Review - Epson R1900 Ink-jet Printer

The Age

Thursday February 14, 2008

Terry Lane

Epson R1900 ink-jet printer

Price: $1100

Outstanding

Lowdown: This is an A3+ (32.9x48.3cm) photo printer. It uses eight ink cartridges, including two blacks - photo and matt. The UltraChrome Hi-Gloss2 formulation has resin coating of the droplets and a "gloss optimiser" to improve the surface, with reduced "bronzing". Print life is up to 200 years, depending on paper type and storage. The ink set includes orange, which Epson claim improves skin tones. The printer handles label discs, roll paper and Epson's heavy specialist papers. It has a roll paper adapter and can print either strips of individual photos up to 32.9cm wide or continuous panoramas. Set-up is easy and print speed is very good. The unit footprint is huge - 62x90cm, and to use all its functions it must be accessible from front and back. It is not for the space-challenged.

Like: Print quality is stunning, easily the best pigment-ink prints that we have seen. Detail is virtually indistinguishable from a good dye-ink printer. Glossy prints are rich with only the slightest hint of "bronzing" (the unpleasant effect of seeing the contours of the ink when viewed from off-centre, characteristic of pigment-ink printers).

Dislike: The cartridges have very small capacities and cost $22 each. You can't cheat with these; once the ink-level indicator orders a cartridge replacement, it must be done. The penalty for squeezing an extra print from a depleted cartridge is banding and a wasted sheet of expensive paper. In the US, this model costs $A606. Please explain.

Verdict: This is a great printer. However, Epson has pinched the pennies by putting the instruction manual on disc from where it is installed to the hard drive during set-up. And, as with most printers, the possible print settings is bewildering. Getting prints that consistently match what is seen on the monitor is hard to do by trial and error. How much would it cost to include a printing guide that explains how to get the best print from Photoshop? -- TERRY LANE

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