Large commercial art/photo prints. Epson P8500 [P8570] review. A pigment ink production printer

[@JeffreyStulin]

I will never own a printer like that. I will probably never use a printer like that. But seeing one in action is a hell of a lot of fun. Thank you Keith, your video has improved my mood and has made my day!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@MrNanootje]

Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge on youtube. Your dedication and most of all your honesty. 25 years ago i started with an Epson Stylus Colour 2.....and now starting again with photography, B&W and only like big prints on the wall. So again, thank you very much for all you are sharing here on youtube. Deep respect for your experiences and craftsmanship. Greatings from Rob from the Netherlands

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks Rob! If you ever have any questions suggestions for stuff I might have not covered feel free to email me at Northlight Images

[@MrNanootje]

Your welcome. I have lots of questions 😅 But step by step I am learning and thank you for offering your help toward me. One of my questions is a main issue for lots of "basic" printers. Is it possible with the professional printers to print only black, if one of the colour cartridges is empty? So can you print only with the black.?

[@KeithCooper]

@@MrNanootje In general - trying to print with one cart empty is not good for the printhead. There are very good reasons why most printers will not permit this It is possible with some basic cheap printers, but forget it for a printer of any quality.

[@MrNanootje]

Thank you.

[@noidcustomtee]

Finally someone showing actual printing on this printer. Literally the only video online right now. Keep printing!

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - I need to go back there and show the P6500 as well

[@deraldart]

such fun ! congratulations, on location works great, i can imagine the additional challenges. i enjoy and learn so much from your videos, thank you.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks so much! I need to pay some attention to the sound -the room had much more echo than my office full of bookshelves

[@jorgenudvang3507]

Great review.. Probably exactly the printer I need. Saves money and space, and few if any of my clients will see any difference between this and a million inks printer.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - yes, a very good printer.

[@jessekoskinen]

Always a pleasure to see these large printers in use. Had I the funds and space, the Epson P9500 would be very tempting.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - P9500 or a P20000 for me ;-)

[@jeffoldbean]

Go on Keith, get that six footer, up in your office. For your next Video.

[@KeithCooper]

Only if I get a bigger office I'm afraid... Tomorrow, I do have a 24" Canon TC20M turning up which I'm hoping to get into an as yet unseen part of the office.

[@MrNanootje]

Bedankt

[@KeithCooper]

That's very kind of you - thanks!

[@MrNanootje]

😊 Your knowledge is priceless. You're a good teacher

[@dunnymonster]

Thats a whole lot of printer! 😮 Not sure it would fit on my table lol 😁

[@KeithCooper]

They do a 24" version ;-)

[@dunnymonster]

@@KeithCooper Perfect for the bathroom 😁

[@TonyMcKee-b2f]

Hi Keith thanks so much for your detailed review, very informative. Here's my conundrum......I currently have an art business where I sell prints from my Epson ET-8550 which my customers typically view as stunning, primarily due to the bright color values from my use of watercolor and inking. I have become quite adept at using this printer, but since I'm limited in size to 13" x 19" (along with very slow printing), I'm looking for an option to upsize prints, and the P6570E printer (P6500 in UK) appears to be a great fit, assuming that the PRO6 ink set in this larger printer would closely mimic the color gamut of my ET-8550, using the same Red River Aurora Art 300 paper which I currently use. I guess the wildcard in this assumption is the potential variation in dye versus pigment coloring between the two printers. I'd love to get your opinion, since the leap to a 10-12 color printer is a costly one, and I seem to be making out keenly in my art business with the quality of prints produced by the ET-8550. Thanks so much in advance for your advice!

[@KeithCooper]

Well, on that paper, the 8550 is already using pigment black, so it's the colours you are considering. With a good profile, the P6500 should be able to easily match what the 8550 can do on that paper - the key is the profile though, as well as how you are printing on the 8550. Yes, you may need to slightly tweak editing/printer settings, but likely not a lot [if at all]

[@TonyMcKee-b2f]

@@KeithCooper Thanks so much Keith, I've been in touch with Red River, they currently don't have ICC's for these printers but would like to work with me to generate if I decide to pull the trigger. Cheers!

[@KeithCooper]

That's good - they are an excellent supplier.

[@simonmatthews5681]

Great video! Which 24 inch printer would be better for a poster/landscape images/photo printing business, the P6500 or the P7500, taking ink costs into account? Thank you 🙂

[@KeithCooper]

The 6500 is [maybe] a bit cheaper to run - depends entirely on what quality level your business works at... I'd pick the 7500 any day [actually 9500], but my prints are refreshingly expensive, and I play on the quality and 'fine art' side of marketing. To use a nonsense marketing term, mine are 'Giclee' prints ;-)

[@simonmatthews5681]

@@KeithCooper Thank you for replying so quickly and thanks for the great info! I really would prefer the option of having the quality of the 7500 myself as well. I was also looking at a used Mimaki CJV30-60, which is more of a commercial-looking machine. Would something like that be better for a home startup business or is it overkill?

[@KeithCooper]

I don't know the Mimaki I'm afraid - my concerns would be the software to run it. Also, it's a printer made more for signage use - stickers, labels and the like

[@KeithCooper]

Of, don't forget the new Canon PRO-2600. Not seen one yet...

[@simonmatthews5681]

@@KeithCooper Yes, that's the impression I got from searching KZbin. Thanks.

[@DaveAdams222]

hey, can you unplug your printer, I'm trying to bake a cake and the lights keep dimming

[@KeithCooper]

You'll be pleased to know that this one uses less electricity than older ones ;-) :-)

[@bifcake]

Hi Keith, can you do the same prints on the p9500 printer and talk about the differences? Thanks

[@KeithCooper]

If I get a chance to go back for some more testing, I'll try to see

[@bifcake]

@@KeithCooper Thanks. I look forward to your comparison

[@ignatiusjk]

Simple question... which printer is better for photography the 8570D or the P9570. I shoot and print landscapes. Room is a consideration.

[@KeithCooper]

Maybe a simple question - but there are no simple answers... ;-) The P9500 has more inks and is more aimed at higher end photo printing. The P8500 is more production oriented Both work well, but as to sizes, you will need to read the specs. As to 'better' ... in what respects?

[@ignatiusjk]

@@KeithCooper Quality

[@KeithCooper]

Ah, 'quality' means something different to everyone who ever uses the term...

[@svdklink]

Hi Keith! In the shorter video you were talking about putting the icc profiles on your northlightimages website. I've searched for a while but no luck. Care to share? I think the "fineart" paper you used is called Innova IFA12 Soft Textured Natural White 315gr in my region. No suplier has a icc profile for the 8500 (which I guess will be the same for the 6500 too). Not much icc profiles I could find for the 8500 on non Epson papers.

[@KeithCooper]

Unfortunately, the laptop I was using [for profiling] was lost and I never got to go back to Dupli to finish my testing [with the 6500] This paper used to be almost the same as Epson Cold Press natural - I do however have four P8500 profiles in my archive, which may well be those I made? Email me at Northlight - the profiles are only available by direct request for licensing reasons

[@noidcustomtee]

This printer has a catch tray its the black bar above the rolls. It is auto retract.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes - I only got a relatively short period to do this testing - if there are any other areas of interest, lease let me know?

[@svdklink]

Hi Keith, I did not follow up on your previous reply yet about the paper profiles, but in the meantime I would love to aks you if you can point me in the right direction. I bought the smaller version P6500D. With black and white prints the dark area's are like shiny charcoal prints... (using 250 gsm satin paper for the tests). The black spots on a leopard have this weird shiny smudged charcoal coating. With a black and white portrait only the moustache was printed like that. Double checked media settings etc. In color no black issues. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction? I find being part of the community more fun than contacting the dealer, but if needed I'll go that route. Is it somehow choosing the matte black? I do not have this issue with advanced black and white on the P900.

[@KeithCooper]

Are you using ABW for the 6500? I'd suggest my standard B&W test image [on the site] to see if it is a paper/driver issue. Check a different lustre type paper and avoid the highest quality settings

[@robinjones6999]

It's a monster, Keith. May I ask you a daft question? - Why are the margins on those prints not even?

[@KeithCooper]

The printer works just fine - user incompetence at work... ;-) Purely my positioning of the image on a custom page size, or printing something like an A3+ print [13" x 19"] on 17" roll paper.

[@fvr12345]

Hi Keith! I just upgraded from a P8000 to the P8570D and although it's a great printer (the speed is phenomenal), I am having some issues with the software. When I print directly through Photoshop it will often crash before the print window even pops up. If I bypass Photoshop, by saving as a jpeg and dropping into the Epson Print Layout software, then that will also crash every now and then. My files are small, I have plenty of memory on my computer, and I'm directly connected via USB printer cable. I've tried reinstalling Photoshop and all of the Epson Drivers/Utilities/Firmware (even uninstalling Utilities), but no luck. Have you experienced anything like this?

[@KeithCooper]

I've not seen it, but then again, I was printing from CS6/EPL on a MacOS 10.13 2010 MacBook Pro ;-) I will be going back to do some more testing, but not using anything newer (unless someone sends me a winning lottery ticket ;-) ] Try asking on the print forum at DPReview.com or Luminous Landscape?

[@fvr12345]

@@KeithCooper Glad you're not having any issues. I'll try those forums. Thanks!!!

[@tomhighsmith]

Is that a printer on which they print the 'ART Giclée'?

[@KeithCooper]

No - I'd want a printer with more inks like the P7500/9500 www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-surecolor-p7500-printer-review/ However, Giclee is a completely spurious marketing term, which of course means some people might decide to use the word anyway ;-) Wherever I see it I just assume I'm reading marketing copy as opposed to anything meaningful ;-) If you're curious I have a video about the subject... kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYKvl3iqpLN3Zrs

[@richardarthur5880]

Hey, want kind of materials can this printer print. Also is it advisable to use this printer for banners and canvas

[@KeithCooper]

Any suitable for aqueous inkjet As to banners - it's not aimed at signage markets

[@valentinbajinaru6551]

but psn sell the printers without ink included?

[@KeithCooper]

Who/what is 'psn'?

[@valentinbajinaru6551]

its a trick . my supplier told me that the ink is included when i bought the printer.but is not so!!!!

[@valentinbajinaru6551]

never buy from romania!

[@mohammedtabrez4864]

What's the price of this printer

[@KeithCooper]

Varies in different markets - check your local Epson web site [I don't sell printers] There are several variant available [the one here is the dual roll version for example]

[@cameraprepper7938]

You still have microphone issues

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, but - this is in an entirely new location - a big echoey room :-) I'm happy with the sound in my office, this [as mentioned right at the start] is a new step in my making videos... It's the first time I've shot anything there - unscripted and shot during testing. It is what it is - I don't get to go back and repeat anything. I'm sure it will make some video experts cringe, but it's not aimed at them ;-) Video is well down my list of skills, somewhere between cooking and my piano playing... Barring unexpected success and riches, my videos will never make 'pro levels' of sound recording, I just don't have the kit for that. Of course, if a sound equipment supplier want to help - all donations gratefully received [and reviewed!]

[@KeithCooper]

I'll look into it, but each new location is going to be a challenge.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@KeithCooper Yes, I know, to get good sound is harder than making a good photo.

[@KeithCooper]

And I'm a photographer by trade - there are sound reasons our business has never offered video as a commercial service ;-)

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@KeithCooper I used to work as a pro photographer, many years ago I tried to record nature sound with analog recorders, really hard to get a good sound out in the nature, at least ten times mor difficult than getting a good wildlife photo. Can the microphone you use be a partly direction microphone ? That could be why the volume goes up and own.

[@supraptosuryodiharjo4338]

it's great printer, but i'm so done with epson, it's "Lady" printer, very hard to maintain...now i use Canon, and never look back again. Easy to maintain, and if i'm not using it for a while, the printer maintain by itself

[@KeithCooper]

I'm afraid [IMHO] that almost any generic Epson vs Canon comment about current printers is at best inaccurate... ...but if you get the results you want then fine ;-)

[@supraptosuryodiharjo4338]

@@KeithCooper i have professional printshop, anything 24inc or below photo i use my silver halide printer, but since Noritsu printer max only 24in wide, i get epson 44 in printer , the color is great, easy to use but since i don't daily print order more than 24 in, i print maybe once every 2 or 3 days on a good day and maybe once a week on a slow day. And epson printer gave headache, i always needs to do nozzle check when start using it, and mostly head cleaning was needed. exactly after the warranty was out, my PH dead, and need replacement. Doing printhead replacement is not easy and PH cost is very expensive...at that moment, i change to canon, and i love it since then. never had clogged since new, the printer can maintain by itself, and PH cost is chead and very easy to replace the best part is, They gave LIFETIME PH warranty as long i use Original INKS (which i always do).

[@jefffenske1958]

Lacking a paper catcher, it just dumps the print onto the floor that's being walked on - yikes!. Looks like it's designed for ease of use, not quality of output, including keeping the print clean.

[@KeithCooper]

100% Wrong there I'm afraid - it has a really neat print catcher, which was so well concealed, I didn't see it. I'll show it when I go back some time - 100% my fault for not seeing it and expecting a far bigger contraption

[@jefffenske1958]

@@KeithCooper That's good to hear. I just went "Ughh," when I saw that print scraping the floor face down, and right where you were standing - which didn't seem like something Epson would design unless ease of use was that important.