Anyone else buying the new epson printers?

[John Brady]

Well I'm taking the plunge on the new epson 9900 printer. I have had the 7800 since its introduction and for the most part I have been very happy with it. I currently use Image print and I have been told that they will have a version available for the new epsons around the same time they start shipping, which should be any day now.

I have been wanting to move up to 44 inch and hated swapping inks so I figure now is the time. It will be interesting to see what difference the addition of green and orange ink will make. Also this printer is reported to be much faster.

I have been the pioneer before and I know that the pioneers are often the people who end up with arrows in their backs. Hopefully that won't be the case this time.

So anyone else jumping in???
john

www.timeandlight.com

[JPlomley]

I'm in the same boat John. I've the Epson 7800 and been very happy with it, until I started shooting 4x5 and realized that all of a sudden I could get away with making much much larger prints. But in this economy, I'm just not sure I want to part with the cash for fear of not having a job in a year from now. In fact, I will be putting a lot of purchases on hold for at least the next 12 months because I have zero confidence in a rebound before then. I'm sure I'm not alone, and this belt tightening sure does not help the economy either :(

[dwhistance]

There are a couple of people on the Epson Largeformat Group who have ordered them (and even some who have taken delivery), however I think most people are waiting to see how much of an improvement they really are at the moment. I'd love a 9900 as much for the speed increase over my 9800 as for any supposed improvement in quality, however given the state of the UK economy it may have to wait for a while.

David Whistance

[Tyler Boley]

I'd love to get one soon, but the economy is dictating choices right now. I've seen a good profile from one and compared in Colorthink to one from my 9800. The gamut is extended, but I have more gamut in some deep shadows, probably because of the RIP and CMYK profiling vs the more conservative RGB driver. I've seen some output, looks good.
As things are pretty good for color these days, visual performance evolution will be incremental anyway.
Tyler
http://www.custom-digital.com/

[Stephen Best]

I expect to have a 7900 next week, just waiting on the SpectroProofer for shipment. The 7900 will allow me to add baryta papers to rag which I currently use exclusively. It will also free up my 4800 for Piezography K7. I previously had a 7800 which I sold when I moved house. No complaints about the 7800's print quality or paper handling but it was a bit of an ink-guzzler at times. I don't think print quality is a reason to choose one printer over another, but maybe there's an edge in the 7900/9900 which will show up on PK papers. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what it can do.

[z_photo]

we have a 9800 series on lease. i think we will look at a swap for the new one. if it is reasonable it would be nice to test it out

[bglick]

John, do you sell many prints? Do you have a gallery?

Your images are beautiful.... I am not a huge B&W fan, but your B&W images fit the B&W mold perfectly.... very impressive work....

[John Brady]

John, do you sell many prints? Do you have a gallery?

Your images are beautiful.... I am not a huge B&W fan, but your B&W images fit the B&W mold perfectly.... very impressive work....

Thanks for the kind words.
I have started to focus on selling more prints in the last six months. I am doing about ten juried art shows in Florida this season. I have come to the conclusion that there must be an easier way to make a living. My sales have been good but oh man the shows are a lot of work.

For that reason I have been getting more serious about building my gallery. I own a ten thousand square foot retail location on the main drag in Naples. I currently have some of my work on easels in the front of the store. I have had some good success working with designers getting my work placed.

I am starting construction on a one thousand sf area within my space that will be my gallery. I am also moving my scanning, framing and mounting there.

I am looking forward to my new printer so I can produce and display larger work, that was one of the main reasons I moved up to 8x10.

Anyway I am enjoying the journey.
John
www.timeandlight.com

[Jeffrey Sipress]

Incremental is the key word I heard here. I'm sure the new printers will be fabulous and somewhat better, but the quality we can get now from the x800 series is pretty darn good. How much better can we jump in one step?

I'm wondering, too, how many huge prints (up to 48") can a person sell in a year? Most people can't fit them on their walls, and the matting and framing are very expensive.

[John Brady]

Incremental is the key word I heard here. I'm sure the new printers will be fabulous and somewhat better, but the quality we can get now from the x800 series is pretty darn good. How much better can we jump in one step?

I'm wondering, too, how many huge prints (up to 48") can a person sell in a year? Most people can't fit them on their walls, and the matting and framing are very expensive.

I'm not sure how many large prints I can sell a year but I'm going to find out. When I display at art shows I always hang the walls full of 24x30 inch images framed to 32x38. These are not necessarily my best sellers but I have sold six in a weekend. They do however draw people into my booth who are amazed by the detail in these semi large prints. Many of them admire the print on the wall and then by a smaller print from my bins.

I have a creo scanner and shoot 8x10 film so going large is part of the equation for me.

I plan to display at least one 40x50 inch print at my shows as soon as I receive my new printer. I don't expect this size to be my top seller but it will be fun when I do sell one. These large prints are a valuable marketing tool to help sell all sizes. In florida there are a lot of new homes with big walls and high ceilings.

I do all of my own matting and framing. My fletcher mat cutter will handle up to 60 inches in either direction and 40x60 mat and backer is a standard available size. so it really won't be that expensive or difficult.

Well reading this it sounds like I have convinced myself anyway:)

[bglick]

> When I display at art shows I always hang the walls full of 24x30 inch images framed to 32x38. These are not necessarily my best sellers but I have sold six in a weekend.


What prices for this size? Pricing is the hardest part of selling inkjet prints. If you have a gallery, you have new overhead to support. Most photo galleries fail because they can't sell enough prints to pay the rent. I realize in your case, there is no rent, so that reduces the chance of failure. Everyone is faced with the same issue.... lower prices with higher volume, or higher prices with lower volume. Tough call, usually a middle ground is the best approach IMO.


I hear ya on the BIG prints....many of are in this boat, we shoot 8x10 and like'em BIG prints. If I were to get back into making and selling prints, I feel as 40x50 is too small. I know that sounds insane. But I would go for the 60 - 64" printer and make monster prints vs. BIG prints. A 56 x 70" print is quite the leap-up vs. 40x50. Yep, its an entirely new market, and I have done it already, mainly for commercial. It's unique, and those with big walls typically have more money to spend. The down side is, you are forced to make all the components of the framing, which I have done, but it sure takes a lot of space working these sizes. But in this economy, I think art products will take a big hit, so i stay on the sidelines for now...

[Doug Dolde]

I replaced my Epson 3800 with a 7900. My main reasons were to be able to print larger, especially panoramas, and to be able to print on canvas. So far I am impressed especially with the paper/roll handling. It's a very well made machine and both the roll paper and sheet loading is extremely easy.

As far as image quality is concerned, so far it's hard to see much difference from the 3800. But then I haven't made that many prints yet so my opinion may change with respect to this issue.

[Ron Marshall]

Doug, I'm very interested to hear how that printer does with b/w images on glossy stock; especially compared to the 3800, which I am currently using.


I replaced my Epson 3800 with a 7900. My main reasons were to be able to print larger, especially panoramas, and to be able to print on canvas. So far I am impressed especially with the paper/roll handling. It's a very well made machine and both the roll paper and sheet loading is extremely easy.

As far as image quality is concerned, so far it's hard to see much difference from the 3800. But then I haven't made that many prints yet so my opinion may change with respect to this issue.

[Doug Dolde]

Not likely I will try that Ron.

[Ron Marshall]

Not likely I will try that Ron.

Do you not print b/w, or will the b/w be on canvas?

[Doug Dolde]

I don't use glossy.

[Ron Marshall]

I don't use glossy.

What was your favourite paper with the 3800. So far I have only tried Photo Rag and Gold Fiber Silk with the 3800.

[Doug Dolde]

Epson Exhibition Fiber I think. Thats what I am using now. It's an F type gloss, but really is more like a semi gloss. If you don't want to print bigger or use rolls keep your 3800 it's a great printer.

[Ron Marshall]

Epson Exhibition Fiber I think. Thats what I am using now. It's an F type gloss, but really is more like a semi gloss. If you don't want to print bigger or use rolls keep your 3800 it's a great printer.

I'm very happy with the image quality I'm getting from the 3800. It's a big improvement from my previous printer, a 2200. I eventually will go for a 24", but right now I'm in an apartment, so the 3800 is the optimal size, at least as far as my wife is concerned.