Epson Stylus Pro 7000
The 24" Epson 7000 was introduced (at CeBIT computer trade
show in Germany, March 2000). Running software RIP from BEST,
this Epson 7000 seems to be a vast improvement over the Epson 3000
and Epson 5000. The BEST software PostScript RIP turns the Epson 7000
into a professional quality printer in many respects.
Rather
than coming out with a 54" or 62" printer Epson decided
to conquer the 24" marketplace first.
The
Encad Chroma 24" is not recommended because
RIP´s for it are hard to find. Few RIP companies felt it worthwhile
to make their product for that printer (an exception is the nice Shiraz
RIP from England). Also, its only four colors, only 300 dpi. Okay
to practice with but not much more.
The
HP 500ps is four colors but 1200 dpi; the HP 800ps is four colors
and 2400dpi. Downside is no pigmented inks, can't use aftermarket
inks, and not six colors.
The
24 inch Epson 7000 will heat up the competition since the Encad
Chroma 24 offers only 300 dpi. Various 24" offerings
from Hewlett-Packard still show their heritage in architectural plotters
of the last century (HP officially does not make any more "plodders," (sic) but the legacy of architectural plotters has stuck). The disadvantage
of the HP DesignJet 500 and 800 is that both offer
only four colors (the Epson 7000 offers six colors). You can use after-market
inks in the Epson 7000, which means you can get UV
pigmented inks for longevity. This option is totally
unavailable for the HP 500ps or 800ps.
Epson
is another good example of how a legacy of slow
cheap desktop printers, orange discoloration, and metamerism is
affecting the perception of their more professional series of wide
format products. Their legendary Epson "disappearing ink"
has somewhat haunted the acceptance of the Epson 9000 and now the
Epson 7000. The "fast fade" ink was replaced by the Epson
7500, Epson 9500, and now the
Epson 10000 archival. In the meantime, Staedtler
inks, Lyson inks, and a host of agile after-market ink companies are
providing archival inks to use with the Epson
9000, with longer-lasting color. Many of these same inks
should be available for the Epson 7000 as well.
----------------
What
report would offer you the best help ?
That would
be the FLAAR report on 24" printers for photo-realistic
and fine art giclée printing. Just order the FLAAR Premium
Report Series
on Fine Art giclée.
Is
it possible to run the Epson without any RIP?
The
original Epson comes with an EFI Fiery RIP. Is this the best option?
The Epson is a six-color printer, yet most RIP´s can handle
only four colors... how do you solve this dilemma? Be sure to make
sure your RIP can handle all six colors. Lots of information on PostScript
RIP solutions, on this site and on www.wide-format-printers.org
as well as also on www.large-format-printers.org.
The
Epson 7000, as with most Epson printers, can indeed
operate with no RIP. You can print a TIFF file from Photoshop directly.
Three problems, however, first is the slowness. It will take forever
to get from your computer through the driver into the printer (and
then it always takes an Epson a long long time to actually print).
Second, all this will tie up your computer for between one and two
hours if you print at high resolution. If you have a Mac, since
they are not yet multitasking, you can't use your computer the entire
time the printer driver is trying to digest the file.
With
a RIP you send the file to the RIP server and that releases your
computer within a few minutes. After that you can continue your
own work while the RIP (which is housed in a separate computer which
functions as a RIP server) handles the processing of the file and
sending it to the printer already predigested.
What is a
RIP server? The FLAAR Premium
Report Series on RIP´s offers help so you better understand
both the jargon, the hardware, and the software aspects of all this.
Yes
it prints on its own drivers with no RIP, but has few capabilities
and takes too long (if it is a large print such as a panorama, a
mural, or a trade show poster. The RIP is the heart, the brain,
the soul of the printer. Without the RIP the printer is just a simple
machine with lots of innate capabilities but not enough intelligence
to use them. An Epson 7000 or Epson 9000 is a viable option if outfitted
with BEST
RIP (if you especially need color management capabilities) or
outfitted with PosterJet
RIP (especially if you need layout, nesting, tiling, and speed).
How
to we know about RIP or no RIP? We have an Epson 7500 with no RIP
(it also came with no network card). It prints, as it should, with
no RIP, but we are upgrading to BESTColor as soon as possible. As
soon as PosterJet RIP is available for the
Epson 7500 we intend to try that out as well.
Need
help deciding which printer and RIP is best for you?
It's
awkward for a printer manufacturer to recommend which RIP is best.
They just provide a lame list of every RIP that can possibly function
on their printer. But this kind of list can lead to maybe buying
the slowest RIP or one that has about zero features (which actually
is the featured EFI Fiery RIP). Just contact the senior review editor
( Click
here and Dr Nicholas
Hellmuth's staff at the university will do their best to read, and
answer, your e-mail. Please
indicate what kinds of images you intend to print (scanned slides,
digital art, etc.) and what your large format prints will be used
for (to sell as fine art prints, or as signs, posters, banners).
Don't
worry if you are a beginner in all this, or a graphics artistic professional.
But we can be considerably more helpful (and understanding of what
you want to do) if you indicate approximately your level of awareness.
The
RIP which is used for professional color proofing on Epson (and Roland and HP and other printers) Most other RIP´s neglect to warn
you about their lack of 6-color support.
Every day we get tearful complaints from people who bought the a printer from a source incapable of providing support.
Last
checked : Sept. 23, 2003
Previous updates: Jan. 15, 2003, Nov. 15, 2002, Oct. 21, 2002
Large Format Printers 
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