1. Agfa Copyjet/SelectJet is best, although others are cheaper.
2. Use Epson ink, (even though others are cheaper).
3. I like the Stylus Pro 4450.
4. Depends what printing you're doing - halftones etc.

 

I dont mean to highjack this thread but i have a few question.

1- Why do you have to print on special film paper? Why doesnt regular transparency paper from your local 'office supply' store work?

2- I understand what RIP software is used for.. does it print a more 'rich' black by using like 100%K and 60% Cyan so the light doesn't penetrate when exposing? Does it print it slower and more accurate? Why couldnt i just set my printer settings to print on a Photo Quality on High Gloss Paper?

 

1. Agfa is better - it dries almost immediately so the pin wheels exiting the printer don't mar the print. It has dot gain properties that fill in the gaps between passes.
2. The RIP can print 100% black, not a CMYK black so you use less ink.
It allows independent control of resolution, passes and dot volume.
You can scale, rotate, crop, tile, nest etc.
You can do halftones & trapping.
It gives better films

The inks are full of uv block so don't allow uv light through although you can see through them.

 

In Response to your answers
1- Thanks, that makes sense.

2- setting my colors to 100%K and any other colors is something i like to do in photoshop. Does the RIP software do halftones better than photoshop? All the things you mentioned are things one can control in photoshop. are they better or do you have more control over the output in RIP software?

 

Photoshop Black >>>ICC Profile>>>i.e. C=80, M=80, Y=80, K=60 or some such formula, called 'rich black' coz it makes the ink manufacturers rich
This is what most photo setting will use, plain paper settings might use K=K.
A RIP will have a mono setting that is designed for possies.
One is designed for photos, the other for possies, therefore one works better.

 

OK I'm clear. If I'm doing halftones, what RIP software would you reccomend?
Thx
P4F

 

Depends on the printer, we do Wasatch but that's very expensive for smaller printers, starts at A2 really.
Ghostscript is basic but functional, CADLink do a reasonable job, sold as FastRIP & others.

 

Thanks I will check them out. I'm looking up the Epson 4450 you mentioned, but it seems that the model is european only, what would be the american equivalent?

 

It's the same but they misspell it
Not sure to be honest, ask Dan Barefoot at Graphics One, he should know - Graphics One

 

ahh touchè. That makes complete sense with the whole icc profile printing the rich blacks on photo paper. I guess i need to figure out if its worth it to buy the RIP software which is expensive of just pay the extra money on ink.

ill check out some other printing profiles. Thanks dave.