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screen printing => General Screen Printing => Topic started by: jvieira on June 19, 2016, 04:41:55 PM

Title: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on June 19, 2016, 04:41:55 PM
What do you guys use to print film positives? We're running an Epson 4900 but it's crap, the heads keep clogging and we're just about done with it. It's our most frustrating piece of equipment right now.

We're not large enough to buy into CTS and I know there's other options out there (Techstyler, etc). What are you running and are you happy with it?
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: ol man on June 19, 2016, 05:27:23 PM
The 4900 is the worst equipment purchase i ever made,,, however we just replaced it with the t3270, so far i very impressed -
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jsheridan on June 19, 2016, 06:14:51 PM
the 4880 with refill carts is the goto printer for film

If you run accurip you can pick and choose what print head to use if the main black head is a little off.

Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: mimosatexas on June 19, 2016, 07:28:10 PM
I have been absolutely loving my 4800 since getting it setup with the refill carts and accuink.
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on June 19, 2016, 07:51:10 PM
Epson 4880 has been discontinued, i can no longer buy it new :/ I'm not a fan of buying used, really don't need other people's problem
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jsheridan on June 19, 2016, 08:37:47 PM
Epson 4880 has been discontinued, i can no longer buy it new :/ I'm not a fan of buying used, really don't need other people's problem

buy new.. hah!

it's the workhorse cause you can buy a used one for a couple hundred bucks, drop in the refill carts and off you go. When it kicks the bucket you just buy another used cheap one.. and now you have a parts machine and can start swapping heads and whatnot.

I spent 200 bucks on my 4800 and it ran film for a year problem free before giving it to a friend who still uses it 2ish years later
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: Rockers on June 19, 2016, 10:46:34 PM
the 4880 with refill carts is the goto printer for film

If you run accurip you can pick and choose what print head to use if the main black head is a little off.
Word on that is though that from 2020 Epson will stop making spare parts for the 4880.
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jsheridan on June 20, 2016, 12:22:45 AM
the 4880 with refill carts is the goto printer for film

If you run accurip you can pick and choose what print head to use if the main black head is a little off.
Word on that is though that from 2020 Epson will stop making spare parts for the 4880.

the market is still flooded with used ones so that won't be a problem
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: Sbrem on June 20, 2016, 08:34:06 AM
hell, we run a 3800 with AccuRip, one head only, we're on the third channel now. Got it for $350.00 2 years ago, after our 4800 pooped out. We are considering the P800 from Epson, as we don't see DTS in our immediate future... and always buy used if you can, it's not always that somebody's having a problem as the reason that they are selling it...

Steve
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: mimosatexas on June 20, 2016, 09:49:21 AM
My 4800 was $100 because all 8 heads were clogged.  Took 2 power cleans with refill tanks full of cleaning fluid and one overnight sitting with windex under the head and it is printing like new.
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jsheridan on June 20, 2016, 11:28:57 AM
and always buy used if you can, it's not always that somebody's having a problem as the reason that they are selling it...


That and the second you put a refillable cart with Dye or pigment ink that isnt xxx manufacturer brand into a new printer you just voided the warranty anywho
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: mk162 on June 20, 2016, 02:16:12 PM
Quote
That and the second you put a refillable cart with Dye or pigment ink that isnt xxx manufacturer brand into a new printer you just voided the warranty anywho

the courts have ruled against that. although I think that it should.  also, you drain the printer before sending it in anyway...
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: Sbrem on June 20, 2016, 04:05:05 PM
and always buy used if you can, it's not always that somebody's having a problem as the reason that they are selling it...


That and the second you put a refillable cart with Dye or pigment ink that isnt xxx manufacturer brand into a new printer you just voided the warranty anywho

considering the models we're talking about, I'm not sure they are going to find a new one anywhere. But yes, it a warranty void issue, but when the printer was a 1400, it was OK, we went through 4 of them. The new ones that Epson has teamed with AccuRIP on use the epson ink...

Steve
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: Maxie on June 21, 2016, 01:19:12 PM
I've been using Epson 4000's for a few years, we now have a 4880.       It does the job well but Epson do everything to make our lives difficult.
If I remember correctly you are in Portugal, in Europe the Epson printers cost four times what they cost in the USA.     Why?   Epson say they have a different pricing structure in Europe.
I bought mine in the USA from B&H in NY.    They had the best price but will not sell to you and ship outside the USA.    Some agreement with Epson, you need to pay in the USA and have it shipped to a USA address, could be your shipper and then ship it Portugal.
I also buy the refillable cartridges, black UV dye and rolls of water proof film in the USA and ship it to Israel.     I'd get two sets of cartridge chips and don't forget a re setter for the cartridges and waste tank.
If I have to get a new printer I'd get the 24" Epson, they have a T series, starting at 24".    The T3270.
They sell in with Accurip but check if you can use it with bulk cartridges.     I use Accurip on my 4880 and it works very well.
The T 3270 24" costs $2295 from B&H with a $500 rebate.
Personally I'm looking forward to going to CTS and now having to deal with Epson but I must say that if you look after them they work well.
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on June 24, 2016, 12:45:55 PM
I've been using Epson 4000's for a few years, we now have a 4880.       It does the job well but Epson do everything to make our lives difficult.
If I remember correctly you are in Portugal, in Europe the Epson printers cost four times what they cost in the USA.     Why?   Epson say they have a different pricing structure in Europe.
I bought mine in the USA from B&H in NY.    They had the best price but will not sell to you and ship outside the USA.    Some agreement with Epson, you need to pay in the USA and have it shipped to a USA address, could be your shipper and then ship it Portugal.
I also buy the refillable cartridges, black UV dye and rolls of water proof film in the USA and ship it to Israel.     I'd get two sets of cartridge chips and don't forget a re setter for the cartridges and waste tank.
If I have to get a new printer I'd get the 24" Epson, they have a T series, starting at 24".    The T3270.
They sell in with Accurip but check if you can use it with bulk cartridges.     I use Accurip on my 4880 and it works very well.
The T 3270 24" costs $2295 from B&H with a $500 rebate.
Personally I'm looking forward to going to CTS and now having to deal with Epson but I must say that if you look after them they work well.


That is exactly right. My 4900 cost around $3000 new (and I searched everywhere, it was the best price I found). I was looking at used 4880 and only found one for almot $900. Whenever I see guys from the US saying they bought used ones for $100 it just makes me angry.

Also looking forward for CTS but cannot justify the cost just yet. Maybe when they go down to $15.000
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jsheridan on June 24, 2016, 02:43:36 PM
I just did a quick search using the Search Tempest that searches ALL of craigslist and ebay and even amazon

just found a $300 4880 in pheonix and that was my first result..have pages and pages of them.

http://www.searchtempest.com/ (http://www.searchtempest.com/)
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on June 24, 2016, 04:51:39 PM
I'm in Europe, Craigslist wouldn't be helpful at all
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jsheridan on June 24, 2016, 05:05:34 PM
I'm in Europe, Craigslist wouldn't be helpful at all

Sorry bro, never caught that part. Now I get why you're having a hard time..

Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on July 26, 2016, 06:06:23 PM
That's it. We're DONE with Epson! After printing all day long yesterday, NO INK is coming out today. None! The heads move but nothing is coming out.

I'm looking into an Exile TechStyler, super tired of ink and clogs. No ink, no problem
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: cbjamel on July 26, 2016, 07:09:36 PM
Epson T3270 I have had i clog in 7 months, turn it off ever night.
My thoughts.
Shane
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: Frog on July 26, 2016, 07:40:30 PM
That's it. We're DONE with Epson! After printing all day long yesterday, NO INK is coming out today. None! The heads move but nothing is coming out.

I'm looking into an Exile TechStyler, super tired of ink and clogs. No ink, no problem

There are tricks to minimize these Epson clog issues, from leaving moist paper towels in the machine near the heads to running cleaning solution.
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on July 26, 2016, 08:39:43 PM
Epson T3270 I have had i clog in 7 months, turn it off ever night.
My thoughts.
Shane


Apparently this machine is not for sale in Portugal.
We do have the T3200 (http://www.epson.pt/products/printers/large-format-printers/surecolor-sc-t3200-wo-stand (http://www.epson.pt/products/printers/large-format-printers/surecolor-sc-t3200-wo-stand)), I am supposing it's the same machine?
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: cbjamel on July 26, 2016, 09:08:51 PM
Look like it, you do want stand though big machine compared to 4900/4800 prints up to 24" i use cadlinks rip xl.

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Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: cbjamel on July 26, 2016, 09:10:00 PM
I also use bryans at filmdirectonline.com ink in 2 carts, other 3 cleaning solution.

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Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: jvieira on July 27, 2016, 05:37:31 PM
Look like it, you do want stand though big machine compared to 4900/4800 prints up to 24" i use cadlinks rip xl.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

lol. big machine is an understatement. Went to pick it up and daaaaamn, that thing's big! I thought it would fit in my small Audi A3 and hell no, it barely got in a station wagon. I really do need to buy the stand, not sure it fits the space we had set up for it.

Also, crazy it's cheaper than a 4900!
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: cbjamel on July 27, 2016, 05:46:04 PM
Really? Wow.

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Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: Maxie on July 29, 2016, 06:32:31 AM
T3200
Why don't they sell this machine in the USA?
I like the fact that it has 5 colors, you can run CYMK and UV blocking for film.
Accurip will let you choose which black to use and the other can be for paper or sublimation.
Title: Re: Printing positives
Post by: cbjamel on July 29, 2016, 08:48:36 AM
They do t3270 but to get dark black film 2 carts recommended.

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