I decided to buy an Epson 1280 from eBay when I saw the $120 pricetag... I'm very pleased with the output. 13 x 19" is awesome compared to 8 x 10! So, I figure there will be some experienced users out there who know this printer, and the best papers to use with it.
I remember reading a year or two ago of some really nice art papers that are not Epson brand, but print beautifully. So if there's some favourite retailers you can recommend (particularly Canadian), I'd appreciate any feedback.
And one weird thing: the latest driver from Epson for the 1280 doesn't offer an option for premium semigloss! I thought that was strange...
I only used the Epson papers with my 1270. The 1270/80s were great printers with excellent print quality. The life span was just too short on most other papers unless you are using a pigment inkset. The Epson colorlife encapsulated paper had the longest print life of 24 years, but is very hard to find in large sheets. You may look for other encapsulated papers from other manufacturers. I believe there is one that is the same as Colorlife (I remember comments about Epson possibly repackaging it), but I don't remember the name. I've used the Epson semigloss for competition prints, but I wasn't worried about longevity for them (10 years I think). The colorlife finish was pretty close though. I have used the Epson enhanced matte papers with it and liked the look. I since upgraded to a 2200 and then a 7600 for longevity reasons.
Check the Epson website for profiles, many of them are listed separately as add ons. It's been so long since I downloaded anything for my 1270, I don't remember what was available. I don't think mine even works anymore.
I know many people like the Red River papers. But I have no experience with them.
A quick search of my old e-mail groups found this:
"I've been using Ilford Galerie Classic Pearl paper for a year now with the
Epson ColorLife color profile (icc/icm) with great success. If they are not
the same paper, they are very close relatives."
I have also heard good things about Crane's Museo.
Check reports at Wilhelm about longevity. If I remember right, the updated 1270/80 info was in a PC Computing or Family Computing article, not the 1280 data sheet. That was done before the orange shift problem if I remember correctly. All of the numbers were revised after that problem came up.
I use Hahnemuhle PhotoRag on my 1280 and am very pleased with the quality. I primarily use the thicker 308 paper, but have used sheets of the 188 with the same results (the only difference is paper thickness). One nice thing about this paper is that you can use the Epson Matte Heavyweight paper for proofing which saves a lot of money. You can also use the Epson Matte profile when printing on the Hanemuhle, which was nice for me since I'm not proficient when it comes to playing around with custom profiles.
I've also used the Epson ColorLife paper which I like for certain prints. It's difficult to find in large sizes locally, even at places that stock a lot of different Epson papers; you can order on the internet easily however.
The Epson gloss papers haven't worked well for me. Too much bronzing and off-gassing that clouds up the glass when framed, even when they're allowed to cure for weeks prior to framing.
Jim: I always used Ilford and Epson papers on my Epson 1280. Ilford Galerie Classic Pearl was also my favorite. The Ilford watercolor and Epson heavyweight papers worked well. Actually every paper I tried on the 1280 worked well. Unfortunately my 1280 died last year and I was forced, because they weren't selling the 1280 anymore, to buy a substitute (Epson 2400). I did attempt to get it repaired, but unfortunately the repaired unit did not produce acceptable competition-ready photographs. Have had major problems calibrating my monitor to the new printer.
Discussion
3 repliesI remember reading a year or two ago of some really nice art papers that are not Epson brand, but print beautifully. So if there's some favourite retailers you can recommend (particularly Canadian), I'd appreciate any feedback.
And one weird thing: the latest driver from Epson for the 1280 doesn't offer an option for premium semigloss! I thought that was strange...
--thanks in advance
jim
I only used the Epson papers with my 1270. The 1270/80s were great printers with excellent print quality. The life span was just too short on most other papers unless you are using a pigment inkset. The Epson colorlife encapsulated paper had the longest print life of 24 years, but is very hard to find in large sheets. You may look for other encapsulated papers from other manufacturers. I believe there is one that is the same as Colorlife (I remember comments about Epson possibly repackaging it), but I don't remember the name. I've used the Epson semigloss for competition prints, but I wasn't worried about longevity for them (10 years I think). The colorlife finish was pretty close though. I have used the Epson enhanced matte papers with it and liked the look. I since upgraded to a 2200 and then a 7600 for longevity reasons.
Check the Epson website for profiles, many of them are listed separately as add ons. It's been so long since I downloaded anything for my 1270, I don't remember what was available. I don't think mine even works anymore.
I know many people like the Red River papers. But I have no experience with them.
A quick search of my old e-mail groups found this:
"I've been using Ilford Galerie Classic Pearl paper for a year now with the
Epson ColorLife color profile (icc/icm) with great success. If they are not
the same paper, they are very close relatives."
I have also heard good things about Crane's Museo.
Sources to check:
http://www.atlex.com
http://www.inkjetart.com
http://www.mpex.com
I've also had good luck ordering through Amazon.
Check reports at Wilhelm about longevity. If I remember right, the updated 1270/80 info was in a PC Computing or Family Computing article, not the 1280 data sheet. That was done before the orange shift problem if I remember correctly. All of the numbers were revised after that problem came up.
I use Hahnemuhle PhotoRag on my 1280 and am very pleased with the quality. I primarily use the thicker 308 paper, but have used sheets of the 188 with the same results (the only difference is paper thickness). One nice thing about this paper is that you can use the Epson Matte Heavyweight paper for proofing which saves a lot of money. You can also use the Epson Matte profile when printing on the Hanemuhle, which was nice for me since I'm not proficient when it comes to playing around with custom profiles.
I've also used the Epson ColorLife paper which I like for certain prints. It's difficult to find in large sizes locally, even at places that stock a lot of different Epson papers; you can order on the internet easily however.
The Epson gloss papers haven't worked well for me. Too much bronzing and off-gassing that clouds up the glass when framed, even when they're allowed to cure for weeks prior to framing.