A customer having purchased already two Epson 2400's is asking for advice:
This article is about:
Question and (short) Answer
Introduction
Our recommendation in short
PART 1: Our recommendation in detail
PART 2: Further details are on this page
The question:
You asked me for helping you to get the best possible colour gamut, using your Epson 2400 whilst you also like to print of Matt and Fine Art papers
Answer:
You actually ask for a lot of answers, unfortunately it is not possible to answer your question with just a few lines of text. You can find all this information is on our website, however it was a good exercise for us to make a complete summary / overview in just one email!
Introduction:
The only thing we can do is finding the best possible solutions for you, available with the present technology.
In the past we have been able to match the colour vibrancy of Ilford Cibachrome prints made from Color slides using Lyson Fotonic (Dye-based) inks with Ilford gallery Classic on an Epson 7500! We were able to compare the results very well, because we used the same images (from Stephen Dalton, one of our customers) printed on Cibachrome or scanned with the famous Imacon Flextight Scanners and then Printed on the Epson 7500.
The Ilford Cibachrome System was known best for the highest possible Colour Gamut with the old fashioned wet darkroom print technology and it's longevity! No other system could out-perform it! And we have been able to match that with the Digital Inkjet Technology.
In fact, you were using this technology with your Epson 1290!
The very latest Epson / Canon and HP printers moved over to using Pigment inks for achieving a much better longevity compared with the use of Dyebased-Inks. The closest match in Colour Gamut and vibrancy using these pigment inks compared with the use of dye-inks is achieved by using Semi Gloss / Gloss and Fine Art Photographic papers and NOT matt or Fine Art Papers! Fine Art / Matt papers are NOT used for getting the highest possible Colour Gamut. They are used because of their 'look and feel' They are used, because they give a far more 'Fine Art' feeling to the image.
Our recommendation:
In short: Our recommendation is to buy Lyson CIS systems for both Epson 2400: One CIS for Matt Black and the other one for Photo Black.
For a more detailed overview, please find all information UNDER PART 2.
PART 1 Our recommendations:
Ink:
Lyson CIS Epson R2400 8 PhotoChrome 125ml Bottles PK (Photo Black Configuration
Lyson CIS Epson R2400 8 PhotoChrome 125ml Bottles MK (Matt Black Configuration)
You can also buy the starter package, which looks cheaper, but is not, you get half the amount of ink (60ml per colour channel instead of 125 ml) and a 9 channel CIS, which you don't need.
Paper:
One of the best Fine Art papers on the market are the Hahnemuhle papers:
So called Fine Art Photographic papers are here: The closest match with the old fashioned traditional wet darkroom semi gloss / gloss fibre based papers is this one:
A Fine Art paper with a slight sheen on it to get a better colour gamut:
The best Semi Gloss and Gloss papers?
Indeed Ilford Gallery Smooth Gloss and Smooth Pearl are one of the best. (we can supply this paper as well) However, Fuji is having a paper which is for sure just as good or even slightly better. The main difference is: The paper white (base) is whiter than Ilford, Ilford is slightly 'creamy', so for Black&White FujiFilm is definitely better: Black&White 'look' more neutral; even if both are custom profiled.
Test packs: FujiFilm is able to send out for free a swatch book
Permajet is selling test packs
Hahnemuhle: I still need to check
Lyson is selling test packs:
Colour Management:
We can help you to print out the test charts for the generation of ICC Profiles using our remote access support software, which allows you to share your screen with us. See for more information on our Remote access support service here. These are NOT generic Profiles! which usually are given by our competitors! These ICC Profiles are specifically made for YOUR printer.
PART 2:
Further details are on this page
Hope this information helps to make your decision!
Regards, Udo J. Machiels
Atmos Design Online Ltd
Digital Colour Management Services and Professional Printing Solution
12 Hoathly Hill
West Hoathly
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 4SJ United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1342 300 839
email: udo.machiels(at)imaging-expert(dot)co(dot)uk
web: http://www.imaging-expert.co.uk
