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

Part two of my review of the Epson P-8500 [P8570 in the USA] 44" 6 ink printer. The version here is the P8500D supporting two rolls of paper and auto loading.
A production printer for copy shops and commercial photo and art printing. Six pigment inks. CMYK+ Grey. P8500 is 44" width. How does it work and what sort of quality can you get from just 5 inks [CMY and grey + Pk or Mk black].
The 24" version of this printer is the P6500 [US P6570]
Questions welcome
Printer testing carried out at Dupli in Leicester. @DupliCreate dupli.co.uk
For a short [~30s] comparison of the printer gamut on a cotton rag art paper with a P5000 see
• Epson P8500 [P8570] ga...
This is the second, more detailed look at the P8500D
For a shorter [12min] overview, see
• Epson P8500 [P8570] re...
Printer details
P8500 [44"]
www.epson.co.uk/en_GB/product...
P6500 [24" single roll]
www.epson.co.uk/en_GB/product...
The papers tested
dupli.co.uk/spectrajet-soft-t...
dupli.co.uk/spectrajet-photo-...
dupli.co.uk/spectrajet-semi-m...
For USA printer versions see epson.com/For-Work/Printers/L...
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[@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

[@user-jn6yb5ib7x]

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.

[@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

[@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 😁

[@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?

[@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.

[@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

[@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 ;-) :-)

[@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

[@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.