From: LadyHawke@cup.portal.com (Classic - Concepts)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics,comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Color printers
Date: 16 Aug 92 18:29:55 GMT
  <1992Aug11.182313.12994@CERIS.Purdue.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

> My dealer claims that the output from the Canon is "magazine
> quality" and I understand that it _is_ 360 x 360 dpi ...

Your dealer needs to renew the prescription for his/her glasses.
The Canon bubblejet ($2500), rather than being pricey, is 
actually low end color printing technology.  And it is not
by any stretch of the i m a g i n a t i o n 'magazine quality'.
It's stippled and grainy, the colors are 'nice' but not true.
It's pretty good for the price, but then consider ...

   Dye sublimation printers - continuous tone 300 dpi are
   almost photographic -  $8,000 - $12,000 and up, up up.
   Cost per printout for materials about $2.50.  Almost
   magazine quality, but the low end ones can't compete with
   a large format camera reproduced to a 200 line screen.
   Special paper needed.  Definitely superior image quality.
   Makes the bubblejet look like bubblegum.

   Thermal wax printers - bright, juicy colors.  $4,000 -
   $8,000.  Colors too bright to match offset printing, but
   a good choice for some color proofing applications.  Cost
   per printout about $.50 - $1.00.  But the colored ribbons get
   used up even if a page doesn't contain those colors.
   NOT magazine quality, except for fine arts applications.
   Need special layered coated papers.  Good for transparencies.

   Phase Change printers.  Colors don't pop as much as the
   thermal wax, but this probably makes them better for color
   proofing.  The Tektronix III also has the great advantage
   of printing up to 11 x 17 with full bleed on any kind of
   paper.  Price per printout about $.40 and you only use up
   the inks which are actually on the page.  Street priced around
   $8,200.  This one is a good choice for proofing and very
   flexible.  Not as good for transparencies.

   Canon 500 megalith printer/photocopier.  Ah, sigh.  Only
   $60,000 plus more for the computer interface.  Lots of
   image processing capabilities built into this one.

   Canon PJ-10 (I think?)  This one sounded really good.  It is
   a color photocopier/scanner and printer all in one really
   neat little desktop jobbie.  This is the kind of thing I expect
   consumers will be using in 2 or 3 years.  It's about $7,000
   and the only thing that disappointed me is that it scans in
   only 8 bit.  Printouts are pretty decent. (NOT magazine quality.)

    The color printer industry is really moving these days and I
thought I would post this info to help those confused about the
new technologies and their uses.
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         __ _________________________________________   \_-//' /  //<' 
        ///  Julie Petersen  (LadyHawke@cup.portal.com    \ ///  <//'  
       ///           Classic_-_Concepts@cup.portal.com)   /  >>   \\\` 
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 \\\ ///        This image is copyright 1987 - 1992      (/   \\ / \\\ 
  \\///                 Julie K. Petersen                      //  //\\\
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