A3 printer for freelance graphic designer (Epson 1290 EOL). Epson Stylus Photo 1500W?

[JackBean]

Hi I have an Epson 1290 which has started to seriously clog and no amount of cleaning with glass cleaner, warm water, alcohol etc is getting rid of the clogs. I have tried 10+ times now.

So I have decided to buy a new printer. I use the printer mainly for presenting graphic designs to clients and printing holiday photos etc.

Epson 1290 level print quality is good enough for me so it seems Epson Stylus Photo 1500 would be the direct replacement/upgrade for it.

Some questions....

Q1- Epson 1290 had a roll feeder accessory....why does the newer 1500 not have it? Could I be able to adapt it to use on 1500? Is there a limit to the length I could print?

Q2- 1500 uses Clara ink. Can I buy after market cheaper Clara inks? What would I need to make it work? Any recommendation or advice?

Q3- Is there any other make or model you think I should buy instead?

Thank you very much.

 

[JackBean]

No one?

 

[cls]

q1: the 1500w has no roll feed option but you
you can use the normal paperpath and create a custom paper size up to 111cm

additionaly with http://www.printfab.com/en/ printfab (which is some kind a low end RIP software)

which COULD allow you to do that and its FREE still end of 2014 (for beta purposes ) windows version

also http://www.fullbitsoft.net
has great results with his own rip software, downside is , each indiviuall printer requires and individuall license ~800 USD
it enabels the 1500W to print from roll also selective ink configuration instead of CYMK LC LM > CCYMMK (double cyan and magenta) for higher printspeed with loss of total gamut

I have the 1500W its a CRAZY machine, i print with pigmented ink with it

 

[Smile]

Mirage 17" Edition for Epson RIP 296EUR
http://mirage.dinax.de/shop-mirage-epson-new.html

Wutenprint GIPM Print for Windows FREE
http://wutenprint.blogspot.com/

You can also some install Linux distro like Mint and then drive the printer from there.

 

[cls]

wutenprint sounds great but involves a great deal of learning and understanding, if someone has already a functional printing workflow you might have to renew amost every step of it including new icc profiles

 

[Łukasz]

I have troubles downloading Wutenprint from post http://wutenprint.blogspot.com/search/label/Wutenprint download , it is located on google drive.

Download link is redirecting to a new window, but nothing more is going on (empty page with no errors).

Win XP, Fierfox 32.0.3

Ł.

 

[Smile]

I have troubles downloading Wutenprint from post http://wutenprint.blogspot.com/search/label/Wutenprint download , it is located on google drive.

Download link is redirecting to a new window, but nothing more is going on (empty page with no errors).

Win XP, Fierfox 32.0.3

Ł.

It's first beta version or alpha, maybe they taken it down, there are problems reported in original forum thread here:

http://resetters.ru/index.php?showtopic=9230&st=0

 

[JackBean]

Thanks for the replies so far.So the printer seems decent enough.

Any views on cheaper after market inks similar to the default ones that I could buy in Europe?

I have been searching the forum and bit confused about the chipped ink part.

EDIT- Ok so this seems straight forward.
http://www.cityinkexpress.co.uk/ciss/epson/photo-1500w/photo-series/pigment-ink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJEl_dR0FcM

Is that ok ink + system?

 

[cls]

you could buy an l1800 mainboard afterwards and install it if your workmanshop qualites allow that. this would eliminate ANY Chips problems with the 1400/1430/1500W printers

I did the same with the p50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioly7p0eHfc&feature=youtu.be
http://www.ebay.de/itm/121459681101

 

[Apostolos]

Thanks for the replies so far.So the printer seems decent enough.

Any views on cheaper after market inks similar to the default ones that I could buy in Europe?

I have been searching the forum and bit confused about the chipped ink part.

EDIT- Ok so this seems straight forward.
http://www.cityinkexpress.co.uk/ciss/epson/photo-1500w/photo-series/pigment-ink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJEl_dR0FcM

Is that ok ink + system?

I suppose it is ok, but keep in mind something @The Hat has said in another thread about ciss and pigment ink.
http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/which-pigment-ink-for-epson-1500w.9323/page-2#post-76006

The best way according to those who know is a top feed CISS if we are going to use pigment ink.

I'm trying to find a top feed ciss in Europe so that i can order it with pigment ink, but all i can find is bottom feed. Bottom feed is considered very good for dye inks but cloggs easily with pigment inks.

If i find something i 'll write. If any one has any suggestions about top feed ciss in Europe market, please inform us. If i don't find anything, there is always the DIY solution, but i don't want to go there.