Digital BW, The Print

Joel,

> Given that I would be doing a fair amount of printing (mostly for
> exhibitions), do you think it would be more effective to buy a 
> printer in the lower range 7500/7600 or higher range (9500/9800) 

The size of prints you'll be making is the issue with respect to size of
printer.  The 7xxx and 9xxx printers of the same era are otherwise the same.
I would buy whatever you need to do your work.  

Between the older 7500 and latest 7800, budget is, of course, a major issue.
Each generation gets better, at least in some respects.  I didn't like the
dmax of the 7600, so I need to use a rip with that, but those are now
reasonable in price.  Of course, if you do any color, the 7800 is the one to
get.  The latest K3 printers also are going to allow the best control yet of
print tones.  On the other hand, we've been doing rather well with the older
ones also.  It's debatable whether 99% of the people can see any difference
in quality from the 7500 with good B&W inks and the 7800.

> or have someone else print the work?

I have not worked out the cost comparison you outlined.  Frankly, from my
experience, if you are very close to a top notch service bureau and do
enough volume of work to deal with them easily, then that is a real option.
It never has been for me, however.  Either due to my pickiness or whatever,
even when I was in L.A., the inefficiencies of working with service bureaus
was a major reason I went with inkjet technology and bought the best scanner
I could afford as soon as I could.  It allowed me to move all my production
in-house, and that has been a huge advantage.  Having control of the full
process is just critical to me, but I fully understand that for many that is
not an issue.  

My formula was to get an older printer (e.g., 7500 -- now $580 used on eBay
or $1500 refurbished), MIS inks (bulk ink is about $50 per pint, about the
amount that is in a four $69 Epson 7600 carts), and reasonably priced, top
notch paper (like PremierArt 205 -- 24" x 66' roll for $122; see
http://www.atlex.com/premier/fine-art-205.htm).

At $50 for a pint, per-print ink costs become almost irrelevant.
Additionally, with that much ink, your consistency is better, because ink
batches do vary even for Epson inks.

Paper is the more expensive variable.  The roll paper is probably the way to
go there.  While many prefer thicker paper, once matted there is no
difference that I've been able to tell.  In fact, dealing with the curl of
the paper is easier with the thinner papers (but not a major problem with
300 gsm cotton paper either).

Hope this helps.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com