Digital BW, The Print

I just posted this to the Piezography3000 list, and thought that I
might better post it here too. If you read both lists, I appologize.
I'm just hoping that more eyes will equal more suggestions.

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I would like to make large Piezography prints, bigger than I can on an
Epson 7xxx. For example, 36x40 inches. Easily done on an Epson 9xxx.

Back in August of this year, I spend many a happy hour trying to find
a service bureau to print large prints for me. I found only a few
companies that did Piezography, and none of them had Epson printers
wider than 24 inches.

I asked at Cone Editions, and they said they didn't want to do that
kind of low volume work. I looked at West Cost Imaging, but their web
site only quotes up to 24" sizes (looks like a 7xxx to me). I also
asked Cone Editions for service bureaus providing Piezography, but
they couldn't point me to any (I suspect they were preoccupied with
the coming storm). There was a rumor of one in Atlanta, but I couldn't
find it if it's there. Well, it's a new process, a lack of printers is
not unexpected.

So, I gave up on service bureaus and started me down the (now
slippery) slope of just buying my own 9xxx. I thought at first to try
to find a used one. There are very few. Then I found that the print
heads wear out, so what you really want is a "factory refurbished"
unit. Very few, and a factory refurb. 9500 costs the same as a new
9600, so disappointingly expensive for a used, discontinued printer.

Then the Piezography driver whirlwind occurred, and now that the dust
has settled, the new driver is IP 5.0, which has a large price premium
to work with an Epson 9xxx.

The total for a refurb. 9500 and IP 5.0 is about $7.5K plus or minus.
This, sadly, is out of my reach. 

Nigel Rheam suggested on another thread that I look for service
bureaus with 9xxxs. Since this Fine Print market moves pretty rapidly,
it may be that there are some companies out there now that offer this
service. I just did a brief internet search this morning and found
nothing, again. But that doesn't mean they aren't out there,
somewhere. So:

Can anyone point me to a service bureau that prints with an Epson
9xxx, using selenium Piezotones, using the Cone approved ImagePrint
5.0, on Photorag? USA would be simpler since I'm in the USA, but I
won't rule out an overseas dealer. Anyone?

I have used Infinite Editions out of Golden, CO
<http://infinite-editions.com/> with excellent results. They have 3 9000's
each with a different inkset. I have used the selenium Piezotone, they also
use the original inks, and one other set. They have recently gone national
with their marketing, I used them while they were a local shop.

Allyen

On 10/12/02 12:40 PM, "hogarth1x" <hogarth@...> wrote:


> 
> I would like to make large Piezography prints, bigger than I can on an
> Epson 7xxx. For example, 36x40 inches. Easily done on an Epson 9xxx.
> 
> 
> Can anyone point me to a service bureau that prints with an Epson
> 9xxx, using selenium Piezotones, using the Cone approved ImagePrint
> 5.0, on Photorag? USA would be simpler since I'm in the USA, but I
> won't rule out an overseas dealer. Anyone?
> 
> 
> 
>