Should I take this offer?
Dec 2, 2013 08:31:56 #
My friend has an Epson 3800 (I think that's the right model number) that prints 16x. She says it has never printed correctly - that the colors are all wrong. Her offer to me is to take it (for free) and if I can get it to work, she'll come print her stuff on it at my house.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
Dec 2, 2013 08:34:41 #
What is the color issue exactly??? Printing too dark? Has she ever calibrated her monitor to the printer?
Not enough info to make any GOOD suggestions, but the 3800 series (3880?) are very good printers, pricey ink though.
Not enough info to make any GOOD suggestions, but the 3800 series (3880?) are very good printers, pricey ink though.
Dec 2, 2013 08:42:32 #
Has she also used the ICC profiles for the paper she uses and does she let the Software control the color?
I have a 3880 and while as MT said the ink is pricey it is a great printer. My monitors are color calibrated, i use LR soft profile, ICC in the computer for the paper I use, and LR controls the color
Try the printer out and after calibrating everything see what the prints look like
I have a 3880 and while as MT said the ink is pricey it is a great printer. My monitors are color calibrated, i use LR soft profile, ICC in the computer for the paper I use, and LR controls the color
Try the printer out and after calibrating everything see what the prints look like
Dec 2, 2013 08:45:36 #
Not only are you inheriting a problem, you are going to have a client who expects their product for free, or at best, a considerable cut rate. Didn't yer Daddy ever tell you "If it's FREE you ain't reading the fine print!!!"
Dec 2, 2013 08:52:55 #
AzPicLady wrote:
... She says it has never printed correctly - that the colors are all wrong. ....
It is unlikely that an Epson printer would not work well out of the box. I may not be the printer.
She may be incorrectly identifying the type of paper on which she is printing.
Try printing from a different computer. If that works then she may need to re-install the printer driver on her computer and reset her photo software to remove any unnecessary profiles and settings before attempting to mess with the profiles and settings - they may be unnecessary.
Dec 2, 2013 08:56:29 #
AzPicLady wrote:
My friend has an Epson 3800 (I think that's the right model number) that prints 16x. She says it has never printed correctly - that the colors are all wrong. Her offer to me is to take it (for free) and if I can get it to work, she'll come print her stuff on it at my house.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
If she wants to give you her "broken" printer, that's one thing. Coming to your house to print - after you've repaired it - is quite another. That can be a real hassle. That's worse than asking you to repair it for free. I like my privacy and peace and quiet.
Dec 2, 2013 09:00:28 #
AzPicLady wrote:
My friend has an Epson 3800 (I think that's the right model number) that prints 16x. She says it has never printed correctly - that the colors are all wrong. Her offer to me is to take it (for free) and if I can get it to work, she'll come print her stuff on it at my house.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
That's like my car won't run right so I'll give it to you and see if you can fix it and if so I'll come over and borrow the car anytime I want .
Dec 2, 2013 09:00:32 #
Yes, I like my privacy also. However, I happen to know that she's not very prolific. What I do know about her is that she prints everything about 20 times before she has it "right." So it might be using a lot of ink for her. Hummmmm.
I don't know exactly the type of color issues she's had. I asked to see some of the prints and I haven't done that yet. I'm going to her house either today or tomorrow to have a look-see.
I don't know exactly the type of color issues she's had. I asked to see some of the prints and I haven't done that yet. I'm going to her house either today or tomorrow to have a look-see.
Dec 2, 2013 09:08:46 #
dooragdragon wrote:
That's like my car won't run right so I'll give it to you and see if you can fix it and if so I'll come over and borrow the car anytime I want .
...or have you drive me places. :D
Dec 2, 2013 09:20:24 #
AzPicLady wrote:
My friend has an Epson 3800 (I think that's the right model number) that prints 16x. She says it has never printed correctly - that the colors are all wrong. Her offer to me is to take it (for free) and if I can get it to work, she'll come print her stuff on it at my house.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
I'm wondering if I'm just inheriting a problem that will prove too frustrating. I'll have to find a place for it, probably buy extension cords to plug it to my computer, maybe purchase ink (lots of $$$$), etc.
Bad deal!!! The printer is not free if you have to buy the ink. Offer her a few dollars for it if she really wants to get rid of it.
Dec 2, 2013 09:35:12 #
"What is the color issue exactly??? Printing too dark? Has she ever calibrated her monitor to the printer?
Not enough info to make any GOOD suggestions, but the 3800 series (3880?) are very good printers, pricey ink though."
And that is the issue: you haven't identified the exact problem. I have used the 3800 and own the 3880. Except for the blocked heads which were easily taken care of, there has never been a problem with the printers - only the carelessness of the operator.
Calibration of the monitor seems to always be the first concern. There are those who do not use the paper profile for the printer. The biggest problem I often see is when an image is processed in one color space and then printed in another. My personal problem was processing in a wider gamut and then printing in sRGB - prints always came out too dark and the colors were a bit dull.
All the above are easy corrections.
Unless you think the woman to be a problem, take the printer. A free printer is not worth a friendship.
Not enough info to make any GOOD suggestions, but the 3800 series (3880?) are very good printers, pricey ink though."
And that is the issue: you haven't identified the exact problem. I have used the 3800 and own the 3880. Except for the blocked heads which were easily taken care of, there has never been a problem with the printers - only the carelessness of the operator.
Calibration of the monitor seems to always be the first concern. There are those who do not use the paper profile for the printer. The biggest problem I often see is when an image is processed in one color space and then printed in another. My personal problem was processing in a wider gamut and then printing in sRGB - prints always came out too dark and the colors were a bit dull.
All the above are easy corrections.
Unless you think the woman to be a problem, take the printer. A free printer is not worth a friendship.
Dec 2, 2013 09:44:56 #
I have a 3800 and unless it is calibrated to your monitor you will need to go thru a lot of paper to get it right. I have never calibrated to my monitor though my monitor is calibrated, I never wanted to spend the money on the equipment. I always let photoshop control the color issues not the printer and use the paper profiles suggested by the paper manufacturer. First adjust the density of the print-I have to increase the brightness of the print by about 50%--this can be done in the print dialogue or if you have LR it can be done there as well--then work on the color. I always print small 4x6 samples to do this. It does take a while but once you get the feel of your printer you can get very accurate. The ink only seems expensive because you have to buy such large cartridges however it is much much cheaper than the non-professional printer inks. And you can print each cartridge down to the last drop which you can't do with regular consumer printers.
I used to belong to a camera club which only accepted prints for its critique sessions and competitions and have always done it this way.
If you want to accept her conditions for the printer just realize without a matching calibrations you will be spending quite a bit of time with her and you will need to do the work. It would be better to teach her how to use the printer and in exchange you go to her house to print.
The monitor and printer calibration from ColorMunki is about $400.00 at B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=colormunki+photo&N=0&InitialSearch=yes if you want to go that route. Also I pay about $75.00 per cartridge. Also make sure the print head is working properly that none of the heads are clogged beyond the need for simple cleaning. Do test print and look for lines across the print.
good luck this is a great printer and well worth the effort it takes to use it properly.
I used to belong to a camera club which only accepted prints for its critique sessions and competitions and have always done it this way.
If you want to accept her conditions for the printer just realize without a matching calibrations you will be spending quite a bit of time with her and you will need to do the work. It would be better to teach her how to use the printer and in exchange you go to her house to print.
The monitor and printer calibration from ColorMunki is about $400.00 at B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=colormunki+photo&N=0&InitialSearch=yes if you want to go that route. Also I pay about $75.00 per cartridge. Also make sure the print head is working properly that none of the heads are clogged beyond the need for simple cleaning. Do test print and look for lines across the print.
good luck this is a great printer and well worth the effort it takes to use it properly.
Dec 2, 2013 19:03:03 #
I went to look at the printer today and looked at the prints she had from it. LOTS of horizontal white lines (about every 1/4 inch) and bad registration on the colors. I decided what I'd rather do is get it working on her computer, so we worked on that for a couple of hours with no success. The computer "sees" the printer, but when we tell something to print, it doesn't. When we printed a test page from the printer's own menu we got a blank sheet. More work and more study! Thanks, everyone!
Dec 2, 2013 19:09:39 #
Dec 2, 2013 19:40:28 #
jpintn wrote:
Bad deal!!! The printer is not free if you have to buy the ink. Offer her a few dollars for it if she really wants to get rid of it.
Not sure I follow. Free or not she still has to buy ink. So isn't free better than not free?
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