blbates@AERO36.LARC.NASA.GOV (Brent Bates ViGYAN AAD/TAB) (06/04/91)
We have a Tektronix 4693D. It isn't their PostScript printer, but, from what I hear on the net, I don't know if I would want a PostScript one. We are very pleased with our 4693D. We haven't had any major problems with it. The print head went bad once, but since then no real problems. We have had it for about two years I think. We use it primarily for quick hard copy, day to day stuff or when the boss comes in and says he needs it yesterday, :-). You have to be carefull with transparencies, because they tend to melt. The 4693 is a four pass system; cyan, yellow, magenta, and black. For paper hard copies I use all four passes, but for transparencies, I drop the black. This helps slow down or eliminate the melting depending on the image and the projector. For quality hard copy, we have a centrally located film recorder that we use for transparencies, slides, and negatives. If you HAVE to have PostScript, I guess the Tektronix would be the best bet. If you don't HAVE to have PostScript, I would go with the Kodac 7700 (? I don't remember if that is the correct number or not, I just got another flier from them the other day.) The Kodac unit gives you 8"x11" or 11"x11" prints or transparencies, that DON'T scratch or melt like thermal wax and they are near photo quality too. You can get SCSI or IEEE interfaces for the unit. It also cost about twice as much as thermal printers, around $20-25k. If you are interested in the Kodac unit, I can find the info and send more infomation tomorrow. Brent L. Bates Phone:(804) 864-2854 NASA-Langley Research Center FAX:(804) 864-6792 M.S. 361 Hampton, Virginia 23665-5225 E-mail: blbates@aero36.larc.nasa.gov or blbates@aero8.larc.nasa.gov
blbates@AERO36.LARC.NASA.GOV (Brent Bates ViGYAN AAD/TAB) (06/05/91)
Our Tektronix 4693D cost about $10k. We bought the unit with 4 ports,
and 8Mb memory. It is like anything else you buy, they list a price for a
stripped down machine, but by the time you get everything you need to make
it useful, it cost more. You're lucky, I just found that information on
the Kodak unit. It is a Kodak XL 7700 Digital Continuous Tone Printer.
Printing method: Thermal dye sublimation transfer
Output options: Prints, transparencies
Output Size: 8.5"x11", 11"x11" (w/half" borders)
Max. Image Areas:
8.5"x11": 7.56"x10.08"
11"x11": 10.08"x10.08"
Resolution: 200 ppi, 8 ppmm (8-bit input/color plane)
Density Range: 0.07-2.5 (prints), 0.05-2.7 (transparencies)
Digital data size:
8.5"x11": 1536x2048 pixels
11"x11": 2048x2048 pixels
Print times (8.5x11):
Color: 3.5 minutes
Black & White: 1.6 minutes
Prints/cartridge:
Color: 100
Black & White: 300
Prints/tray: 100
Interfaces: IEEE 488 and SCSI
Phone numbers for more information:
In U.S.: 800-445-6325, Ext. 110
In Canada: 800-465-6325, Dept. 345
Outside U.S. & Canada: 716-726-4749 (FAX: 716-726-6750)
B&W unit ~$19k, color ~$25k
This information was sent to me in January of this year.
The sample hard copy looks like a photo.
P.S. I am posting this because others asked about the Kodak printer.
Brent L. Bates Phone:(804) 864-2854
NASA-Langley Research Center FAX:(804) 864-6792
M.S. 361
Hampton, Virginia 23665-5225
E-mail: blbates@aero36.larc.nasa.gov or blbates@aero8.larc.nasa.govbaskett@forest.asd.sgi.com (Forest Baskett) (06/06/91)
An important part of the color printing equation is the cost of consumables. The Kodak 7700 is nice but the cost per print is several dollars. The Tek color wax print is less than 25 cents. There is definitely a place for both, all things considered. Forest Baskett Silicon Graphics