Epson 44" printer questions

**false_Aesthetic** · 15-May-2012, 14:24

Hey,

I gotta show coming up and the it looks like the printing price will = purchasing a used 44" printer and loading it up with Cone inks.

I'm familiar with the work-flow so I'm not that worried about it BUT since I'm unemployed during the summer months I'm concerned with keeping my costs down.

Has anyone done side-by-side comparisons of the 9600, 9800 and 9880 series printers loaded with Cone Inks?

i guess what I'm asking is this: Is a 9600 loaded with K6 still considered "acceptable" or would it be better to bite the bullet and purchase a newer generation printer.

For simplicity lets assume that all printers are in the same operational condition.

**Tyler Boley** · 15-May-2012, 15:58

having Cone inks in both a 9600 and now a 9880 for years, and a 9800 with OEM inks, I'd opt for the 9880. They will all make wonderful prints with those inks, but the 9880 they made some improvements that make ink delivery flawless, before messing it all up with the next series of printers. The 9880 very very rarely needs a cleaning to fix a nozzle problem, almost always shows perfect nozzles patterns even if it has sat a week. The 9600 is not bad, but any one you will find will have some use on it. The 9800 was the most problematic with regard to nozzle performance of any of them with the exception of the 9900, which after a tech camping out in here for days finally is working ok.... not as good as the 9880 with Cone inks though...
Tyler

**false_Aesthetic** · 16-May-2012, 14:32

Tyler,

Thanks for the insight. Any thoughts on the dither pattern or droplet size when comparing the 9600 and 9880? These will eventually be prints about 35x42 from 5x7 negs. http://tftolhurst.com/Heliotrope-2007-2010 examples here

**adam satushek** · 16-May-2012, 15:07

false_Aesthetic, sorry to jump in.... I share a 9800 with another photographer and it is great...but i use stock epson inks so can't comment there...but thats not why im replying to this thread.

I just wanted to compliment the work you linked above. Long exposures at sunrise correct? Nice concept (seeing the sun trails) and compelling images....I like them. Would be nice to see them printed large.

**false_Aesthetic** · 16-May-2012, 16:17

Thanks adam. I'm stoked that I finally get to see them back up on a wall. It took a good amount of time experimenting to get it done right. I was originally shooting for silver prints but printing with carbon actually fit the concept better.

Cheers!