OT: Great color laser for Amaray inserts

Coursedesign wrote on 6/29/2008, 11:19 PM
I've been using my new HP Color Laserjet 1518ni for 3 weeks now, and couldn't be much happier.

Outstanding output quality that doesn't look "waxy" where color is printed, tiny text looks totally readable, color saturation is outstanding, printing on heavy card stock comes out perfectly, both PCL 6 and PostScript 3 (!) drivers, 387 MHz CPU, built-in Ethernet interface, slots for every camera flash card format for direct computer-less printing, good photo quality, good communication with PC and Mac users on a network, and even a good P&L warranty.

The "naturalness" of the color printing means that when you print case inserts for Amaray DVD cases, the end result looks like offset printing. It doesn't look goofy when pressing against the plastic cover.

The PostScript 3 driver works really well with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc. so you can get the results you were expecting.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with what I got for $299.99 at my nearest Staples store.
I was one of their first customers, so they threw in a service contract for free also, and $40.00 off a second $59.99 black cartridge.

This is an on-sale price (reg. $399), but they still have a the price and the deal on the extra black cartridge.

Staples also sells a junior model of this, the CP1215, with a much slower CPU (which really affects graphics printing), less resolution, no Ethernet, and a bunch of other crippled features, for $199.99. Save your money and get the real thing.

And their shelf advertising indicates that the next step up from the 1518ni is the HP 3600.

Not exactly! The more expensive 3600 printer is indeed faster, but it lacks the new toner and other technology that makes the 1518 print so nicely.)

HP also has deals on specialty papers, including "Tough" which is used to create waterproof and untearable signs for example, and Glossy Brochure, etc.

Yes, it even prints glossy brochures that look pretty amazing, and excellent 4x6 prints from a second tray slot.

No more ink for me (other than for printing disks).

Comments

farss wrote on 6/30/2008, 12:22 AM
Bummer, no duplex.
Find me one with that print quality that does duplex, network connection and holds say 250 sheets and I'm sold.

Bob.
Coursedesign wrote on 6/30/2008, 12:35 AM
It does have a network connection, and it has manual duplex.

This means you click "Duplex" and it prints the odd pages, then you insert the printed stack again to print the even pages on the back.

If you can find a printer that prints automatic duplex at this quality for less than say $1,500, I'd be interested too.

I just haven't seen it at any price yet.

It is likely that HP will come out with larger, faster printers using the same tecnology. Probably even this year, perhaps for $600-$700.

Do you need duplex for brochures?
farss wrote on 6/30/2008, 1:24 AM
Do you need duplex for brochures?"

Only had to do booklets to go inside DVD cases once and what a chore. They were around 10 pages with borders so registration was an issue, our old HP Laserjet just couldn't hold registration well enough so we ended up doing it in an Epson inkjet. Really odd that the Inkjet was better but I eventually nutted out the problem.
As the paper is heated in the laser it curls which meant on the second pass the paper feeder would slip. Using coated inkjet paper in the inkjet avoided the problem.

I'd be happy to spend $1,500 or even goto $2,000. I do NOT want to spend $2K and then find out it doesn't do what I want. Problem today with cut throat pricing on everything is finding anyone who'll even bother to demo a unit for me.

Bob.
John_Cline wrote on 6/30/2008, 2:16 AM
Curious that the 256MB memory upgrade for this printer is $600. It appears to just be a standard DDR2 144-pin DIMM. Heck, they want $360 for just the 64 MB RAM upgrade. Seems a tad steep.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 6/30/2008, 5:44 AM
my workaround: I send my covers & anything else fancy to the local print shop. :D The print & cut the covers to my spec (color looks great), it's laser so won't run if it gets wet, looks good against the plasic in a DVD case, i can choose my paper stock if I want something special, they'll fold booklets if necessary.... Yes, it costs more then if I bought my own high quality laser but like said, that's a hefty cash amount (relatively). I can add $0.50 to each DVD I sell and it's no big deal. In fact, I eat that $0.50. It's worth it in the work & time I'm saving myself. :D

a good solution if you don't have the $$ for high quality print stuff.
MSmart wrote on 6/30/2008, 1:47 PM
Stephen, is your "local" shop a national chain or truely "local"? Fifty cents a sheet isn't bad, do they have a minimum per run?

For me, I use Meritline Glossy DVD Case Inserts. Normally $16.99 for 50, but now on special for $9.99. I print them on my Epson R220 with an attached CIS. Low cost printer, low cost ink, excess paper pulls off easy, great looking inserts.
Coursedesign wrote on 6/30/2008, 3:28 PM
Curious that the 256MB memory upgrade for this printer is $600.

On the good side, I don't see why anyone would need more in practical use than the 96MB it comes with.

I have thrown a lot of very heavy graphics at it, never a problem.

I've always bought expansion memory for my HPs from third party suppliers, at a fraction of the price always.

An inkjet with CIS would cost me more than this printer, and I'd have to deal with the heavy inkjet maintenance, so while that is a valid choice for some, it wouldn't be as hassle- and worry-free for me as a dry laser.

I have half a dozen local print shops within walking distance even here, and that would walk for me if case inserts was all I did, and I did them in large volume for each design.

After I get my designs gradually refined enough to go to volume, at that time I'm off to get them offset printed.

But everyone's needs are different.

I just wanted to offer a heads-up on something I had found very useful for my needs, with consistently high print quality (unlike inkjets that need head flushing regularly if you don't keep them busy every day)..

MSmart wrote on 6/30/2008, 4:17 PM
I just wanted to offer a heads-up on something I had found very useful for my needs, with consistently high print quality (unlike inkjets that need head flushing regularly if you don't keep them busy every day).

Point taken. Yes many printers and options are available. Thanks for sharing yours. I don't want to hijack your thread.

Since I mentioned the CIS I use as a means to reduce printing cost, I checked to see what ink (toner) costs are for the 1518ni, Here's what I found from Newegg (including shipping):

Black Toner CB540A $67.99 2,200 (appx) prints = 3 cents per page.

Cyan Toner CB541A $63.99 1,400 (appx) prints = 4.5 cents per page.

Yellow Toner CB542A (same as Cyan)

Magenta Toner CB543A (same as Cyan)

I guess it's hard to say what a real world case insert would cost to produce, but like you said, this is a option to inkjet printers. Thanks for sharing.
R0cky wrote on 6/30/2008, 4:41 PM
All estimated page counts are for 20% coverage, that is 5% of each color. Unless your inserts are text on white, your coverage is way higher.

This is an industry standard way of specifying yield. Both for laser and inkjet.

Rocky
Coursedesign wrote on 6/30/2008, 5:36 PM
Ha-ha-ha!

I'm aware of the 5% coverage standard, and beat it in most of my designs.

Yes, one could get the impression that I like white in my designs. :O)

But why not? It can look very classy, and it saves drying time.

Sort of like Ford's "you can have any color you want as long as it's black" (because black paint dried faster at the time of the T-Ford).
TheHappyFriar wrote on 6/30/2008, 7:40 PM
Stephen, is your "local" shop a national chain or truely "local"? Fifty cents a sheet isn't bad, do they have a minimum per run?

YES! Completely local. Just checked, I was off, $0.55 1-10 copies, 8.5x1120# paper single sided, 11-100 $0.50 (my order was 15), 101 & up $0.45. Same price if it's a 8.5x11 photo or a logo in a corner (think they have special letterhead pricing though). Black & White start @ $0.15. Can't get officemax or kinkos to let me upload a file for price comparison though.

Some things do have a min run (like business cards, 100 min), but they do quite a bit. Plus, it's next to the meat shop & down the road from the pizza place. So the order normally is: pick up two frozen pizza's, pick up fresh cut meat & drop off print order. Or if I e-mailed, pick it up. :D