Tip
One: Best
sub-$1000 Color Printer: Epson Stylus 2200.
 "What
color printer should I buy?"
We
get that question a lot. It is not as easy a question as it might
appear. However today we're going to take a stand:
If
you want to spend under $1000 on a color printer, CreativeTechs
recommends the Epson
Stylus 2200 ($699).
Photographers:
We've
had great results recommending this printer to photographers. The
Epson Stylus 2200 produces great color photos from Photoshop using
just the included drivers and profiles. With additional calibration
work this printer has the ability to produce fantastic, accurate
color prints.
Print
designers: Make
sure to purchase the Epson
StylusRIP Professional 2.0 ($200 from Epson). RIP software is
a must for designers working with a Postscript workflow. This is
especially true for QuarkXPress or Freehand users. Recently, getting
good RIP software has been the most problematic part of choosing
inexpensive color printers. Based on our experience with the latest
Epson StylusRIP, we're quite comfortable recommending this combination
to print designers.
If
you are picky about color: Plan
on adding some color profiling and consulting to your purchase.
At the very least you will likely want a custom printer profile.
Depending on your particular environment some consulting and training
may be needed to help you produce the color accuracy you require
(see tip two below).
[Source:
CreativeTechs has been recommending the Epson Stylus 2200 to photographers
for some time. It was consultant Eric Williams's brief hands-on
review of the new Epson StylusRIP that solidifies our recommendation
for print designers.]
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If
accurate color printing is critical to your business, you should
be aware of a local resource for custom printer profiles. CHROMiX
offers an online profiling service called ColorValet. Download a
special color target from their website. Follow the simple instructions
and print that target image on your printer. Mail or courier the
printed target to them. In a couple days they email you a custom
color profile for your printer.
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