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large format printer advice!

W

whyrichard

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 15, 2002
1,719
9
I'm an architecture student and need to purchase a large format printer,

one that prints on the paper size that is one larger then 11x17... i think it's 12x24...?


the epson 1280 is popular in architecture circldes, but how is their support for mac presently?

it'll be used on both mac and pc's....

my friend has a cannon i9900 and he's happy with it, any advice?

i'll be printing about 80% graphics, and 20% photos. any advice?



thanks,

r.
 
maybe you mean 13x19 for the next size up?

I've been using a 1270 for about 4 years and have a couple of friends using the 1280.........it's been a champ.....great quality.....the guys using the 1280s love them.....the 1280 has been around for years. It's a solid printer.

never had to call for support so I don't know about epson support

HP and Cannon have had good printers in that size range too
 
the next size up is 13x19, i have the canon i9100 and its a CHAMP, super SOLID, go with canon dude. in all the reviews i have read canon has the best colors especially the i9100 and 9900, a bit pricy though, around 500 to 600 dollars, but worth it.
 
I'm thrilled with my Canon i9900. I saw something mentioning a replacement already so you might get something even better in a few months. In any case, it works up to 13x19/A3+/Super A3.

I'm using a FireWire connection which eliminates the USB mess that comes with my world.

Most of my work is photographic but regular 2D graphics are turned out quite nicely too. The cartridges seem economical enough since it shares some cartridges with other printers.
 
Well I'm using a 755CM, but that might be a little beyond what you're looking for.

Are there any good print shops around you? Will you be printing often in color? (And if you are, are you prepared for the expense?) The place I use charges something like $0.15/sq ft for B&W. Color is a different matter, but how often are you really going to NEED (as opposed to want) full color prints? Often enough to justify the printer cost?

Does your school provide a service that could pick up the slack if you need color? Mine had a decent but not great HP wide-format color inkjet that was reasonably affordable. Of course getting access during finals week was iffy, but then again time-management is really what an architectural education is all about isn't it? ;)

BTW, where do you go to school? What year are you?
 
I use the epson stylus 2200. A little pricey, but prints beautiful at 13x19. If you go to the portfolio section of my website, my first and 9th piece is printed with the epson. It's the promo poster with a cartoon fish on it, and the othello poster.

www.greenapplestudios.com
 
ANy of these printers will do well for you. I have an older Epson 1200, and it works well under OS X...I think the 1270 and 1280 work even better.

The newer printers like the 2200, the R1800 and the newest one are even better, I'm told.
 
Epson just anounced he replacement to the 2200 I think its the 2400 or the 2800 Im not sure bu if you print B&W you get three black's
 
I am also using the Epson 2200 and it is a great printer. Ink is a little pricey, but again the print quality is very nice.
 
I have the S9000 from Canon. I love it. Although, if I had the money I would purchase an Epson 2200 or the new Canon model that replaced the S9000... i9900 I believe.
 
The Epson 2200 also supports many different types of papers (canvas, semi-gloss, etc) compared wtih other large format printers. It really will depend on what exactly you plan on printing with a large format.
 
I'll say the Epson 2200 as well (or w/e printer is next in line). However I wouldn't consider the ink to be pricey, IMO, although there are 3rd party inks that do sell at a reduced price that are usually next to the Epson ink (at least at Fry's).


redynvre said:
I am also using the Epson 2200 and it is a great printer. Ink is a little pricey, but again the print quality is very nice.
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