🚀 go-pugleaf

"Pete Ulrich" <pmulrich@netnitco.net> wrote in message
news:3c16d02d@news.netnitco.net...
>
> "Andy Mabbett" <andy@pigsonthewing.org.uk> wrote in message
> news:NYn0UsnstoF8EwBN@pigsonthewing.org.uk...
> > Father Christmas is going to bring me a printer (or, rather, cash to
use
> > when buying one).
> >
> > I have managed two years without one on my PC, so, as you can deduce,
> > won't be using it heavily when I do have one.
> >
> > I will mainly be producing b&w text prints; the ability to make the
> > occasional colour print would be a bonus. Photographic quality is not
> > required, but wouldn't be refused.
> >
> > It is important that the printer can handle labels and envelopes.
> >
> > It must have easily available refills; not excessively over-priced.
> >
> > Any suggestions, or tips?
> >
> > Dixons currently have a Lexmark Z13 colour inkjet at half price, GBP
> > 24.99, on their website. It seems to compare well to printers of more
> > than twice that price, in terms of speed and dpi (the latter being
> > 1200x1200).
> >
> > My budget is higher than that, but I can always spend it on something
> > else! How does the Lexmark perform? Is 1200x1200 capable of producing
> > readable and presentable letters?
> >
> > I understand that the Z12 can have either black, or three-colour- ink
> > loaded, but not both at the same time. Is that drawback also true of
the
> > Z13?
> >
> >
> > OTOH, a colleague has recommended a Cannon S400, which has different
> > refills for each colour; that appeals from both a miserly and
> > environmentally- friendly PoV!
> >
> > --
> > Andy Mabbett
>
> I think the Cannon may be the best bet for the reason you state.....4
> separate cartriges.   Most of the others use two...a black and a
tricolor.
> It is very possible to use up all of one color and essentially have to
throw
> the other two colors away.  Printer companies are like Gillette.....give
the
> razors away and make a fortune on the blades.
I'd avoid the Canon, till you have tried it.
It is an excellent printer, _but_ there is something very 'odd' about the
driver. If you take a photographic image, it is important to understand
that for 'top quality' magazine printing, scanning at only about 150DPI is
adequate, and 300DPI excellent. Now printers have much higher DPI figures,
which are useful for text (where it allows sharply defined edges to be
produced), and are used in the photographic prints, by having a 'group' of
several of the dots, combined to generate the large number of different
intensity levels needed for a good picture. So (say) 1200DPI (printer), in
photographic use, only equates to about 200DPI (photographic). Now most
printer drivers understand this, and give really good photographic results
when fed with an image at this sort of resolution. So I can print an
excellent A4 page, from an image that is perhaps 2800*2000 pixels (about
16MB), as a 'minimum', on a Epson photo proofing machine (the StylusPro
7000, or any of their cheaper 'photo' printers). With the Canon, something
is different about the driver. Fed with the same sort of image, the
results are poor. However the results improve massively, if the image is
raised in resolution to perhaps 1000DPI. The only problem with this, is
that a true-colour A4 image, is then over 250MB!. It appears that the
Epson, and HP drivers are both capable of correctly extrapolating the
image to their dot resolution, and using this to develop the patterns
needed, but the Canon has a fault in this area. Obviously having to work
with images this large is a pain...
Personally, if the target is 'photographic', combined with ordinary text
printing, depending on the actual 'quantities' involved, I would consider
some slightly 'unusual' solutions. For example the Olympus Dye Sublimation
printer, produces photographic output, that is unmatched, at a speed that
is great (A4 in about 90 seconds). Combine this with one of the smallest
laser printers for text work, and the running costs for everyday mono
printing, are vastly less than the cheapest inkjet can manage.
HP for my 'money', tend to give slightly oversaturated colours, making
them very good for 'presentation' work, but slighty more difficult to
adjust to give really good 'photo' prints. Epson generally have the best
photographic output from the cheaper printers.

Best Wishes