low does pigment go?)
Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] How low does pigment go?)