[Need feedback]Epson Artisan 1430/1500W

[malkram]

Hello everyone, I recently purchased a Sawgrass Virtuoso SG 400 printer for sublimation but it turns out that its quality isn't satisfying. I want to change for an Epson Artisan 1430/1500W. Could anyone give me any feedback (about print quality) ? Thanks !

[mags1892]

ok rather than the sawgras version just buy a epson sylus photo 1500 or a second user 1400 from ebay or anywhere theyre great youd need a CISS system on them but i had my 1400 for 6 years using my inks not a pick of bother and colours were amazing.

[Justin]

1500 is a much better print quality due to 6 colours. The Virtuoso are supposed to be a lot better with the new inkset over the older Ricohs which are 'acceptable' so I'd be speaking to your supplier first.

[malkram]

in fact print quality with SG 400 is fine, except the light colors that are weird

[Justin]

Do you mean skin tones?

[pisquee]

You're essentially comparing a 4 colour office printer to a 6 colour art/photo printer - which would you assume to be better for printing artwork/designs for products

[daveave]

Got 2 Epson 1500's, can not fault them

[malkram]

Do you mean skin tones?

not skin tones but the light colors (pink, grey, light yellow, ...) have kind of very very small black dots. It's not acceptable..

[mags1892]

The virtuoso is a standard Ricoh with some tweaked firmware , the hardware is identical, dont beleive this billshizzle about designed from the ground up thats an old epson trick also. Black dots will be where theres a transition between light and dark typical examples were when a womans fleshtone has a slight shadow under the chin, sometimes the black dots can give a peppering effect its why epson brought out the light blacks etc. The epson seems to use a smaller dot structure than the ricoh although min dot size is about the same, I wouldnt say the 1500 would completely eliminate this peppering your have to try it first, but it does look better on photos to me. If you still get peppering then im afraid its an 8 colour machine you need.

[UK Printed Mugs]

This thread really interests us but I am a little puzzled. Although we currently use SG400's, 3100's and 7100's the talk of the 1500 over the past months has increased. For us currently then the prints from these Ricoh and Sawgrass printers is perfect for our needs (more graphical than photographic artwork we print) BUT I thought Sawgrass has the legal monopoly on ink for printers less than 42". So how come people are able to use the 1500 and legally get away with buying and putting in non-Sawgrass ink in the UK? I appreciate one wouldn't expect a knock at the door from the Sawgrass legal team but surely sellers of the ink might?