New Printer
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- gramme
Noob-style question. Got this shiny new Epson printer today, and
a) text doesn't look to crisp
b) images look lo-res.
I'm printing hi-res stuff from InDesign, with settings that have worked fine on other printers. The resolution is supposed to be 5760 x 1440 dpi. What gives? Thanks!!
- BuddhaHat0
If they're the first couple of pages off a brand new printer, perhaps it needs some 'breaking in'.
Also, if there is specific calibration software for the printer, run that a couple of times, and maybe flush the print heads?
- gramme0
tried all that, images look better but the type ain't crisp. Seems to be gaining quite a bit. I tried printing on my letterhead (Mohawk Navajo), maybe it doesn't like the paper so much? Regular el cheapo paper looks even worse. I don't really like Epson papers...
Should I have gotten something besides an inkjet? For the dough I forked out, you'd think this thing would be nearly as crisp as offset...
- NegativeSpace0
Print out a circle from illustrator/indesign, are the edges sort of choppy?
I think its just shitty epson quality to be honest if that is indeed the case. Same thing happened to my friend, he bought a letter sized 6 colour epson to do small prints for meetings and proofs and stuff, and the quality was horrible, even after the person at the store recommended it (same thing as you, good photos, bad text and line qual). He called epson and they told him it was because he didn't buy a post script printer (which you really don't find in consumer end ink jets). Anyways I think that was a bunch of bullshit on their part seeing as the line quality on my 6 colour canon inkjet is great and its not postscript.
However, never expect text from any inkjet at small sizes to be as crisp as a laser print.
- gramme0
:/
great. REALLY fricking great.
- gramme0
the images appear crisp when I make a PDF,
I got the text to look sharper all-around,
but the images look like 72 DPI when printed from InDesign. I checked the links, they're there and fully functioning 300 dpi cmyk images.
AAARRRGGGHH
'pro quality' my ass!!!
- gramme0
the images appear crisp when I make a PDF,
*print from a PDF
- NegativeSpace0
Hmm that sucks, I wonder if you can return it and exchange it for another one. Shouldn't be a problem if youi bought it from one of the bigger stores. If the results are anything like the stuff I witnessed I think you have every reason to!
- gramme0
Hmm that sucks, I wonder if you can return it and exchange it for another one. Shouldn't be a problem if youi bought it from one of the bigger stores. If the results are anything like the stuff I witnessed I think you have every reason to!
NegativeSpace
(Jan 19 06, 19:53)Any suggestions on something better if I can do a trade-in? I almost bought an R1800, but don't really need poster size prints right now, so I went with the R320, which supposedly has the same resolution, just not archival inks or wide format...
- Soler0
All inkjet printers will spread - text is the worst.
especially if you don't use the high quality ink jet paper.
Laser printers are better for crispness but are bad at large areas of color- ink jet are better for large areas but the crsipness is terrible.
Take your pick. I prefer laser. with a large format-inkjet on the side, ideally.
- Soler0
I'm waiting until I can fork out the dough for a 13x19" size laser printer.
- dr_strangelove0
dude what kind of paper are you printing on?
- gramme0
dude what kind of paper are you printing on?
dr_strangelove
(Jan 19 06, 20:15)first tried printing a letter on my letterhead (Mohawk navajo, the world's smoothest uncoated sheet), then Epson Matte photo paper
- NegativeSpace0
We tried printing on high qual kodak paper, and epson paper, and it wasnt a problem with the ink spread on the paper, but rather very ugly and clunk/choppy output of vectors and text.
I had a Canon i960 before i moved up to an i9900, it was about same price range as the 6 colour epson he got, I cant remember the model of printer the epson was though.
- gramme0
I'm thinking I need to invest in a decent laserjet. Inkjets are obviously sloppy.
just saw the Epson R1900. Pantone approved color...wish I had $1600 to burn
sidebar, I really hate this whole 'jet' nomenclature. I think that word needs to be burned at the stake.
- BuddhaHat0
As Dr Evil would say, 'get a frickin' lazer'...
Seriously though, HP colour lasers are expensive, but they've been great in our office so far... sometimes colour images in pdf files come out all funky colours of the rainbow, but generally it's pretty good...
- NegativeSpace0
Obv. I don't hit the same sort of percision with text size type off my inkjet, but overall I am super happy with my canon. Perhaps some of the epson models are just not up to par.
- gramme0
Well at least I got the text looking less shitfaced. Apparently 'pro quality image reproduction' is a very relative term.
Thanks for the help guys. Hopefully I can find something better tomorrow.
- BuddhaHat0
don't buy lexmark!!
And don't buy hp unless you want to support the monster... apparently hp ink costs more per ml than Dom Perignon... bastards...
- gramme0
*pours expensive champagne into printer
*takes it back: "This thing doesn't do the trick, dunno why...."
- jamble0
I bought an R220 photo printer and had the same problem and was very close to *fixing* it with a hammer. Turns out it was the shitty Epson paper I got with it. I used some Canon paper and the difference in results is amazing. Now I've put my fixing hammer away because the results are really good.