Economical Options for Film Printing besides Epson

[Squeeky]

Hey Guys

I have Richmond Screen Maker and it is so accurate that it picks up any banding a clogged nozzle may cause in the film, even though I can't detect with the naked eye.  Though it doesn't happen everyday, it becomes a problem when I need to wash out 80% and 90% ink saturation areas on my screens without losing detail. My only option then is to delicately wash out the screen or start again.

We're using a Epson 1430 with a bulk system with UV pigment black ink, controlled by AccuRip. When all nozzles are operating, wash outs are near perfect. But, the day is coming, due to the necessary head cleanings, that this printer will start leaking black ink all over my desk due to the lack of a waste reservoir on the output from the docking station (I made my T-Jet 3 work great for over 4 years and I understand Epson).

I'm not knocking Epson. I am looking for options when the day comes to replace my printer again.

Thanks for your input

Jack

[blue moon]

Find a used 4800. Prices are dropping fast and more and more of them are in sub $400 range.

Pierre

[Atownsend]

This isn't an epson alternative either, but I found on old epson 7600 for $300 on craigslist locally. Got some cheapo refillable carts on eBay & I run dye ink from film direct in the black / light black + a DIY line flush solution in the other carts. The magenta line was clogged when I got it (even though it supposedly printed a good nozzle check). Haven't been able to get it clear yet, I think its the actual line / damper itself... but it has zero effect on output from what I can tell. No banding or anything with the resolution that I'm printing at. Also running accrurip, exposing with a single point amergraph 335. This thing prints great halftones, roll feed up to 24" wide. Its an old printer, but it works well for us.

[Sbrem]

If you can find a 4800, go for it. However, in my neck of the woods, people want too much money for them, like $750 and up! Regarding your 1430, you should print with one head only, not all six (or 8? I don't know). Also, open it up and lead that waste tube into a bottle, so you don't fill up the pads any more than it already is. Also get the resetter utility from Epson's website to reset the counter when it thinks the pads are full and wants to stop working. That will drag more life out of it for you. We ran our 1400's that way; when 1 channel clogged, we simply told AccuRIP to use a different channel. Whichever channel you print with, leave cleaning fluid in the others.

Steve

[mk162]

honestly, the best films I ever used came off the 3000...hybrid black, on-WP film, OpenRip(no, it's not open source).  Seriously crazy good halftones and film density.

Personally I've always HATED waterproof film.  if you're getting film wet you are doing something wrong.  The hybrid inkjet ink works on both and supposedly in any inkjet.

[Doug B]

  A lot more expensive at the time but cheaper in the long run: We have always
used real Epson ink. Gone through 3 Epson 3000s but they died of old age and
not tossed aside from a clogged head. I'm still running #3 and about to send in
#2 to be refurbished as a backup.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I shelved 2 perfectly fine, 100% working 3000's...because of poor registration. I fiddled and fiddled and just decided 3000's struggle with tight registration, period. But I am aware that simply isn't the opinion of several printers I trust.

Dunno....

I finally bought a 1400 (with a Ditto) and liked it so much, I have another on the shelf...brand new.  The first one is still 100%, but I in NO WAY(!) will ever run pigment ink through one. Dye Based ink provides reasonable D-Max values and won't clog printheads like Pigment Based inks.

Then I bought a 4800 which is still awaiting installation.   

We keep a 1100 set up with a set of Pigment carts and its simply a beast to keep happy. We need pigments for softstretch etc, and I try to keep that printer running a lot, by making it the default printer for the office girls.

I've wandered off a little from the O.P. but I don't think a suitable film printer will be found aside from Epson.  I used to LOVE Canons (way, way back) and tried unsuccessfully to turn several higher end Canon's into film printers.

Forget it. The Piezo head system Epson uses will always work better for laying down more ink.

I can't address Image Setter technology. I know it's got a great reputation, but that seems to be waning.

I don't think lasers work very well for our gig. Tried it. Spent some serious coin for a serious Ricoh color laser a long time ago. If I remember right, the first digit was an EIGHT and it wasn't followed by HUNDRED.

It sits in the corner of the office.   $!#%&*#!

I don't think you'll do better than an Epson desktop for low cost film production. (And I like Cobra's Dye Based bulk black ink.)