01-16-2006, 11:24 PM
Super Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,415
Printer: HP9000, HP45500, JV3, Onyx
If you want to offer options, consider stepping out of this price range - up. For another 50% more $ you can have 2x the speed. The HP9000. It's not really out yet, but will be soon.
The HP9000, ex Seiko 64 Colorpainter does not use the same epson head as everyone else. The 6 heads are staggered in a way that allows for true bi-directional printing. What I mean by that is, with most of our stright line head printers the ink goes down in one order when going left to right. When the head turns around to go back the other direction, the inks are going down in the oposite order. This may seem like no big deal, but it can definately make density shifts that cause banding issues as the passes lay next to one another. Plus this head can be driven about twice as fast with the same print quality.
They use a mild solvent ink that melts the media surface very well inproving the "bite" and allowing the high speeds. The inks are expensive, just like all the other OEMs. But, HP's media line is very cost competitive for the quality. The printer has 3 heaters like others so the media gets preheated, heated under the print path, and then dried.
The are bundling it with Onyx Postershop so you can have full on control over the workflow and color management. Plus drive 2 printers with the one RIP.
The HP8000 is not ready for prime time and shares almost all the same design features of the other printers we've discussed. When they get it polished up it will be a great entry level printer. Just not there yet.
The HP9000, ex Seiko 64 Colorpainter does not use the same epson head as everyone else. The 6 heads are staggered in a way that allows for true bi-directional printing. What I mean by that is, with most of our stright line head printers the ink goes down in one order when going left to right. When the head turns around to go back the other direction, the inks are going down in the oposite order. This may seem like no big deal, but it can definately make density shifts that cause banding issues as the passes lay next to one another. Plus this head can be driven about twice as fast with the same print quality.
They use a mild solvent ink that melts the media surface very well inproving the "bite" and allowing the high speeds. The inks are expensive, just like all the other OEMs. But, HP's media line is very cost competitive for the quality. The printer has 3 heaters like others so the media gets preheated, heated under the print path, and then dried.
The are bundling it with Onyx Postershop so you can have full on control over the workflow and color management. Plus drive 2 printers with the one RIP.
The HP8000 is not ready for prime time and shares almost all the same design features of the other printers we've discussed. When they get it polished up it will be a great entry level printer. Just not there yet.
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Pacific Print Works
"For every big problem there is a simple answer, and it's wrong."
- Author unknown
--
Pacific Print Works
"For every big problem there is a simple answer, and it's wrong."
- Author unknown
