Digital BW, The Print

Despite all the hype, my understanding is that out of the box the 4000 will
not eliminate metamerism and color casts when printing B+W output. (that is if and 
when we ever see it on the market)

 While I was considering the combination of a 2200 and ImagePrint (or perhaps QTR 
2.0), I really would prefer the 4000 for printing larger images and for the 8th ink 
capability. Is there any word about whether (and when)
ImagePrint will support the 4000? More important, how expensive will
the licence be for the 4000 compared to the 2200, 5000, or 7600. I hope it is not
as expensive as the 5000 licence. 

Alternatively, what is the story about QTR and the
4000?

Otherwise, any other RIP solutions to help do what EPSON should have
done with this new monster desktop printer.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "lawrencetrek" <ltitle@h...> 
wrote:
> Despite all the hype, my understanding is that out of the box the 4000 will
> not eliminate metamerism and color casts when printing B+W output. (that is if and 
> when we ever see it on the market)
> 
>  While I was considering the combination of a 2200 and ImagePrint (or perhaps 
QTR 
> 2.0), I really would prefer the 4000 for printing larger images and for the 8th ink 
> capability. Is there any word about whether (and when)
> ImagePrint will support the 4000? More important, how expensive will
> the licence be for the 4000 compared to the 2200, 5000, or 7600. I hope it is not
> as expensive as the 5000 licence. 
> 
> Alternatively, what is the story about QTR and the
> 4000?

I'm planning on supporting the Epson 4000 in QuadToneRIP.
Roy

> 
> Otherwise, any other RIP solutions to help do what EPSON should have
> done with this new monster desktop printer.

I've spoken with the folks at IP a few times since the 4000 was 
announced. They will definitely support it.

That said, Epson was very late getting them a printer to work with, 
so they have been working on it for about 6 weeks, I think.

They don't have a release date, but since they think it will be the 
hottest printer ever, it is a priority for sure. 

My own guess on pricing is somewhere between 2200 and 7600...though 
you have to keep in mind that the only real differences in prices 
between those two is the lack of full features in the 2200 version 
and you will have a lot of interest in more features for the 4000.

IP is also working on their version 6 which I don't know much about 
but they are pretty excited about it, too.

cheers,

Tom O'Connell

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "lawrencetrek" 
<ltitle@h...> wrote:
> Despite all the hype, my understanding is that out of the box the 
4000 will
> not eliminate metamerism and color casts when printing B+W output. 
(that is if and 
> when we ever see it on the market)
> 
>  While I was considering the combination of a 2200 and ImagePrint 
(or perhaps QTR 
> 2.0), I really would prefer the 4000 for printing larger images and 
for the 8th ink 
> capability. Is there any word about whether (and when)
> ImagePrint will support the 4000? More important, how expensive will
> the licence be for the 4000 compared to the 2200, 5000, or 7600. I 
hope it is not

> as expensive as the 5000 licence. 
> 
> Alternatively, what is the story about QTR and the
> 4000?
> 
> Otherwise, any other RIP solutions to help do what EPSON should have
> done with this new monster desktop printer.

Hi Lawrence,

I just happened to have talked to ImagePrint about the 4000 last 
week.  I was thinking about purchasing the $495 Lite version for the 
2200, but since I have a 4000 on order, was wondering what it would 
wind up costing to upgrade.  Here is what John at ImagePrint told me:

- The license for the 4000 will be a full version only and will cost 
$895.

- If you buy the 2200 Lite Version for $495 now, they will sell you 
the 4000 License for the difference of $400.

- You will not be able to use both the 4000 and 2200 ImagePrint 
licenses without paying an additional fee (I believe he told me it 
was $150 or $200 - can't remember) to keep the 2200 operational with 
ImagePrint.

Not sure what the maintenance/support costs are.  Perhaps some of 
the ImagePrint users in this group can comment on 
upgrade/maintenance/support costs.  

Tony Bonanno  

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "lawrencetrek"  
capability. Is there any word about whether (and when)
> ImagePrint will support the 4000? More important, how expensive 
will
> the licence be for the 4000 compared to the 2200, 5000, or 7600. I 
hope it is not
> as expensive as the 5000 licence. 
>

Roy,

We again applaud your hard work (esp. the 4% of us using OS X).

Any idea about timelines, as to when QTR may be modified for the EPSON.  I realize 
that availability of these printers may be the major limitation for rewriting the RIP.

Right now it is a moot point, as I understand the earliest we will see these is in March.  
More importantly, I suspect there will be a supply problem similar to the 2200 a year 
or so ago.

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "lawrencetrek" <ltitle@h...> 
wrote:
> Roy,
> 
> We again applaud your hard work (esp. the 4% of us using OS X).
> 
> Any idea about timelines, as to when QTR may be modified for the EPSON.  I realize 
> that availability of these printers may be the major limitation for rewriting the RIP.
> 
> Right now it is a moot point, as I understand the earliest we will see these is in 
March.  
> More importantly, I suspect there will be a supply problem similar to the 2200 a 
year 
> or so ago.

Hi Lawrence,

As you mention, availability of a printer is the major necessity.
All the Epson Pro printers are very similar as far as commands to control
them and I expect the 4000 to fall into the same category. So most of the
driver should be the same.  Tuning parameters for dotsizes and resolution
would be the main need and that requires a printer but not a whole lot of time.

Clearly some of this is speculation and subject to change.

Roy