-------- 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 *********************************************************************** Visit the National Library of Scotland online at www.nls.uk *********************************************************************** Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the Information Systems Helpdesk on +44 131 623 3789 or [log in to unmask] and delete this e-mail. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Library of Scotland. The National Library of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity. Scottish Charity No. SC011086. 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