I have been using Epson printers for all my artwork since the
first Stylus Color, which is over ten years ago. I remember when
many of us put disclaimers on our artwork stating they could fade.
Now those worries, are for the most part, gone.
The R-2400 is capable of printing 13" x 19" inch prints on a
variety of papers. It uses a pigmented ink called Epson UltraChrome
K3. This ink, according to Epson, is a high density ink with an
extremely wide color gamut. The ink has a built in gloss level.
Initially, I was worried about that because I like matte prints.
But these inks print beautifully on semi-gloss as well as on matte
paper (I did not try gloss paper). There are 9 individual
cartridges. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Light Cyan. Light Magenta, Light
Light Black, Light Black and two types of Black: Photo and Matte.
The only draw back is that when you switch from Photo to Matte
Black or visa versa, extra ink is used to clean the nozzles and the
levels go down. It seemed to me this happened to all the inks, but
I am not really sure. The monitors in all the printers are visual
depictions and hard to read when one is talking about small
amounts. Wilhelm Research has been around for a long time and have
been doing tests of media, also, for a long time. They are in the
process of testing the Epson UltraChrome K3 and Epson papers. Some
of the preliminary results can be found at preliminary results. I will list some of the
results. These reflect tests of "displayed prints framed under
glass."
- Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper 85 years
- Epson Ultra Smooth Fine Art Paper 108 years
- Epson Watercolor Paper radiant White 118 years
- Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper 61 years
- Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper with PremiumArt Spray 82 years The
rest of the Epson line of papers for the R 2400 are in the process
of being tested. However, one can look on the Epson site and see
the results for the earlier printers that used
UltraChrome inks. It is also interesting to compare the permanence
of dye-based inks and pigment-based inks under similar situations.
For example, the Heavy Weight Matte paper used with the Epson 1280
and dye-based inks had a permanence under glass of 18 years where
as the UltraChrome Hi-Gloss ink with the Epson R1800 had a
permanence of over 150 years using the same paper. Enhanced Matte
was 110 years for the R1800 while the UltraChrome ink for the Epson
Stylus Photo 2200 was 76 years. These times should give an
indication. While this was not exactly comparing the same printing
type of papers as in the above list for the R2400, comparing the
same printing type, Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper, the
results were as follows:
- Dye based 6 color ink for R300/R320 23 years
- UltraChrome Ink (pigment) for 2200 85 years
- UltraChrome Hi-Gloss Ink for R1800 104 years (R1800 uses a
gloss optimizer and has a different configuration of inks) The
R2400 has 3 paper paths and 1 set of roll holders. The paper paths
are for. multiple sheets, single sheets, and a heavy media slot
which will accept media up to 1.3 mm thick and from 8" x 10" to A3+
(11.7" x 16.5"). There is a lot of information about this printer
on the Epson site as well as elsewhere even though some of it is
scattered.
- UltraChrome K3
- Specifications
- Excellent Detailed Review and Video
- dpreview.com - Epson Talk Now I want to get down to
discussing how I tested the Epson. I basically print from
Photoshop. I have Photoshop CS and CS2 on my machine. What
initially intrigued me about the Epson R2400 was its ability to
print using Photoshop color management, and its ability to render
black and white printing. Having started as a black and white
photographer, I have a large collection of black and white
negatives. One of the keys to good printing is, of course, to have
your monitor handle color "correctly," but also, to use only one
system of color management. Make sure if you are printing from
Photoshop and using Photoshop's color management profiles that the
one from the Epson R2400 is turned off.
Accesses Print Preview from the File menu in Photoshop CS or
CS2. Notice the statement "Let Photoshop Determine Colors" and that
the printer profile is very specific. It refers not only to the
kind of paper, but also to the type of black ink. The
PK refers to Photo Black.
Notice the red arrows in the screen capture above. The top one is
pointed to ICM showing that an ICM profile is being used,
and the one under shows that the profile does not belong to the
printer's color management system. Thus, only one
source of color management is being used. I chose to print my
typical target print made up of external references, black to white
references in an RGB color space, and some pictures.
I also printed a picture with definite and hard to match shades of
blue.
Both printed perfectly on the papers I chose, which were the heavy
Matte, Enhanced Matte, and the Semi Gloss. All, of course, were
Epson papers. On the two matte papers I switched from Photo Matte
Black ink to Photo Black ink. What was interesting to me was that
the Matte Black on the back side of the boat was richer and darker
than the Photo Black. The prints using Matte Black were, as a
whole, livelier than the ones using Photo Black, on both Matte
papers. Photo Black will only work on certain papers as will Matte
Black.
The Epson ICC profiles to be used in Photoshop are also selected
not only by paper type, but also by the type of black ink chosen.
For example, there is SPR2400 Matte Paper - HW (for Matte Black)
and SPR2400 Matte Paper-HW_PK (for Photo Black). Most of these
profiles come with the printer. The ones that do not are found on
the Epson web site with the printer, and are free. Epson has
downloaded new profiles for the matte papers, which I have not
tried because I was satisfied with the ones that came with the
printer. The Advanced Black and White settings are really
wonderful. I tried them on the Epson Semi-Gloss paper using the
Photo Black and on Epson Heavy Weight Matte and Enhanced Matte
using the Matte Black. The results were stunning and the details
marvelous. The details in all the pictures seemed better in the
prints than even on the screen. The Advanced Black and White will
print in neutral, Cool, Sepia, or Warm or any shades in between.
It is accessed from the Epson Printer Main menu.
On the Print Preview page in Photoshop, the Option chosen is. No
Color Management.
Two of the black and white images I used were the following. I was
able to control my printing so I could create black areas without
losing my highlights by having them too white or too dark.
Questions that always pops up are: how much does the printer cost,
what is the cost of paper and inks, and how much does it cost to
print? The first one is easy to answer because one can find the
answer on the Epson site. The printer lists for $849.99 and the
individual inks for $14.24. Each ink is separate, so when one color
runs out, one does not have to throw away a whole cartridge of full
different colored ink just to replace one color. If one searches
the web, both the inks and the printer can be purchased for less,
but one has to make sure the inks are genuine Epson and the
printers are guaranteed and can be returned if desired. The paper
varied according to size and type. A list can be found on the Epson
site. Click List I timed a few 81/2 " x 11" prints. A full
color in Photo Best mode that covered the majority of the page took
about 4 1/2 minutes. I did not use the borderless option, but I
found that one could extend the size of the print beyond what was
possible in other previous Epson printers that I have owned. I
could make the size of my image 8.25" x 10.5" It was impossible to
determine the cost of printing an individual print. I tried
to find out ink usage for graphics, not for 5% cover age, but more
for 75% coverage. I found various estimates in different forums,
but many contradicted each other. Some of the factors that
determine ink usage are:
- Setting of paper - photo, best photo, etc
- Number of times black has been changed
- Type of prints made advanced black and white uses light
shades (light cyan) more than dark shades (cyan) At this point in
the review, I have created eighteen 81/2 " x 11" pictures of a
rough average of 80% coverage. There were eleven full color ones,
seven toned, and one black and white. The indicators are shown by
the screen shot below. The black was changed out once. Looking at
the three statements above, I cannot really estimate the average
cost of an 81/2 " x 11" print. There are just too many variables:
What if I never changed out the black cartridges? What if I used
Photo instead of Photo Best?
My philosophy is that one does not buy an Epson printer to save
money. One buys an Epson printer for its incredible quality. If
this sounds as if I have money to throw away, that is not the case.
But the reality is that you are going to spend money on ink.
- The Paula Sander's Report is a regular
Renderosity Front Page featured column, where Paula investigates
and comments on graphic software, techniques, and other relevant
material through her reviews, tutorials, and general articles.
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