Re: printer recommendations? also "printer" thread, Vivera inks,agfa CopyJet

[Jean Daubas <jean.daubas@gmail.com>]

Hi Phritz,
...and hi all,

since printer choices are presently discussed on the list.
I could not reply immediately last week to Phritz' question about the use of 
inks for diginegs because i was busy on my exhibition of alt prints at the 
Biennal of Contemporary Art inbesançon (France).
All the prints I exhibited ( cyanotypes, VDB, argyrotypes, Kallitypes and 
gum) had been made using digital negatives printed with VIVERA inks from HP.
It's more than 2 years now that I bought a A3 format HP Pro 9180 using 
Vivera inks, both for diginegs and for "fine art" inkjet prints (B&W / 
color).
The B8550 is the "little sister" of my 9180 with less features and cheaper 
but it uses the same Vivera inks.

The Vivera inks are really excellent both for prints or diginegs and my HP 
9180 gives wonderful results. They have been very praised for their archival 
qualities after being tested by Wilhelm-research institute.
For instance, Vivera inks have a better rating than Epson or Canon inks with 
Canson Infinity papers (see results at
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/canson/WIR_Canson_2009_06_07.pdf
One of the other special features of the HP 9180 is the automatic daily 
maintenance it provides, thus preventing the nozzles clogging which seems to 
be a real pain for plenty of Epson printers users.
I print A3 and A4 colorised diginegs (PDN system) on Agfa Copyjet 
transparent sheets which I buy in France (no Pictorico available in europe 
and also pictorico is too expensive). The Agfa CopyJet / Vivera inks 
marriage is perfect for me.

Hope it helps,
"alternative cheers" from france,
Jean


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "phritz phantom" <phritz-phantom@web.de>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 4:36 PM
Subject: printer recommendations?


......> >
> >
> i'd love to go for a a3 printer now, but right now is not a good time for 
> big investments for me. i could maybe go for the cheapest epson A3, the 
> "r1900", but i'm hesitant to buy the cheapest one of the A3-printers. the 
> "hp photosmart pro b8550" (A3) costs less than 300euro. this would be an 
> option. does some have experience with diginegs and "hp vivera" inks?  the 
> canon "ip9000" series would be equally cheap.
> but all things considered - A3 would have additional costs, like i'd have 
> to build a new exposure unit, finding bigger transparencies...etc -, i 
> think i'll most likely stay with A4 for now and go for a good epson one.
>
> any help from people with more printer knowledge than me would be greatly 
> appreciated. especially how the different inks work for diginegs. for the 
> other things i could check the printer tests, but info on printing 
> transparencies is sparse.
>
> thanks a bunch
> phritz