-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Re: Wide format printers
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 15:12:52 +0100
From: Fleet, Christopher <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship <[log in to unmask]>
Becky,
Another factor that might be relevant is the longevity of your prints.
We acquired an HP Designjet 500PS about 8 years ago, which gave
excellent quality prints up to 42" wide, and was easy to maintain.
However, their water-based inks faded rapidly, especially if the prints
were put on the wall even in a low-light area, and faded to nothing in a
matter of months if placed outside.
Four years ago we acquired an Epson Stylus Pro 9800, with solvent-based
inks, that have excellent color-fastness - we have not detected fading,
even when prints are displayed in an exterior environment. The Epson
also produced better quality for large blocks of colour. The word on the
street is that the Epson printers are harder to maintain, and work best
if in regular use, and the inks are more expensive, but we have been
happy with ours.
I know HP have upgraded their ink longevity with pigment-based inks in
recent years, but there still are wide variations in printout longevity
between ink types and printers that may be relevant to you.
Chris
Chris Fleet
Senior Map Curator
National Library of Scotland
159 Causewayside
EDINBURGH
EH9 1PH
United Kingdom.
Tel. 0131 623 3973
Fax. 0131 623 3971
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
View maps website: http://maps.nls.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope, American
Geographical Society Library, UW Milwaukee
Sent: 07 September 2011 21:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Wide format printers
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Wide format printers
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 19:31:03 +0000
From: Mark Jackson <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
<[log in to unmask]>
Becky,
When you say wide format, how wide? A 24" would certainly handle
airphotos and standard USGS 1:24,000 topos. Over the years we have gone
with HP Designjet series most often, with an occasional experiment with
Epson equipment. Early designjets were terrible if you didn't use them
all the time. Let it sit and the print heads clogged up, so when you go
looking make sure you get one that matches your expected workload. The
Epson's we have had were more for photographic type output and got
limited use and they worked well for that. The HPs worked best when you
kept them working, but were inferior in terms of image reproduction.
Currently we have a 60" HP 5500PS which replaced a 42" HP 5000PS and we
have been very happy with both of them. Quite honestly I think the
biggest factor in purchasing is what sort of support you have locally.
For a long time we had no local HP designjet dealer and when things went
wrong it was a HUGE task to get it right again. Now we have a local HP
dealer who has loaner plotters that they will bring out if they can't
repair something onsite (hasn't happened to us yet - no problems at all
yet). That said, our Exhibits folks have a 64" Epson Stylus Pro 11880
that they love. I have no idea who supports it. I know our County public
works department bought a fancy scanner/plotter setup several years ago
and they had no end of problems with it. I don't recall the model, but
it came down to service. So - there's my 2 cents. All the HPs and
Epson's I've been around for the past 5 - 6 years have worked fabulously
as long as we had the right paper and ink and gave them enough work to
do. I know our local HP shop has been hitting me up with some very good
deals right now.
Best of luck
--
Dr. Mark Jackson
Brigham Young University
Geography, Geology, Civil Engineering, & Technology Librarian
2420 HBLL
Provo UT 84602
801.422.9753
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
On Sep 7, 2011, at 12:45 PM, Angie Cope, American Geographical Society
Library, UW
Milwaukee wrote:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Wide format printers
> Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 13:37:49 -0500
> From: Lowery, Rebecca <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
> We are considering purchasing a wide format printer and could use any
> suggestions or recommendations any of you might have. We are using it
in
> the Maps section for those who want to print out aerial photos or topo
> maps.
>
> Feel free to contact me directly if you prefer.
>
> Becky Lowery
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