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need advice, HP Designjet Photo Z2100
Hi all,
this is a problem I’ve had for a long time (seemingly forever!)…I can print A1 posters, huge (mb) hi-res photographic prints etc with no problems, ever. However, when I try to print 1850 x 590 banner prints for roll-ups I always seem to encounter problems.
I’m printing direct fro corel with no rip, never needed one – even for massive files. the page size is sed for the document, and the printer then has a custome setting input to match the page size, I get varying problems depending on how I output it..
(system – quad core Q6600 with 4gb ram, win XP pro, he end Nvidia graphics/video, connecting to the HP via network)
1) Printing direct from the artwork, a bitmap background with a mix of transparencies and simple vectors over the top, all grouped and sent to print…
it will just print the vector elements.
2) convert to bitmap and send,..
it cycles the printer, says preparing to print, then simply says print and a second later goes to ‘checking printer’ before going back to the ready screen.
3) convert to pdf and print from adobe acrobat (often an alternative that works)
it will often just print half of the design, spool out the media and cut it off… wouldn’t be so bad if it simply stopped and didn’t waste a mtr every time!.
4) export as a jpeg and print from windows…
"not enough memory to print"
5) export as a low res 100dpi jpeg and print from windows..
"not enough memory to print" Argh.. what f%&#@ng memory?
6) convert to low res bitmap in corel and print direct…
Result as per No.2
Repeat those several times and you can understand why after a couple of hours (thankfully between other tasks) I was ready to get the sledgehammer from the corner and reduce it to a pile of plastic parts out in the workshop… I was that close that I put the hammer down, tried one more thing (I forget now but something pdf) set it to print for attempt type 7, I then locked up and went home early!!
Friday am… Attempt No.7 was somehow on the floor face down, what I could see was looking good… until I turned the rest over to see just half a print!!
So. kill or cure as far as I’m concerned now..
I so need a proper printer & rip!!
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16 Replies
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update..
No.8 in progress.. I’ve taken away the 20% transparency from the large background jpeg, grouped it all and reduced the width to 580 (may not have needed to but it’s occasionally helped in the past..
In the time it’s taken me to type the above post, 8-10mins, it’s busily printing everything and is about half way through.. further than last night’s attempt..
Perhaps it’s the jpeg with transparency it doesn’t like, maybe if I’d added the transparency and then saved it as a bitmap again prior to printing it may have worked..
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Ok, update 2!!
It has to be something to do with the transparencies, the rear background -since removing the transparency, has now printed with no issues however, the gian pick image lower down has not.. it has a transparency, I’ve converted the vector part to a bitmap and will try again 🙄
getting there!
Attachments:
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looking a little greenish for some reason,
No.9!! have added a transparency again to lighten it AND converted to jpeg, sent to print as a jpeg/vector mix (as per No8) but it’s only printing the vectors again!
No.10.. remove transparency and try again… nope!
No.11.. bugger it, redesign, remove all transparencies and try again
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Finally!!
No.11 failed too, I took a shaped section of bitmap to make the pick with a drop of shadow underneath, all printed except the top layer of bitmap, even when the whole background was converted to one big bitmap..
No.12 worked, I did away with the large pick transparency and dropped an outline in instead.
Only sems to be the transparencies or overlaid prints which have a problem.. need to gety to the bottom of it still but at least this job can go out the door!
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Hi hugh, i cant be much help with your printer issues but was hoping to pick your brain on a few things. I know this probably isnt the way to do it but i couldnt contact you personally.
I have seen many of your posts and you seem to have a very similar setup machinery wise as myself, or as im planning on getting, so just wanted your opinion on a few things.
I currently have a little setup, ce60000 plotter and heat press. I sub out all my printing which comes in as solvent laminated. Ive been itching to get my own printer for a while now but i know getting a solvent is not an option. I was too looking at the z2100 so wanted to know how much you can actually do with it as i know it has limitations to indoor use.
My second question is im looking to get a method of doing quality printed logos onto garments. On big orders again i buy in solvent logos but want something in house to do smaller orders. But quality needs to be priority. At the moment im constantly swinging between oki610 laser and ricoh 3110 sublimation and again i see that you use both methods. i would probably also get a mug press once the decision has been made.
Anyway, again sorry to interrupt but your experience would really help to point me in the right direction.
regards
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Hi Martin,
Regarding garment printing and digital.. I have a very good trade supplier for both when it comes to print requirements.In house I use an A3 ricoh gel printer with sawgrass sublimation inks, it’s expensive and doesn’t get used that much but earns good money when it’s working, it’s perfect for lightweight polyester sports t-shirts etc. as well as all the promo stuff which i rarely bother with. I also have a TMT oki laser for garments but again, rarely use that these days for garments.
The Z2100 I have is only the 24", if you can afford or have the space, go for the 42" or bigger, they’ll still take the small 610 media which is easily available through companies like plot-it and colourbyte. I would rather have the bigger one in order to do full size borderless A1 prints when required. etc.
What can I do on it?
Canvas prints for mounting or framing, photo prints (gloss, satin, matt), roll up banner material and a light pvc banner material (I rarely to banners as I’ve got such a good trade deal!).I can also print onto gloss or matt self adhesive vinyl, I then gloss / matt laminate it on y easymount laminator (bought for about £500 on ebay!). I would no use this for anything other than temporary vehicle signs but I do use it for magnetic sign prints, outdoor signs where the lifetime isn’t important etc. the inks are uv stabilised and will last a long time outside if needed (i’ve a couple of swing pavement signs which are still looking good outside a customers shop after two years!! I just don’t trust the vinyl itself for long term vehicle stuff and, as yet, I can’t contour cut prints I produce with it as A) I’d have to buy a new plotter with reg mark detection (on the cards!) and B) I’d need a rip to make that happen, I currently print from the software I use.
DO.. run it on a network cable and ensure you’ve a reasonable amount of RAM for big files.
hope that helps.
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Great response hugh, thanks for putting the time in its very useful.
So my final question i guess, if you needed one method of printing quality full colour logos onto garments to go with your transfer vinyl, being print and contour cut and press on, would you stick with the ricoh or oki or r neither upto the performance of solvent prints.
Reason being most of the garments are cotton and the rest are dark poly. Guessing you have never printed garment material with your z2100.
thanks
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Hi, I’ve never tried to do garment prints on the Z2100, I don’t think the inks are compatible with a long life on gaments (I may be wrong).
re contour cutting, never done it here with this equipment, TMT laser do have dark transfer vinyl but again, it’s something I haven’t used for some time, they also have the wow system which uses white inks and leaves none of the backing paper on, info on http://www.themagictouch.co.uk i think. for dark materials I just sub in the solvent.
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Hi Hugh,
I have purchased the HP Designjet Photo z2100 a few months ago from a seller on gumtree, I haven’t yet used it, as the reason I purchased it was to print on self adhesive Vinyl. But a friend of mine said its not possible to do that. I just wanted to double check with yourself if it was possible to print on self adhesive Vinyl? and if so where would you recommend me purchasing the self adhesive Vinyl?
Sorry for the headache, am relatively now in to the industry..
Thank You :smiles:
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quote mohammad esa:Hi Hugh,
I have purchased the HP Designjet Photo z2100 a few months ago from a seller on gumtree, I haven’t yet used it, as the reason I purchased it was to print on self adhesive Vinyl. But a friend of mine said its not possible to do that. I just wanted to double check with yourself if it was possible to print on self adhesive Vinyl? and if so where would you recommend me purchasing the self adhesive Vinyl?
Sorry for the headache, am relatively now in to the industry..
Thank You :smiles:
Hi Mohammed,
You can print on to self adhesive vinyl..take a look at Colourbyte (or colorbyte) and Plot-it, both supply self adhesive vinyls for the Z2100 range and in 24 -48", as well as all the papers and films you’ll ever need.
Do laminate any prints.
If you have an optical cutter and rip, I guess you could print and cut but I never did. for some reason the print doesn’t always match ‘cut vinyl’ sizing when I tried to mix the two. For builders boards etc. it is fine.
Best
Hps. I sold this printer about 10 months ago, now running HP latex.
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Hi Hugh,
Thanks for your advice, I will for sure check Colourbyte and Plot-it. Just another question, As I have just started up in this industry, I currently don’t have a laminating machine, whats the best alternative? or is there none?
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Look out for a small 700mm laminator, easymount or the like, or laminate by hand using clear vinyl.
It’s not ideal for long term signage but short term stuff is ok outside.
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Mohammed, there’s a small laminator for sale in the classifieds – be perfect for your z2100 (if it’s the 24" printer)
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Thanks for remembering me Hugh, Its in fact the 42" Z2100 which I have. Do let me know please if any other bigger ones turn up.
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This is a printer used for photos and canvas most of the time – it was my first purchase few years back when I first though about establishing my own business. As far as i remember the inks were water based and useless for exterior use, media expensive and machine anoying to use becouse ofovercomplicated media loading and aligning feature. I got rid of it after 3 months. On the plus side it produces good quality photos on special hp paper. Used to get media for it from yuan yuan.
Just my 5p but i supose as with all the machinery out there it has it’s own following. -
quote Martin Lemiesz:This is a printer used for photos and canvas most of the time – it was my first purchase few years back when I first though about establishing my own business. As far as i remember the inks were water based and useless for exterior use, media expensive and machine anoying to use becouse ofovercomplicated media loading and aligning feature. I got rid of it after 3 months. On the plus side it produces good quality photos on special hp paper. Used to get media for it from yuan yuan.
Just my 5p but i supose as with all the machinery out there it has it’s own following.My experience was generally different, other than a few issues here and there, its was a fantastic little printer, rarely any loading issues, more to do with software I found.
I printed canvas, photo, poster, roll up banner, self adhesive vinyl for very short term or interiror, I would laminate it in order to make tradesmens site boards, magnetic signs and other short life expectancy work.
Yes, it is water based but was pretty durable and good UV properties, I didn’t think inks were particularly expensive and they lasted a long time for their size. They are expensive compared to say a 775ml latex cart for £100 but still, cheap really! I still occasionally see a set of magnetics or builders boards I made 2+ yrs ago on it!
I only sold it as I upgraded to a HP latex, if I’d had the space I would’ve kept it! It’s not ideal and I’d never recommend it for vehicle graphics but there’s an awful lot I could do with that little printer, it did enough to increase my profits to the point where I could see my own wide format being justifiable!
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