Looking for large-scale photo printing equipment.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

Hi.

I'm looking for equipment to print large amounts of digital photos for
commercial use.

Meaning would be to open Web-service where people can send their digital
photos, I would print them on paper, and send pictures for them in mail.


I have Googled for "photo printing" etc. but all I get is small
photo-printers for home use. Best being $700 ink-jet printers from epson
and canon.

I would need high quality and low cost per photo. I could pay maybe
$2000 - $10.000 for the "printer".


I would appreaciate if someone can tell me which kind of equipment is
used for this. Is it large scale ink-jet printers that are used in
commercial digital photo delivering, or some other technique?

Thanks

Markku

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Markku wrote:


> I'm looking for equipment to print large amounts of digital photos for
> commercial use.

<snip>

> I would appreaciate if someone can tell me which kind of equipment is
> used for this. Is it large scale ink-jet printers that are used in
> commercial digital photo delivering, or some other technique?


Epson 4000, 7600, 9600, 10600.
HP DesignJet (several models)
Canon also has several wide-format printers.

Those within your price range include the
Epson 4000 and HP DesignJet 130, or possibly
the smallest of the Canon "Pro" models.

You can get a refurbished 7600 for under $2k.

You might also check out the Kodak dye-sub
printers, as long as you're dealing with
small prints (letter size or smaller.)


rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

"Douglas" <decipleofeos@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3abit0F65nl76U1@individual.net...
> www.hp.com
> What you are looking for is a "plotter", not a printer. I have a six
> colour HP photo quality plotter. It cost $25,000 AUD when new - I bought
> it secondhand.

We have one of those here. It's interesting how economical the media is
compared to desktop units.

> The biggest problem I have is customers with small files expecting five
> foot wide photos to look as sharp as a 6"x4" !

Tell them that they are getting the Absinthe Visioned Impressionistic Look
for free.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

On 3/22/2005 2:15 PM Darrell spake thus:

> "Markku" <eipostia@invalid.net> wrote in message
> news200e.953$7W4.651@read3.inet.fi...
>>
>> I'm looking for equipment to print large amounts of digital photos for
>> commercial use.
>>
>> Meaning would be to open Web-service where people can send their digital
>> photos, I would print them on paper, and send pictures for them in mail.
>>
>> I have Googled for "photo printing" etc. but all I get is small
>> photo-printers for home use. Best being $700 ink-jet printers from epson
>> and canon.
>>
>> I would need high quality and low cost per photo. I could pay maybe
>> $2000 - $10.000 for the "printer".
>>
>> I would appreaciate if someone can tell me which kind of equipment is
>> used for this. Is it large scale ink-jet printers that are used in
>> commercial digital photo delivering, or some other technique?
>
> Try $100K and up. Most commercial labs use Noritsu, Agfa or Fuji (to name 3)
> minilabs. These machines use RA/4 colour photo chemical processes so a 4x6
> is around 4¢ each. They can print up to 12x18". Hard to beat a Fuji Crystal
> Archive print at a 4¢ net versus a 50¢ to $1.00 ink jet 4x6, or an more
> expensive dye-sublimination print.

I'm guessing this is *not* what the OP was asking for: I think he was asking
about more conventional types of digital printers (e.g., inkjet).

However, it's an intriguing idea. The quality of the prints made on a Fuji or
Noritsu is WAY better than any inkjet I've seen. And cheaper too, according to
you.

Question is, is there a market for used equipment of this type? If you could
score a machine for half or less of the $100K you mentioned, this might be the
way to go.


--
"I know I will go to hell, because I pardoned Richard Nixon."

- Former President Gerald Ford to his golf partners, as related by
the late Hunter S. Thompson

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

In rec.photo.equipment.large-format David Nebenzahl <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote:
> I'm guessing this is *not* what the OP was asking for: I think he was asking
> about more conventional types of digital printers (e.g., inkjet).
>
> However, it's an intriguing idea. The quality of the prints made on a Fuji or
> Noritsu is WAY better than any inkjet I've seen. And cheaper too, according to
> you.
>
> Question is, is there a market for used equipment of this type? If you could
> score a machine for half or less of the $100K you mentioned, this might be the
> way to go.


http://minilab.ca/english.html

I got a bunch of RA-4 and C-41 chemicals when some one "upgraded" to a new
Fuji machine that used some sort of special chemicals setup. No need to mix
anything but intially could only be bought from Fuji.

Nick

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

"David Nebenzahl" <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote in message
news:4240A093.9040505@but.us.chickens...
> On 3/22/2005 2:15 PM Darrell spake thus:
>
> > "Markku" <eipostia@invalid.net> wrote in message
> > news200e.953$7W4.651@read3.inet.fi...
> >>
> >> I'm looking for equipment to print large amounts of digital photos for
> >> commercial use.
> >>
> >> Meaning would be to open Web-service where people can send their
digital
> >> photos, I would print them on paper, and send pictures for them in
mail.
> >>
> >> I have Googled for "photo printing" etc. but all I get is small
> >> photo-printers for home use. Best being $700 ink-jet printers from
epson
> >> and canon.
> >>
> >> I would need high quality and low cost per photo. I could pay maybe
> >> $2000 - $10.000 for the "printer".
> >>
> >> I would appreaciate if someone can tell me which kind of equipment is
> >> used for this. Is it large scale ink-jet printers that are used in
> >> commercial digital photo delivering, or some other technique?
> >
> > Try $100K and up. Most commercial labs use Noritsu, Agfa or Fuji (to
name 3)
> > minilabs. These machines use RA/4 colour photo chemical processes so a
4x6
> > is around 4¢ each. They can print up to 12x18". Hard to beat a Fuji
Crystal
> > Archive print at a 4¢ net versus a 50¢ to $1.00 ink jet 4x6, or an more
> > expensive dye-sublimination print.
>
> I'm guessing this is *not* what the OP was asking for: I think he was
asking
> about more conventional types of digital printers (e.g., inkjet).
>
> However, it's an intriguing idea. The quality of the prints made on a Fuji
or
> Noritsu is WAY better than any inkjet I've seen. And cheaper too,
according to
> you.
>
> Question is, is there a market for used equipment of this type? If you
could
> score a machine for half or less of the $100K you mentioned, this might be
the
> way to go.
>
There are used machines available, shops do upgrade or worse fold leaving
used equipment on the market. Try: http://www.phototrader.com as they
specialize in that market.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital (More info?)

jjs wrote:
> "David Nebenzahl" <nobody@but.us.chickens> wrote in message
> news:4240A093.9040505@but.us.chickens...
>
>
>>Question is, is there a market for used equipment of this type? If you
>>could score a machine for half or less of the $100K you mentioned, this
>>might be the way to go.
>
>
> We have a number of printing companies here. Apparently, some of these giant
> ink-jet printers and plotters have no value after a several years because
> they go to the dumpsters. The same thing happened to the many Polaroid MP*
> cameras and lenses - all in dumpsters. Of course, there's eBay to give them
> value again because they go to an external market region - the world of
> junque.


All digital gear goes to dumpsters, often sooner
rather than later. That's the price of life in
the fast lane.

My old Nikon FE should be in a dumpster at this point,
but for some sentimental value. The newer FE body
from eBay is going strong.

FWIW, I'm getting nice prints from a five or six
year old Epson 7000 wide format printer. It could
die tomorrow, but for now (knock wood) it's doing
its job nicely.



rafe b.
http://www.terrapinphoto.com

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

"Markku" <eipostia@invalid.net> wrote in message
news200e.953$7W4.651@read3.inet.fi...
>
> Hi.
>
> I'm looking for equipment to print large amounts of digital photos for
> commercial use.
>
> Meaning would be to open Web-service where people can send their digital
> photos, I would print them on paper, and send pictures for them in mail.
>
>
> I have Googled for "photo printing" etc. but all I get is small
> photo-printers for home use. Best being $700 ink-jet printers from epson
> and canon.
>
> I would need high quality and low cost per photo. I could pay maybe
> $2000 - $10.000 for the "printer".
>
>
> I would appreaciate if someone can tell me which kind of equipment is
> used for this. Is it large scale ink-jet printers that are used in
> commercial digital photo delivering, or some other technique?
>
> Thanks
>
> Markku

Epson makes a printer intended for the pro studio photographer. You "rent"
the machine and buy the consumables from Epson. I think the cost per 8x10
print is in the one to two dollar range.

The Fuji Frontier at your local WalMart basically scans a negative, and
laser prints a digital image unto silver-image photographic (RA-4) paper.
This system (and many other brands like it, such as Durst and Noritsu) can
be easily configured to recieve digital images online or from various types
of storage media. The cost per 8x10 varies depending on the paper and
chemicals used, but $0.25 to $0.50 per 8x10 would be a ballpark figure. The
cost of the printer also varies greatly, depending on configuration, service
contracts, lease/buy agreements, etc., but $50K to $250K would be another
ballpark (actually, more like the entire stadium!).

Ken Hart

Archived from groups: rec.photo.equipment.large-format,rec.photo.digital,rec.photo.film+labs (More info?)

Douglas wrote:
> What you are looking for is a "plotter", not a printer. I have a six
> colour HP photo quality plotter. It cost $25,000 AUD when new - I bought
> it secondhand. The biggest problem I have is customers with small files
> expecting five foot wide photos to look as sharp as a 6"x4" !

Thats the one - I have a 540x300 pixel image, can you print it 42" square?


--

Rick

Digital Printing
www.intelligence-direct.com - 01270 215550