Re: Epson vs Alps

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John...what inks are you using in the epson 1200 for Black and White?

david l. morel
www.digitalstars.net/portfolio.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: John <jrmsd@ix.netcom.com>
To: <epson-inkjet@leben.com>
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 2:28 AM
Subject: RE: Epson vs Alps


> >Some of reason we selected and Epson 1200 over the MD-5000:
> >
> > -- Epson prints seem to cost less
> > -- Epson 1200 can print larger prints than ALPS MD-5000
> > -- As I understand it (but I might be wrong), you must manually feed the
> >thicker "Photo" paper into the ALPS printers, one sheet at a time, while
the
> >Epson takes several dozen sheets. That was a very important
consideration,
> >as our printer often works unattended (during the night.)
>
> I happen to own an ALPS MD 5000 and 2 Epson 1200's, one for color and the
> other for black and white. There are advantages to both machines and
> depending on your needs, one is better than the other.
>
> The Alps is great for text which is super sharp and far better than
anything
> an inkjet will ever do, especially on plain paper.
>
> In fact, most printing with the Alps on plain paper is far superior to the
> Epson. I've made several plain paper portfolios that are bound and sent to
> clients that look like they've been four-color offset printed. I use a
> non-coated 100lb cover stock that I can buy 500 sheets for $10 (have you
> ever seen any inkjet paper for that price?) and print on both sides. The
> Alps lays down a pre-coating that allows you to print on any smooth
surfaced
> paper with excellent results. It also allows you to lay down a gloss which
> is great for color images on non-coated surfaces.
>
> The Alps does not band much. In fact, it bands less than the Epson on all
> but the high gloss film. What it does do is leave marks where the ribbon
> passes and doesn't line up with the pass below. These marks are prominent
in
> heavy red and sometimes blue areas, but is completely invisible in black
and
> white or duotone printing (4 color black and white that is) and in the
> majority of color images.
>
> I've used the Alps for proofing four color work and the results have been
> spot on. (This without the postscript option.) My testing here hasn't been
> very scientific so treat this bit of info accordingly.
>
> The Alps does not have bizarre color shifts (unlike the Espon in 6 color
> greyscale) and in dye sub mode is far more archival than the Epson. Dye
sub
> mode is much higher resolution than the Epson, in fact, you can't discern
> any grain or dot even with an 8x loupe. One more thing, you can print with
> metallic inks and even white on black paper which actually can be quite
> useful.
>
> Having said that, when it comes to printing the highest quality color
images
> (and black and white with the proper inkset), i turn to my Epsons. The
> striping is a problem and the Alps seems to pick up a little more contrast
> even if the colors are a little more punchy. My current portfolios are all
> printed using the Epson. Also the maximum size of the Alps is more like
> 7.5x9.5 than 8.5x11 which in any event pales to the 13x19 inch output of
the
> Epson 1200. You can also do more of the non-OEM stuff which is the source
of
> many posts on this list (black inksets, alternative papers etc.).
>
> If i had to choose one printer, i'd go with the Epson, but i'm glad i have
> both.
>
> John
>
>
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