p.1 #1 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
I seek advice from the experts. I want to make large prints. I really don’t care about pictures for the Internet. That is secondary. Prints are my goal. Please bear with me as I explain. I have done much reading about this subject. I’m not looking for reviews by companies or people trying to drive business to their websites. I’m looking for honest opinions by people who own and use the equipment. Thank you in advance.
We have always had our own photographs on our walls, from 35mm film. Most were 16 x 20, some larger. Now it is time to make digital prints. I am looking for advice from people who actually use and know the products. I really have no idea what I’m doing other than to know I need to do color management. I do not have a color calibrated monitor. I use a Macbookpro and Aperture. Computers are a non-issue.
I know first I need a color calibrated monitor. My first thought was to get an Apple thunderbolt monitor but I understand the Adobe color space is poor. Also, I hate the glossy screen. So that is out. I’ve narrowed it down to a NEC PA241 or PA271 or the Eizo CG243W. If you have this equipment, is the Eizo really worth more than twice the price of the NEC?
Question 1. What is our opinion? Is this the case of the NECs being good enough or is the Eizo really worth the money?
I also need to calibrate the monitor. Both come with their own software but I need a device. Should I get a ColoMunki Photo so I can make printer profiles or for now just use the profiles that come with the paper and just get the device that comes with the NEC? If at a later time I decide I need to make paper profiles, I can then buy a ColorMunki Photo but that seems like a waste of money. I’m confused.
Question 2. Should I get a ColorMunki Photo up front or just use the device that comes with the NEC? (Or whatever for an Eizo).
Now on to printers. Eventually, I want to print large, for personal use only, typically 45% 11 x 14, 45% 16 x 20, and 10% 20 x 30 or 24 x 36. I expect I might print 20 prints in a flurry and then nothing for months. I need the printer to just work when I want it to work. Clogged lines are not something I will tolerate well. I see three possible upgrade paths.
Option 1, I could get one of those Canon pro-100 or pro-10 printers and learn to print 11 x 14s (13 x 19 is such an odd size). I guess it could be practice. If I hate doing this “digital darkroom” stuff then I’m out the cost of a small printer. If I like it then get a big printer.
Option 2, Get something like an Epson 3880, 4880. That would be good up to 16 x 20. I see no current Canon equivalent as their entry is outdated. The downside is that for the 10% of the time, which could be less, I would have to have a commercial shop print.
Option 3, Wait and get whatever the current 24” Epson or Canon printer exists when I’m ready to print big.
My inclination is to go with Option 1. Try out a 13 x 19 printer and if I get into this, go for a 24” printer. I’d hate to spend a small fortune on a 24” printer only to find out I hate it. The price difference between a 13 x 19 printer and a 24” printer is significant.
Question 3. What option would you do? Or do you have another suggestion?
p.1 #2 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
1. The Eizo isn't worth the price delta. Get the PA241/271 and the i1Display Pro calibrator. You'll also need the $89 Spectraview software. That way, the calibrator will work on anything and also on the NEC.
2. GEt the Epson 3880. You'll go broke w/ small carts on the other printers.
"My inclination is to go with Option 1. Try out a 13 x 19 printer"
Canon 9000 II from Craigslist for $150 makes excellent prints.
Yesterday I placed a 13 x19 on the dining room table along with a print from a local shop and one printed by an "EXPERT" with a MAC, Eizo and an Epson.
My wife came down a while later and said "the print in the middle is excellent"
It came from the Canon and is far superior to the other prints in clarity and color depth.
p.1 #5 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
Sounds like budget is not a key question.
Since you havent yet gone this route, some uncertainty where you will end up.
My rec:
NEC with their calibration device/software (I have the PA 241w-bk-sv). Integrates seamlessly. You can always have indiv paper profiles made for you but you are likely to be happy with canned profiles for some time, using the major paper companies
Epson 3880. (I have the 3800). Little problem with clogs. 17" wide covers 80+% of your anticipated work. Going up to 24" requires a huge machine, more space and may not get enough use to justify the extra cost. Send out the big ones to Miller, WHCC, BayPhoto or the like.
Get some sample papers from Red River, Atlex, inkjetart
p.1 #6 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
Please note that the Spectraview II software will not work with the latest Mac OS. This was confirmed by the NEC tech, and they are waiting/hoping that Apple can resolve this issue.
I'm in the same boat (and have not been able to calibrate my monitor for several months), and looking at 3rd party calibration software/devices.
p.1 #7 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
this is what NEC is saying.......
Due to issues with the new Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion) and the recent update to Mac OS 10.7.5, SpectraView II is not able to communicate with the displays on some systems with Nvidia based video chipsets when connected to the DVI inputs on a display. This includes both Thunderbolt (miniDisplayPort) video outputs when using a miniDisplayPort to DVI cable, and DVI to DVI connections. This impacts all MultiSync 80 series, MultiSync 90 series, and the MultiSync P221W models. NEC is currently working with Apple to resolve this issue, which is expected to be fixed in future updates to Mac OS.
The NEC MultiSync PA series and newer MultiSync P series models can utilize a USB connection to the display if necessary.
Customers with impacted systems currently using OS 10.7.4 or earlier are encouraged not to update to OS 10.7.5, or OS 10.8 at this point.
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While I haven't bothered to upgrade to 10.7.5 or 10.8.x, the USB & DP-DVI connection from my Mac to PA241 is fine. This problem *seems* to affect only the older series of NEC displays. I think all of them are no longer available for purchase new.
p.1 #9 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
fishjump wrote:
Please note that the Spectraview II software will not work with the latest Mac OS. This was confirmed by the NEC tech, and they are waiting/hoping that Apple can resolve this issue.
I'm in the same boat (and have not been able to calibrate my monitor for several months), and looking at 3rd party calibration software/devices.
Paul.
I'm confused. The NEC site says nothing about using minidisplay port to displayport cable. It only talks about DVI connections. So, why not use a displayport cable? It also says you can USB to communicate so what is the problem?
p.1 #10 · Advise sought. Monitors, Calibration, and Printers
Thank you all for your opinions. I suspected the Eizo was not worth the money for my needs. I'm leaning towards options #2 and am looking into a 3880 as that solution would fit 90% of my needs. Thank you so much for bringing that up
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