Epson Stylus Pro 3880 Inkjet Printer (CA61201-VM)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Designed without compromise. — With the Epson Stylus Pro 3880, uncompromising quality is within reach. Engineered for the discriminating professional, this compact, 17"-wide printer includes Epson UltraChrome K3^® with Vivid Magenta Ink Technology, world-renowned for professional printing applications. This, combined with an advanced MicroPiezo^® AMC^™ print head, enables the Pro 3880 to produce gallery-quality color and black-and-white output up to 17" x 22". The printer’s industry-acclaimed ink set delivers a phenomenal color gamut with breathtaking blues and violets. All-new AccuPhoto^™ HD2 technology provides smoother color transitions and better highlight and shadow detail for prints with a true photographic look. Exceptional print quality and professional media support — the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 makes it all possible. Now, you can achieve stunning wide-format prints to professionally showcase your work and bring your creative visions to life.

What the press is saying:

Epson UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta Ink Technology

This professional, 8-color ink set with advanced magenta pigments provides more dramatic blues and violets for an impressive color gamut. Its three-level black technology delivers richer blacks, outstanding tonal range and an unprecedented gray balance, all of which ensure outstanding black-and-white prints. Built on Epson’s heritage of professional ink technology, this pigment ink set offers instant color stability. Colors stay consistent, whether viewed right out of the printer or decades later. With Epson UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta, you get print quality and longevity that satisfies the most demanding professional.

Sleek, compact printer; superior, wide-format prints

The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 optimizes your working space. This compact, professional-level printer generates exhibition quality prints, worthy of gallery display, up to 17" x 22" — an innovation made possible by Epson’s expertise in microminiaturization and professional printing technology.

AccuPhoto HD2 technology

Created from a collaboration between Epson and the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Munsell Color Science Laboratory, AccuPhoto HD2 combines a complex mathematical architecture and advanced screening technology to provide outstanding image quality. AccuPhoto HD2 is specifically engineered to ensure precision placement of each individual ink droplet, resulting in smooth, grain-free images. Choosing from an extraordinary number of possible ink combinations for each color, this technology optimizes ink usage to maximize the color gamut and provide smooth color transitions and gradations. Reduction of the metameric index makes it possible to achieve consistent color under different lighting conditions. And, it ensures truly photographic prints, even in high-speed or lower resolution print modes.

Advanced MicroPiezo print head with AMC

Our advanced MicroPiezo print head with AMC (Advanced Meniscus Control) is at the core of Epson’s advanced ink jet technology, enabling the Epson Stylus Pro 3880 to deliver incredible detail. This permanent, high-performance print head creates variable-sized droplets as small as 3.5 picoliters and places them with remarkable accuracy and precision. This professional print head also incorporates an ink-repelling coating which decreases maintenance and increases reliability. Working together with Epson PreciseColor^™ technology, the print head delivers consistent print quality every time from every Epson Stylus Pro 3880.

Advanced Black-and-White Photo Mode

Part of an advanced workflow, this exclusive technology is your key to intuitive and consistent control, for stunning neutral or toned black-and-white prints. Choose from one of four present menus — neutral, warm, cool or sepia. Or, fine tune your image further with custom slider bars and the color tone wheel that gives you precise control. Customized settings can be saved and recalled to achieve consistent prints every time.

Epson Pro series printers, ink and media — the ultimate in clarity and color

Epson Pro series printers, ink and media work together seamlessly to produce prints of unsurpassed quality and impact. Epson offers a wide array of media types and finishes to customize every creative inspiration.

Features/Benefits

• Industry-leading pigment ink technology — Epson UltraChrome K3 with Vivid Magenta Ink for intense blues and violets
• Professional control — Advanced Black-and-White Photo Mode to easily create neutral or toned black-and-white prints from color or monochrome images
• Precision print head technology — Advanced MicroPiezo AMC, one-inch wide print head with ink-repelling coating for accurate dot placement
• Optimal black density — auto-switching Matte and Photo Black ink for a high Dmax and superior contrast on glossy, matte and fine art papers
• Advanced image-quality architecture — smoother color transitions and outstanding highlight and shadow detail with AccuPhoto HD2 screening algorithms
• Broad media support — create prints on media types including semimatte paper, fiber paper, fine art media or art boards up to 1.5 mm thick
• Consistent output from printer to printer — Epson PreciseColor ensures no colorimetric calibration is required to normalize the print head
• Specialized support — dedicated support for Epson Stylus Pro 3880 users from an expert team at Epson
• Dimensions (W x D x H) — 27" x 15" x 10" and Weight 4.2 lb

Epson Stylus Pro printers

With a legacy of developing innovative imaging technology, it’s no wonder Epson is the overwhelming brand of choice among professional photographers. Epson Stylus Pro series products offer quality without compromise.

Stylus Pro 3880 TUMI^® cover (C3800TUMI) Photo Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge (T580100) Cyan UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge (T580200) Yellow UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge (T580400) Light Cyan UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge (T580500) Light Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge (T580700) Light Light Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge (T580900) What’s in the Box

• Stylus Pro 3880
• Photo Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Cyan UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Vivid Magenta UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Yellow UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Light Cyan UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Vivid Light Magenta UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Light Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Matte Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Light Light Black UltraChrome K3 ink cartridge
• Single sheet guide
• Printer documentation

Eco Features

• ENERGY STAR^® qualified
• Designed to be recycled

See our website for convenient and reasonable recycling options at www.epson.com/recycle

Epson Stylus Pro 3880

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15 x 27 x 10 inches ; 43.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 43.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002PLQ7LI
• Item model number: CA61201-VM
  

Price : $1,179.99
You Save : $115.01 (9%)

Technical Details

• Industry-leading pigment ink technology
• Professional control
• Precision print head technology
• Optimal black density
• Advanced image quality architecture

Costumer Reviews

This printer was purchased to replace an Epson Stylus Pro 4000 that I have been using for about the past 3 years. When the 4000 came out, it was supposed to be technological breakthrough and had multiple rave reviews. Ultimately, I've been disappointed with it, both from a "quality of final print" and "ease of printing" standpoint. The Epson Stylus Pro 3880 is two generations beyond the 4000, and corrects the major flaws of its predecessor.

I consider myself an advanced amateur photographer, having printed all of my own photographs (B;W and color) in the darkroom for more than 25 years. I'm really comparing the results of the Stylus Pro printers to the best results that I could achieve using traditional methods. Digital photography is going to replace 99% of traditional photo processing, so the standard seems fair.

From a print quality standpoint, the SP 4000 suffered from significant bronzing (metallic sheen when viewed at an angle), metamerism (color shifts dependent on lighting) and gloss differential (difference in sheen depending on thickness of ink sprayed in an area). The majority of these flaws have been addressed by the latest generation of ink (Ultrachrome K3 with Vivid Magenta) and the newest printhead. On B;W prints, where bronzing was the biggest issue, bronzing is now completely absent on prints using Epson Exhibition Fiber paper and Ultra Premium Luster. I also don't appreciate any significant color shifts (metamerism) when viewing prints under different lighting conditions or different angles. Gloss differential has been significantly improved, but not completely eliminated. With the SP 4000, the ink would turn glossy surfaces semigloss, leaving a very distracting pattern. With the SP 3880, the only areas with subtle gloss differential are areas where there is no ink at all (washed out highlights). If there is any ink at all on the surface, the print looks even and smooth, even on glossy paper.

The quality of the prints are really quite amazing. For the first time in my life, I looked at a couple of prints that I made in the "Advanced B;W" mode and had to admit that they were as good as anything that I could have produced in the darkroom. The Epson Exhibition Fiber paper (F surface) has a look and feel very similar to the Ilford FB (fiber based) Glossy paper that I used to print on. The color prints are also stunning. Although the Ilfochrome prints I used to make had a level of color depth and saturation that was hard to beat, these SP 3880 prints are at least 98% as good with 20% of the effort and 100% better control (via Photoshop).

The machine itself appears reasonably well built and thoughtfully designed. It's not quite the beast that the 4000 was, but that's mostly a good thing. This machine can actually be lifted by one person and takes up a footprint that's about 20% less than the 4000. The front door where the prints come out does seem a bit flimsy, but with care it should hold up. The only unanswered question for me regards ink jet clogging. The SP 4000 was very difficult to unclog if it sat unused for a week or two. I would estimate that at least half my ink went towards unclogging the print head. I understand that the newest generation is supposed to be better, but I'll find out over the next few months. Right now, the printer is being used nearly daily, trying to reprint all of the pictures that I was 80% satisfied with in the past.

In summary, the Stylus Pro 3880 is a significant advancement from older machines. It might not be enough to justify upgrading from a 3800, but if you're using a 4000/7600/9600 generation machine, you'll never regret it.

Addendum: The one year follow-up!

After one year of printing fairly regularly, I have to say that I am still very pleased with the printer. The most amazing thing, by far, is the fact that the ink jets have never clogged even once. The old SP 4000 clogged even after 5 days of disuse. Although I'm generally printing small photos, I'm actually still on my first set of ink cartridges. I easily went through 5-10 times the amount of ink with the SP 4000. I didn't realize how much ink I was actually wasting clearing the ink jets regularly (in spite of never running a "power" cleaning). My only minor complaint with the printer is still the mild gloss differential. For more critical prints, I've sprayed on PremierArt's Print Shield with good results. No other issues so far and many outstanding prints in both color and B;W.

I have been working with the Epson 3880 now for the last 2 weeks since it arrived. After much research I have eagerly awaited the release of Epson's newest printer. Set up with my PC was a snap - no brainer here. Before my first print, I calibrated my monitor with the Spyder system which I also highly recommend. I've printed with both Photoshop and Lightroom. From the very first print.....my colors have been right on the money. In fact, as good as any professional online service I've used. The images are simply astonishing.

I'm using currently Epson paper only, mostly their Velvet Fine Art paper. I have not yet found a need to run a calibration profile on Epson paper. The download paper profiles from Epson appear to be working well. Although I will probably do a test run to see if there is a significant difference. I'm looking forward to trying Red River Paper as well.

I've never done any high-end printing before. I always used on an online print service, but was frustrated with my lack of control over the process. Using a printer of this caliber can be a little overwhelming with Photoshop/Lightroom. It is critical to get your color management issues squared away before hand. It was very helpful to read: The Art of Printing Photos on Your Epson Printer - by Michael Freeman and John Beardsworth which was published earlier this year. This book was enlightening and it made my software/hardware choices much easier.

If you are tired of letting others have the final control over your very best images, are comfortable in PS or LR, utilize monitor calibration, can justify the expense, use higher end camera gear and enjoy the entire creative process that photography entails.....this is the printer you have been waiting for.