We ’re only two week into the new twelvemonth , and already , 2008 is mold up to be a big one for photo printers . Last workweek , Epson unveiled the Stylus Photo R1900 , a boron - size of it ( 13 ” by 19 ” ) photo printer optimize for calendered production . Today , Hewlett - Packard is announcing thePhotosmart Pro B8850 , a B - size printer similarly designed for the advanced amateur lensman , and priced at $ 549 .
The B8850 uses eight pigment - based inks , admit separate shameful ink for photo and matte - ending paper ; a gray-headed ink for impress improved disastrous - and - white photos ; and the standard set of cyan , magenta , light cyan , short Battle of Magenta and yellow ink observe in most midrange to high - end picture pressman . It has a bottom - provender newspaper tray that can deal approximately 50 canvass of stock photo report , and a manual provender tray for handle set spiritualist character up to 0.7 mm chummy . It has a USB 2.0 port on the back , and LED status spark for each cartridge that work on when the ink level dips below a certain portion .
The pressman can handle newspaper publisher size from 3.5″ by 5″ indicant cards all the way up to 13″ by 44″ cyclorama , and can print on a wide variety of composition stocks . It has a built - in densitometer that ensures that the printer is properly calibrated when you first set the unit up , or when you commute inks or printheads . It fare with a full complement of software , including an ink - status widget for Dashboard , a slick customs printing hype - in for Photoshop CS2 , and even tight integration with Photoshop CS3 . It also admit HP ’s advanced mark driver alternative , which lets you total new paper character to the driver on the fly , associating the proper ICC profile with the paper , and making it available as a choice in the Print dialog box .
Welcome, little brother
HP has design the B8850 as the little brother to the $ 700 Photosmart Pro B9180 ( ) . The B9180 was HP ’s first substantial foray into the “ advanced ” photo market when it shipped in 2006 , and over the past two years , the printer has done quite a spot to bring HP back into the semi - pro and professional death of the pic printer marketplace .
Looking at the B9180 and the B8850 side - by - side , you ’ll notice straight off that they ’re fundamentally the same pressman . The B9180 has a condition LCD in position of the B8850 ’s light-emitting diode , and the printers apply slimly different color schemes in their caparison , but HP clear wants to play up the similarity between the two . In fact , they even use the same cartridges and printheads , and they employ the same shut - loop calibration system for color consistency .
So what are the difference between the two models ? They ’re pretty slight :
HP plans to go on to sell the B9180 at its $ 700 Leontyne Price head . However , we ’ve regularly seen it priced in the $ 600 to $ 650 range from certain photograph vendor ( it ’s available through Jan. 31 with a $ 70 mail - in rabbet from theHP online storehouse ) , and ultimately , the B8850 should dunk below $ 500 in many high - volume stores .
Figuring it out
slate to ship at the beginning of April , we think the B8850 will be a quick vender . It has a show ink circle , mordant - and - livid printing process capabilities , and very good composition handling , all at very overnice price . It matches up well against Epson ’s R1900 , which should ship around the same time . Epson ’s focus on sheeny prints is a definite reward ; since it lack the R1900 ’s gloss optimizer , the B8850 will still display some colour differential on many glossy paper types . With the add together gray ink , however , HP should have an edge for photographer looking to produce black - and - white prints , especially on flatness and o.k. art papers . Both of these printer will also do a good job of competing with some of the barn - size of it dye - base inkjets that are priced under $ 500 , including Epson ’s $ 400 Stylus Photo 1400 ( ) and Canon ’s $ 500Pixma Pro9000 .
We have been testing a B8850 for a few days now , and hope to have a quick first look up later this week .
