Fargo Primera
13 messages in this thread
Having received info in the mail and read the article in 3D Artist on the Fargo
Primera Dye-Sub printer, I am interested in this product. Anybody out there
actually own and operate one?
Input appreciated…………..Mike
Don't forget to check out the Subj: Printing in this section for a discussion
on the Fargo dye-sub printer.
Nik
Read the current thread entitled "Printing". That's what it's about. They're
good, but it takes some work to figure out optimal print settings. You can't
beat the price, though.
Dave
Wellll……Mike…..since you've asked <g>. Yes I happen to own and operate
the Fargo Primera Dye-Sub printer….Uh…but I'm a dealer too so that probably
let's me out of the non-biased catagory <g>.
I happen to love the unit. As has been mentioned the 3DS colors require some
tweaking but then you should own either PhotoStyler or PhotoShop to go out to
the unit via windows. I use the PhotoStyler 2.0 program and have even had a
great time tweaking the ol' Valley.tga file just for fun.
Looks Great! and actually when you look at the cost of the thermal for proofing
first then going to the Photo-Realistic output for the final it's cheaper to
run than the PaintJet's by about $2.00 per Proof on the thermal side.
If your looking to talk about the details or Ahhhh….Hemmmm…<g> ….possibly
"Purchase" a unit. Feel Free to give me a shout.
James M. Murphy
JAMES MURPHY CONSUTLING
Green Bay, Wisconsin U.S.A.
(414) 435-7345.
James: Thanks for the info and I did see the thread on the forum regarding the
Primera. Sounds like a good thing for the price. Is it possible to see a copy
of its output? I received a brochure from Fargo and it showed a picture of a
picture, but I would be interested in seeing the real thing. Is your pricing
comparable to Fargo's?
Seems they are offering it at $995.
Do you tweak color in 3DS or Photoshop? Seems that tweaking in PS would be the
way to go. I have both PhotoStyler and PhotoShop.
Thanks again, Mike
Mike:
There is a $249 Photorealism package or some such thing that you must have as
far as the total package is concerned. I asked the Fargo dudes about the same
ad which you refer to (Price = $995). The total for the unit directly from
Fargo was $1245. I have no idea what this extra package is or why it is not
simply included in the base unit and price. Hey Murph' set us straight here.
Bob
Robert,
Sorry I haven't been on the forum much latley so this may be a little late.
Regarding the Primera "Fargo" Color Printer:
The Base Price for the Printer is $995.
This Printer is a "Dual Output" Quality Printer, that is, The Straight Printer
comes all set to go with a 3-Color Ribbon that provides wax thermal transfer
technology, a technology usually associated with much higher priced printers.
The real savings comes when you want to do "Full Page Coverage" Color Printing.
For Example, if you own an InkJet color Printer your Cost depends a lot on your
Page Coverage. A company News Letter with a 25% Graphics and 75% Graphics
image composition costs you $ .78 for paper and $1.80 for an Overhead
Transparency on the InkJet. The Cost on the Primera Thermal Transfer for Paper
is $ .45 and the Overhead Transparency $1.09.
Here's were it starts to get interesting……
Since You and I are not going to be doing a lot of news letters or sales
brochures and will mostly be doing Business Graphics with 50% or 100% Page
coverage we save big time: Here's that cost:
The 50% Example cost on the InkJet is $1.47 for Paper and $2.49 for
Transparency. on the Primera it's $ .45 and $1.09 respectivley….Are you
starting to see a pattern here <g>….
Here's the real shocker….If you want to use your InkJet for 100% Page
Coverage as in "Most Business Presentations" you and I would be using…. The
InkJet cost for paper is $2.83 and Transparency is $3.85!!
Oh…Ya' the Primera cost is $ .45 and " " $1.09 Respectivly.
When I first purchased this unit I wasn't aware of this type of savings as I
just wanted to get my hands on the Thermal Transfer Technology at this low
price…
So now we look at the added Luxurey of Proofing on the 45 cent thermal first
for full page color and add the Photo-Realistic upgrade Kit for
$249.00….You've really got to see the Photo-Realistic Quality to appreciate
it!!!
I've been wanting to be able to provide these type of pictures to my clients
for years but could only dream about it because of the "former" high prices on
these type of Dye-Sub Printers.
I'm soooo happy with this unit I could care less if I ever sold one as a
dealer….I know that sounds silly because we're all in business to help
provide ourselfs with a living but I really do appreciate the value of this
unit that much!
The other Good News is this unit not only works on my IBM Compatible, but you
can get it setup for the Macintosh and Amiga Platforms too.
Since I am a Dealer I guess I can be accused of trying to promote this product
and I certainly will not turn away any sales…..but when you look at all the
awards this printer has won as well as all those writeups in PC Magazine, PC
Computing, MacUser, MacWEEK, Craig Crossman Even wrote about it in the Miami
Herald…..Geeezz Gimme a Break….The decision to buy this printer is an easy
YES even if you were only considering an InkJet as a first choice.
So….How many do you think your company could use? <BG>
Murph'
Murph'
Thanks for the informative note on the Fargo printer. Which program do you
prefer to print from? How would one go about sharing the device between Macs
and PC's? I have a couple of old 286's about to hit the junk pile, would it be
conceivable to give them new life dedicated to serving the Fargo printer?
Bob
Robert,
Since they Primera/Fargo does use the CPU that sounds like a perfect way to
utilize an old Computer.
I like to use PhotoStyler 2.0.
Murph'
Mike,
Please see my response to Robert, also are your sure what you were looking at
was a picture of a picture?
If you've got a TGA file or something you'd like to see output on the Thermal
or the Dye-Sub Quality, Send me a copy of the file on a floppy and I'll be
happy to send you back a print…of course to keep people from taking advantage
of this offer I'm going to limit the offer to persons who are considering
purchasing the unit. Upon the receipt of a print considered up to your
standards of quality I would expect to be your Dealer and handle the sale.
In other words "Serious Buyers Only Need Apply". <g>
The cost of the Thermal print is $ .45 and the Photo-Realistic output is $2.79
I'd have to charge an additional $9.95 for shipping, handling, my time, and
return postage. This is refundable towards the purchase of your Fargo Primera
Printer.
I hope you find this a fair offer.
Anyone may Send their check [No COD's] and TGA (or whatever) file to me at:
Attention: James M. Murphy
JAMES MURPHY CONSULTING
1431 Garland Street
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54301
Phone(s)
(414) 435-7345
(414) 437-3898
Thank you for your interest.
James M. Murphy
James,
One man's quality could well turn out another man's disaster! When
Primera was first released here I looked at the unit and the price and thought
to myself "This is too good to be true". It was!
Firstly, the local Fargo dealer wanted to charge me to have "HIM" demo the
product to us. All things considered, I decided to endure and chalk it up to
experience.
The machine was `sloooowww'! I'm willing to wait a while longer in lieu of
producing quality, but the results where wholey unacceptable. Page after page
(and all the while this dealer's oooing and aahing about the superior quality
of the imagery!) the same outcome. As far as photo quality output; that's
far-fetched! Our Calcomps out-perform the Primera, consistently.
The bottom line is, you pay for what you get. We'll hold onto our Calcomps and
color InkJets; for that photo quality in hardcopy output I'll look to the
Tektronix. Even the best Primera copy doesn't come close to the worst Tek copy.
As to the hoopla in various PC mags regarding the Primera peformance;
sure, I'll admit that for some off the shelf applications it performs just
fine. By and large though columnists don't enter the world of computer
graphics, their forte is behind the keyboard and it's good advertising on the
part of developers to send a few units their way.
Simply, there are as many (if not more) color printers as there are different
levels of quality.
Maybe the next generation Primera ..<?>
PMJI, but the dye-sub quality on the Premera can vary DRASTICALLY, depending on
the image. I've printed renderings that look like crap, but I have also printed
stuff off of a photo-CD that from 18 inches away, looked nearly
indistinguishable from an actual photograph. So the basic truth is that some
images like it and some don't. I will give you one thing though, it is
SLOOOWWWWW! (the price you pay for $$$)
David
Good to see your slick sales patter James!
I reviewed it two months ago and the Fargo's Dye Sublimation results were
excellent. Didn't think much of the Thermal Wax bit, ok for test plots I guess.
My one gripe was the noise it makes…..It sounds like a fax machine on heat!
Marty, CADdesk.