We are in switching to digital photography and need a printer set up that will produce up to 100 prints per hour and 15,000 prints per month at the lowest possible cost per print (with the best quality possible, of course). We also need these prints to be as permanent as possible (at least somewhat waterproof). Dye-Sub, Color Laser, InkJet... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

-- Jeff Fossett (jeff.fossett@lrc.state.ky.us), April 19, 2000

Answers

The Kodak 8660 should fit the bill, of course you'll need at least two of them at $5700 a pop to meet you volume requirements. Forget a consumer inkjet, at that print rate you'll need to hire a full timer just to change ink cartridges.

-- Cris Daniels (danfla@gte.net), April 19, 2000.

What size prints? Fujix prints are a solution, however for unit cost Agfa makes a digital add on to a regular print machine. pretty pricey, however the cost per print will probably save you the money. 15,000 prints per month will require a photo type printer. Try www.agfa.com.

-- Jonathan Ratzlaff (jonathanr@clrtech.bc.ca), April 19, 2000.

whoa, you're talking professional lever printers here. Call canon, xerox... You'll find these machines at places like Kinkos, lawyer firms, hospitals..

-- benoit (foo@bar.com), April 21, 2000.

Try Tektronix (now owned by Xerox): www.tek.com

Their solid ink printers are pretty cool, and very fast. They even give you free black ink for life. And, they have a FREE printer program for those who print high volume and agree to purchase ink directly from them. I use a Phaser 740 Plus color laser rated at 50,000 pages/month color, 100,000 pages/month black & white. Color laser does not provide as high quality as you may need, though. They will send you sample prints if you request.

Good luck,

Jeff Campbell

-- Jeff Campbell (jcampbll@pacbell.net), April 23, 2000.