Inkjet proofing advice-Wide format printer?

[zox]

Hi all!
We have Brisque workflow that is going to be upgraded soon to version 5.
We are running Kodak Aproval for high-end proofs and Iris43Wide for "blueprints".

Can any of you with real life experience suggest something better than Iris43Wide as we will have to upgrade in near future.
I would appreciate any input that is not coming from "salesman"

Thanks

[clod]

How about an Epson 9600. I believe Creo now makes (or sells) a device for double sided proofing if you need that feature, although you'll have to find a stock that can take ink on both sides. Can't say how that fits in with your Brisque workflow though.

Most of our contract proofs are now Epsons rather than Kodak Approvals, so that speaks for the capability of the printer.

[zox]

Creo has Epson 9600 under "Integris" umbrella.
That was my first choice, but still need some input regarding speed/quality of the device.
They also have Iris62wide but that is for very large printing and we don't need that.

It looks like most people are using 9600 or 10600.
That type of printer is what we need (similar to Iris43wide) so our only concern is speed/registration/acceptable quality.

We are not so big on quality as I believe Kodak Aproval will stay as high quality proofer, so we need blueprints type of quality.
Iris43wide was great double-sided proofer which replaced our traditional blueprints but now they are coming of age and Creo is not selling them any more.

Can you share some more info regarding Epson 9600 on usage in production environment with very steady and busy workflow.

Also we have our own paper which was fine for double sided printing so far.

We would be using device in 360dpi or in odd cases in 720dpi so higher dpi is not important that much for us as much is speed and good registration (both sides).

Thanks for your response clod

[DCurry]

We've got an Epson 9000 as our blueline-type proofer, and it it is quite speedy. Quality will decline as speed goes up, though. We use our own in-house paper (Cougar Opaque 70lb 38x25). We flip the paper by hand for backups. To help with alignment, we glued some old stripping pins across the bottom and right edges. Alignment is usually pretty good, at most it will be 1/8" off, but usually it is closer to 1/16" off or sometimes even dead-on.

We use ORIS Hotfolders to drive it, which lets us drop in the actual ripped CT/LW/ASSG file so the proof shows the same file that will image the plate.

[clod]

We would be using device in 360dpi or in odd cases in 720dpi so higher dpi is not important that much for us as much is speed and good registration (both sides).

The 10600 is pobably the better choice than as it is said to be up to 4x faster than the 9600, more expensive though and you lose the light black ink. I can't comment too much on registration from front to back as we don't do this...yet, but here's some more info...
http://www.creo.com/global/about_cre...03/030928u.htm

I have seen a sample of a 2-sided print made with a 9600 and the media guide. I wouldn't call it dead on registration, but it was darn close.

Can you share some more info regarding Epson 9600 on usage in production environment with very steady and busy workflow.

Like I said, the 10600 is supposedly much faster...Never actually timed our 9600, but an 8 foot poster took a little over an hour (720 DPI 2 pass). When we're busy it runs constantly, outputting press forms and the like. Faster would be better, and we have thought about getting a 10600 to speed things up, but it hasn't gotten past this stage yet. Occasionally we have nozzle problems on the 9600 (4000 and 7600 as well), but the more you print, the less likely this is to occur. Quality/consistency is great with the proper workflow.

[tuff_gong]

We have a 9600, pretty happy with it. Up til last year we ran it with a brisque workflow, sent 1-bit tifs.

[zox]

Thank you very much for fast response.
I will do more research but Epson 10600 looks to be a winner for now.

By te way Scott, what do you mean you sent 1-bit tifs?
Did you send B&W separations and somehow merged them on proofer itself or just black and white proofs of plates??

[tuff_gong]

We sent composite files to the brisque through Preps. There we had a Combine - Send template, which created Tiff CT files and dropped them in a hot folder on the Integris.

[clod]

We have the ability to proof 1-bit tiffs also...advantage being that we can proof the actual files the make the plates, as well getting out a screened proof to check for moir?, trapping, ect.

[Joe]

Exactly what type of software will combine this 1-bit tiffs into a composite for proofing and what software were you using to make the proof? We have the Best Color RIP and are planning on getting the 10600. Will it print the composite tiffs?