Hello,
We 're ready to buy a 24" wide printer and after extensive research we think that the current models from HP outperforms their competitors, not so in image quality but in crucial details like printheads, calibration, embedded i1 etc.

We have the following problem, we can buy the z2100 model at about 3200 euros and the z3100 model at 4750 euros and we may also have a 10% discount.The question is ; Is this 1550 euros price difference worth it? Is there so much difference in printed images (8 inks vs 12= larger gamut?), is the difference obvious or you have to persuade yourself that there is something better in z3100 output?

is the GE catalytic in decision?
is the z2100 print quality better than B9180?

These printers are a bit expensive, and we cannot upgrade them shortly, so what ever we choose must cover our needs for the next few years.

We 're going to use it for printing photos on matte and glossy (or better satin) papers and reproduce our paintings on canvas and fine art papers.

Thank you in advance for your kind help,
Ioannis



P.S. We have also posted in dpreview forums, but as a 5 years old reader of LL we think that LL is a more specialized place to collect technically valid advices.

B&W printing included in your work ? You mentioned the gloss enhancer but I think the extra grey ink counts as well. The extra RGB inks deliver at least cleaner RGB patches compared to any more limited color printer, as can be expected.

Ernst Dinkla

try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

Thank you Ernst,

Of course BW is included.

So do you think that there is an obvious quality shift in z3100 prints?

With the diversity of printing you intend to do there's a general quality shift, there are no big steps happening at this level of quality printing, you count the small steps per printing mode and together there's better quality.

Before I unpacked the Z3100 I made a photograph of the equipment that I used till then, an Epson 10000 loaded with MIS 7600 inks for color printing, an Epson 9000 loaded with a MIS quad inkset for B&W, an old HP A3 HPGL pen plotter on top that I had converted to scan targets with a Spectrocam.

The single Z3100 replaced all that + it can print gloss color without an ink switch. More grey inks will not only make your B&W prints better but it also keeps neutral areas in color printing better, a better gradual smoothness on the neutrals too, metamerism should be lower (less composite grey).

There's probably a bit less ink used per printed page on a 12 inks machine compared to an 8 ink machine as the RGB inks replace the saturated MY, CY,CM mixes with less ink like composite greys are replaced by less black (grey) inks. It is interesting to see that LM is hardly used on the Z3100, the red must take much of its tasks. LM is the ink most used on all CcMmYK printers.

Ernst Dinkla

try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/

From what I've seen of the 2100 on satin paper, I would get the 3100. I have the 3100 and the gloss enhancer really reduces gloss differential. The 3100 is also a great quadtone B&W printer. The 3100 is really targeted to hi-end image makers that use a variety of media including glossy papers and B&W. This printers strengths are B&W and satin papers in my and others experience.

To be honest, I'm not sure who HP is targeting with the 2100 since, in my opinion, it really isn't worth the savings of $$ if your after the best images possible.

Good luck with your purchase,
Doug

I would like to thank you both, Ernst and Doug, you have really helped us a lot.
Your experiences from both printers but especially from z3100 are invaluable for us.
We 're going to order z3100 this week and I hope that I will be able to report back our first impressions after some days.

Thank you again for your kind help,
Ioannis