Epson GS6000 Profiling Method has Changed

The process of creating a new ICC profile and environment for the Epson GS6000 64" printer has changed dramatically since the printer first came out.


The Colorburst RIP now replaces many settings that were previously set on the printer LCD screen. For more info on the update, check out the Epson GS6000 Wiki:

Epson GS6000 Overview of New Media Setup

HP Designjet Printer Error Codes

I found a good reference for HP Designjet Printer error codes. This helped me out with a problem involving my HP Z3100.

http://www.designjetparts.com/blog/index.php?blog=2&cat=16

Problem / Issue of Epson 11880 Defective Ink Batches

Some people have had problems with certain Epson 11880 wide format printer ink cartridges. If you have the issue of your cartridge not registering in your printer, contact Epson tech support to see if the Lot Number on the ink is from the defective batch.

We recommend calling Epson Priority Service Support. This is usually better than calling your distributor. Call (562) 276-1305 *Same number that is in the back of your printer's manual*. Have your printer's serial number ready before your call. Press 2 for Pro series printers. Press 2 again to talk to an actual tech support agent.

Good luck! Comment below if you have had this issue and any advice you can offer...

Michael

The Rasterbater - Make Huge Mosaics from your desktop printer

I found this a few months back and thought it was really cool. For everyone who doesn't own a wide format printer, this is the next best option...

http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/

"The Rasterbator creates huge, rasterized images from any picture. Upload an image, print the resulting multi-page pdf file and assemble the pages into extremely cool looking poster up to 20 meters in size."

Enjoy.

Michael

Epson 3800 Printer now only $850!

There is now a $300 rebate on the Epson 3800: Lowest price I have seen is $850 for a brand new at ATLEX.COM:

http://www.atlex.com/epson_pro/stylus_pro_3800_printer.htm

Please comment if you find a lower price or bought one recently for a better deal.

Thanks!~

Canon ipf605 printer is now discontinued

The Canon ipf 605 wide format printer is discontinued. With recent rebates on the Canon ipf650, they were usually more expensive (the ipf650 replaced the ipf605).

36" Canon iPF720 printer is discontinued

Notice on the discontinuation of the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF720 Printer

Canon has stated that effective immediately, their iPF720 36" printer is discontinued. Canon (Canon USA) has no remaining inventory. Select Resellers and distributors may still have stock. If you were thinking of buying one, you should probably check into that.

Part Number (SKU):

3035B002AA

Description: 

Canon imagePROGRAF iPF720 Printer

Product Status:

Discontinued

Replacement Product:

Canon imagePROGRAF iPF755 Printer

Replacement Part Number (SKU):

3432B007

The Canon iPF 755 Printer

Epson 3800 Refurbs Printers - Ink Charging Problem

If you are having problems setting up a refurbished Epson 3800 printer, read the following about the experience I had.

Upon opening the printer and putting all the inks in, and powering the printer up, the normal ink charging cycles did not start (I've set up a few of these printers brand new). The front of the 3800 will say that the printer has 100% of ink (all the ink bars will be full). When you charge a new Epson Stylus 3800, it leaves you with about 70% in the cartridges (the remainder mostly goes in the lines between the cartridges and the printer head.

Epson tests all the refurbished 3800's before they send them out, so they already charged the lines (think of this a gift of about $100 of ink).

The first print you should do once you open the printer is a nozzle check. If they are all full and there is 8 different colors of them (see above image) then you have passed the first test. You should change black inks on the front of the Epson 3800 at this point. If you were on Photo Black, switch it to Matte Black Ink, or vice-versa. Now run the nozzle check again. If it looks good, you should be good to go.

I had to do 2 power cleans (one on both black settings) before the nozzles all began firing. It took one last one and it has worked perfectly since. Any questions or need help? Contact me or leave a comment below.

--Michael

Official Epson Statement on Refurb Printers

I installed my Refurbished Epson 3800 printer last night and I was very impressed that it came with a full set of 80 mL cartridges (not the starter set!). I ended up paying $699 out the door. Not a bad deal considering the ink + maintenance cartridge it contains would be almost $500 alone.

Here is Epson's offical statement on Refurbished Printers:

Refurbished Products: All sales are final. These are products that have been returned to Epson. They have been inspected and tested to ensure they perform properly. Some may have minor blemishes due to handling. They are available only while quantities last. Refurbished products may or may not contain a media pack or the same software package as new models. In order to provide these savings and to move final quantities, we cannot accept returns unless the product arrived damaged or defective in which case your remedy is replacement with the same model or equivalent. See Terms of Sale and Conditions.

The Epson 11880 Printer is Super Cheap!

I just noticed the Epson Stylus Pro 11880 (64") Printer has a $5,000 instant rebate. This must be Epson's stimulus package!

This makes the printer between $7,000 and $8,000 depending on where you purchase it. A steal at that price! Especially considering retail price is $14,995.

Just my two cents for the day. Contact me if you want a referal or post on the comments where you find the best deal.

Refurbished Epson 3800 Deal!

Although the Epson store ran out of refurbished 3800 17" Printers ( Part Number: C635011UCM-N ) there are still a few websites offering them (and at a better price). I wish I would have known before I bought a new one in December, but I think at this price I will buy another.

They still have the one year warranty & a full set of starter inks, however, they do not qualify for any of Epson's rebates. You can still save about $200 even without the rebate, however.

Check it out at Atlex.com  (http://www.atlex.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=C635011UCM-N)

I will post the other great deal I found on Epson printers tomorrow -- Stay Tuned!

--Michael

Epson 7900 and 9900 Firmware should be upgraded immediately

The Epson Stylus 7900 (24") and Epson 9900 (44") initial firmware should be upgraded as soon as possible to avoid the printer entering an endless cleaning loop that will not stop until one of your inks is empty. This appears to be a problem with the initial version of the firmware Epson provided, also furthering the ink conspiracy many have alluded to on the internet.

We recommend you upgrade your Epson Stylus Pro 7900 or Epson Stylus Pro 9900 to at least Firmware Version HW00812100. You can download it from --

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?oid=119098&prodoid=63079720&infoType=Downloads&platform=Windows

The Epson Automatic Head Cleaning can be disabled if you don't have the latest version of the firmware. Several people have have commented on this online, you can read more at:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t29823.html

We did have firmware version 1.0 ... and as of this posting they seem to have fixed the problem via a firmware upgrade.

HP Z3100 and Z3200 Does not print well on film

The HP Designjet Z3100 and the HP Designjet Z3200 series do not seem to calibrate well on any type of film material. This does not seem to matter if it is white film or transparent film, it does not seem to register well with the HP's spectrophotometer.

Epson 3880 Coming Soon

Epson 3880 will be coming soon. It is rumored to have very similar specs to the Epson 3800 but with Vivid Magenta and Vivid Light Magenta Inks. More info should be available at Epson3880.com

Recommended Newsletter: Lexjet In Focus Email

LexJet has an absolutely fantastic email newsletter titled "In Focus." They cover everything from Photoshop to industrial printshops, offering tips, tricks, money saving advice, industry news, and new product reviews. Almost anyone involved with digital printing or photography can find some great articles here. This is one of the very few newsletters I read consistently.

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