[APML]: Alps 2300 Printer

[cvedeler@bio2.edu (Chris Vedeler)]

I just bought an Alps 2300 printer which I got yesterday.  The first few
prints are very impressive for a desktop printer under $1000.  Much better
output than any ink jet printer I have seen including the Epson Photo
printer.  The Alps has true continuous tone which makes its output look just
like a photo even under a 10x loupe.

It may just be the ultimate digital darkroom output device for people who
can't afford those $5000 die-sub printers.

I have only printed one astrophoto so far (the M45 shot on my webpage).  I
used the original enhanced 24MB TIF at 600dpi.  The first few attempts where
way too dark, but playing with my monitor gamma and lightening up the
picture in Photoshop helped a lot.  

One problem is that printing that 24MB file would crash my 275Mhz 96MB RAM
Mac about half the time.  I think it my be because I had allocated 80MB to
Photoshop which left only 16MB for the System and the printer driver to work
with.

The only flaw I have seen so far is some slight banding which is made more
visible with the primarily black print of an astrophoto.  This banding is
really only visible when the light hits it right, and is far less noticeable
than the Epson Photo printer I had before.

So far I am quite happy with the results.  Just thought others on this list
my be interested.

Clear Skies,
Chris Vedeler
http://www.isomedia.com/homes/cvedeler/space.htm
Tucson, AZ