Photoshop Insider

Special Deal Exclusively for NAPP members on Epson’s Stylus Photo R1900 Color Photo Printer

By Scott on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 5:44 am | updates.

We just worked out a special deal with Epson, where NAPP members can get $75 off Epson’s Stylus Photo R1900 13″x19″ wide color photo printer (which is pretty sweet, considering a one-year membership to NAPP membership itself is only $99).

The details (and the special discount code), are found on the NAPP member Website, in the Discounts section (the direct links are on the member home page), but beyond that, Matt Kloskowski did three videos for members on how to use the printer, and so you can see if it’s right for you.

The big thing about the R1900 is the quality of its glossy prints (which some claim gives the best quality glossy prints of any printer, thanks to its Ultrachrome High Gloss 2 Ink set), but it prints on virtually any paper, and you can use roll sheets, you can print borderless, and you can even print on CDs.

The R1900 is also the fastest printer in its class, even when using the high-quality settings (in fact, and this is weird; it’s best performance is actually achieved when you use the highest quality settings).

So, is this printer for you? It’s for three types of users: (1) Pros that love glossy prints (2) Small graphic design shops and graphic designers, and (3) Advanced amateur photographers.

One last thing: this limited time offer is available from either B&H Photo (if you have the member Promo Code), or directly from the Epson Online Store (again, you’ll need to use the direct link on the member Web site), which has all the details, and Matt’s videos. Thanks to Epson for making this deal available to our members!

Comment form for this post

^#1

Can you comment on the quality differences between this and the 3800? I’ve been holding off any getting any serious printer for a while now and am curious if for an amateur hobbyist this would be just as good for me as a 3800. Thanks!

Del Tanner on June 17th, 2008 at 6:10 am

^#2

I am also curious about a comparison, but I’m looking at the 2880 to replace my venerable 2200. Seems that for glossy the 1900 is actually better than the 2880??

Jeff on June 17th, 2008 at 7:58 am

^#3

Perhaps at some point, you’ll post Matt’s videos on how to use the R1900 on the Elements website. I read your blog everyday, and print my own photos, but I’m an Elements user from v. 1
Thanks!

Linda on June 17th, 2008 at 8:13 am

^#4

Maybe I’m just having a bad day, but I couldn’t find this offer on the discounts pages. I tried “Latest Discounts” then “Hardware”, then even looked at all the others just to be sure. It was probably right in front of me, but I’m just not seeing it. Can you (or anyone) provide more direct info.

Steve Kalman on June 17th, 2008 at 8:17 am

^#5

Steve,

The Epson printer offer is on the first page on the NAPP member website, just beneath Larry’s weekly NAPP news update video & the New Tutorials (pics).

“Save $75 Off the Epson Stylus Photo R1900 – Exclusive Discount”

And there’s a picture of the printer and a short blurb & a link for the dealio + 3 videos about using the printer by Matt K.

keith on June 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am

^#6

I have both the 3800 and R1900, quite different really. You want the R1900 if you’re doing a lot of work printing glossy prints. These are not the K3 ink set. The 3800 handles matt inks well, has built in Ethernet. The R1900 is faster, a tad better dither (newer technology). I’d first examine what kind of ink set you wish, whether you’re looking for seriously glossy output, then decide. Both are great printers. Print costs on the 3800 should be less (ink cart’s are bigger).

Andrew Rodney on June 17th, 2008 at 10:09 am

^#7

Del and Jeff - Absolutely! The 3800 is more geared toward the pro end and nearly 3 times the price of this one. This one is definitely geared toward the amateur thru advanced amateur and, honestly, you’ll get very pro-like quality prints from it. As for gloss comparisons, it’s the best out of any of the ones you guys mentioned.

Steve - Log into the NAPP member website and you’ll see it on the member home page below this week’s tutorials.
Here’s the link: http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/?page=epson-west

Andrew - Excellent info and advice. You said it perfectly.

Hope this helps.

Matt K

Matt Kloskowski on June 17th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

^#8

Andrew, since you have both printers, can you comment on B&W printing quality with these two?

Jose L. Urena on June 17th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

^#9

Hi and Thanks Matt

I’ve pretty much eliminated the 3800 at this point as I just don’t make enough really big prints to warrant th cost difference, but am tempted by the 2880.

Jeff on June 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

^#10

I went to the EPSON website and clicked on the big R1900. There was a promo of both free shipping and a $50.00 “instant discount”. Is the $75.00 NAPP discount on top of the factory $50? This would make it $424.00 with free shipping!! Can you please clarify this for us?? If so, this sound like a helluva deal!

Bryan Whitehead on June 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

^#11

>Andrew, since you have both printers, can you comment on B&W printing quality with these two?

Well I’d give the edge to the 3800 due to its ability to use the Epson Advanced B&W mode. That isn’t to say using that driver mode is ideal, depending on what you wish to do. It will do a very good job of producing a neutral print and converting a color image to B&W for you. But if you like to work in Photoshop to do this, then add say a split tone or sepia, that will no longer work as the data will go through the driver and be re-converted so to speak. The Advanced B&W does allow you to do some of these kinds of effects but you’re flying blind, you never see your actual image as you alter the controls (instead there’s a preview of a portrait shot by Greg Gorman). Epson can’t take your image data from Photoshop and update the preview in their driver. So again, while it does a pretty nice job, you are flying blind.

I think the K3 inkset is also more appropriate for B&W, certainly if you decide not to use the Advanced B&W mode and rather your own, or the supplied ICC profiles from Epson. There’s far less metameric failure when moving these inks from illuminant to illuminant.

One slight advantage to the Advanced B&W mode is you use less inks and its a bit more archival.

Andrew Rodney on June 17th, 2008 at 6:19 pm

^#12

I have been able to borrow the R1900 and R2880 from a friend who sells these printers. I find that if you wanted the best glossy prints, matt prints and B&W prints, you need both printers. Much like the printers they replace, the R1900 makes better glossy prints. The R2880 makes better matt and B&W prints.

The cost of printing still contiues to be an issue and the small ink tanks does not help, Unless you are a pro, it may be more economical to use a online lab. Print a few Super B (13″ x 19″) and your pocket book will start to hurt.

Its a love hate relationship with these printers — I love what they can produce, I hate the overall cost (ink, paper, printer and calabration).

Enzo on June 17th, 2008 at 10:59 pm

^#13

>Its a love hate relationship with these printers — I love what they can produce, I hate the overall cost (ink, paper, printer and calabration).

Just to put this into economic perspective, back in 1990, I purchased USED for $10,000 a Kodak XL-7700 dye sub that made 8×10 prints at over $3 per print!

The printers today are sold nearly at cost. Yes, the profits are made on media. But we’re all still very fortunate to have these products compared to what was available.

Andrew Rodney on June 18th, 2008 at 7:19 am

^#14

They sell this printer at B&H for $499.95 with a $100.00 rebate. Does this mean we could also use the $75 NAPP discount too and get the printer for $349.95? I will say this, the user reviews at B&H overall were not too kind for this printer.

Roger Tregelles on June 18th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

^#15

I agree with Roger. I looked at the review on both B&H and Amazon and there are a lot of people not recommending this printer.

Matt on June 20th, 2008 at 6:50 am

^#16

The 100.00 rebate at B&H requires you to also purchase a digital SLR. If you purchase the printer at Epson and put the promo code in for the $75.00 it removes the $50.00 instant rebate from Epson. So technically this is only a $25.00 rebate!

William Snyder on June 20th, 2008 at 8:17 am