Epson Stylus 2100/2200 vs Canon i9950/i9000 - SBB Digital Scrapbooking Forums | Scrapbook-Bytes

yvonne74 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004

Does anyone own or have an opinion on these printers. I really want a wide format printer and I beleive the Canon is very good but I want to print on all types and thickness of paper??? and I beleive the Epson is better for this??? Also is this overkill pricewise - can I get a cheaper wide format that is just as good for us scrapbookers.

andyapc · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004

I've got a Canon i9900 and I just love it - my layouts look incredible. I'm not familiar with the i9950 or i9000 but I just wanted to throw another one into the mix just in case you wanted more confusion - LOL

yvonne74 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004

Woops I meant the i9900 - and the i9950 is the Aussie version of the same printer. I too hear some very good reports about the i9900 - Can I ask you what paper you use to print on and have you experimented with thicker ones and also textured. I like the idea of experimenting with various textured background papers. Also do you use generic brand inks??

andyapc · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2004

I only use Canon paper - both matte and glossy. I know a lot of people use different/generic brands of papers with printers and they have great results, but I'm too chicken. I would just hate to plop down all that money on my printer and ruin/damage it just to save a couple of bucks on paper. I feel the same way about ink cartridges - I only use Canon ink. I buy my 13x19 paper at newegg (actually I bought the printer there too - awesome price) - I just checked earlier today and they have 20 sheets of matte for only 11.99 plus 4.99 in shipping - that's a great price and almost 1/2 the price that amazon is selling it for. However, you should always check both places as they change their prices constantly. I haven't found another place to buy the 13x19 matte paper cheaper other than those 2. On the Yahoo board, Sally Beach just recommended superwarehouse.com for the glossy 13x19. It's more expensive than the matte. I love glossy but the matte looks fantastic too, and once you slip it into a page protector - it's glossy! I usually get my glossy or matte 8.5x11 paper at Staples - they usually have a buy one/get one free sale going on.

I've never used anything but Canon paper, so I have no experience with textured paper. However, all the Canon paper I've used is wonderful quality - I love the thickness and feel to it.

As for inks, last time I checked, newegg had cheaper prices for the individual ink tanks, but amazon had a package deal for the entire 8 which wound up being cheaper than buying them all individually at newegg. But, like I said before, they change prices frequently so it's best to check them both out, as well as any other sites recommended by the experienced pros at SBB!

HTH!

Vikki Hansen · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2004

If you can hold out for a little bit, there's talk about Epson releasing a new printer. I believe it will be called R5000. It's the big brother/sister to the R800 and the rumors are that it will print larger sizes. I've read some excellent reviews on the R800, and would choose that over the 2200, so I'm holding out to see what the price and specs are on the R5000. Epson has an enormous line of papers too.

mikenandrea · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2004

I have the epson 2200..it's wonderful!..As some said before in a post..its almost like your there..Theres one feature I love love love about this printer and thats, that you can just change out one color and not throw away your ink..I am fidning that it is using alot more yellow than the rest of the other colors.

guikrazy · #7 (**permalink**) 11-07-2004

When I was recently (about 2 months ago) looking for a wide format printer, I came up with a list of features I wanted: obviously wide format, firewire as well as usb 2 connection, and also the ability to print directly to CD/DVD's. I didn't find a printer that fit all of those wishes, (but from the sounds of the previous post Epson might me making it) so I ended up picking the Canon i9900. Please see below for a comment I placed on the i9900 in another post:

am still new to digital (or any form of) scrapbooking, but I think I can till give you some advice.

I fell in love with the space of a 12X12 page, but also knew that I wanted to ability to print at home, as I have NO time to run around to places to get the printing done. After doing some research, I found out about wide format ink jet printers. However, I was really hesistent to spend the cash for yet another printer. Finally, I just gave in and initially considered the Epson Stylus 1280. I decided against the Epson b/c I have had Epsons in the past and have found them to be noisy and "ink guzzlers"!! I then looked at reviews on the internet and kept reading over and over again Excellent Reviews on the Cannon i9900, so I purchased it.

I am now SO HAPPY WITH MY CANON i9900!! I think it is worth every cent I spent. The image quality is GREAT!!!!!! Another advantage is it's connectivity: you can directly connect to your camera (I never do this as I always put my photos in iPhoto first), you can connect via USB2 (which of course is backwards compatible with USB1), and BEST OF ALL you can connect via Firewire............VERY QUICK 12X12 print outs!!! Given the multitude of connectivity options, I have been able to connect the printer via USB to my PC and to my Mac via Firewire. Last, but not least: It is SOooooo quiet!! I can do my printing at night and not wake anyone up.

One disadvantage over Epson: Canon does not make 12X12 inkjet scrapbook paper, just Epson, it is not a big deal to buy the paper from Epson, but what it does mean is that the printing software included with the Canon, which allows for borderless printing, only has preset sizes that do not include 12X12 and there is no way to set up your own custom borderless sizes. I have emailed Canon about this issue and for now they have no plans to change the software or produce their own 12X12 paper. (I think I will just keep emailing them/write them letters until they change their mind! ) I have tried to print my own borderless printing via manipulating my Page Setup (I own a Mac. I don't know if there is the equivalent on PC's, because even though I own a PC I do all creative work on my Mac) and Photoshop printing settings, but I have yet been able to produce borderless prints. It has not been much of an issue anyhow as I have been trimming my pages with the Carl RT-200 12 inch trimmer which allows for 11 different interchangable pattern blades.

I would difinitely buy the Cannon i9900 again in a heartbeat!