We've got Fuji's Pictrography 4000 and Epson's PM-750C (this might be
called differently outside of Japan, A4/US Letter 1440-dpi 6-ink inkjet
printer), and I believe these are the best two choices for
photo-realistic output on paper.

Pictrography 4000 gives the best quality I've ever seen, excellent for
press, in its price range (2,480,000 - 2,880,000 yen for engine,
1,680,000 yen for PostScript processor).  It does paper size A4 and A3.
The paper is as durable and time proof as usual photographic paper --
inkjet is not waterproof and dye-sub is sticky to plastic.  Printing cost
is ~400 yen/A3 and ~300/A4.

PM-750C is cheap (59,800 yen) but its output in photo-quality mode is
surprisingly good, though it would be sub-optimum for press compared to
Pictrography.  Printing cost is ~100 yen/A4 if you use special photo
paper.  Epson has other models of comparable output quality for large
formats as A2 and A3.

If you'd like the real high-end and the best quality, consider Kodak's
Digital Science LVT Image Recorder.  It "prints" on real photographic
paper, reversal and negative film.  I would buy another confocal, though
-- It is that expensive.

> You will forgive my asking a question that has probably been massaged ad
> nauseum in this forun, but I've just rejoined the listserv and need some
> immediate info about printers. We are putting together a confocal
> microscope system and want a state-of-the-art printer. We have been
> advised to consider Kodak and Fuji printers. I would appreciate any advice
> or suggestions about the pros and con of each, or perhaps of others that
> we have not heard about, in relation to suitability for a confocal
> microscope facility.


Tohru Murakami <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Department of Anatomy, Gunma University School of Medicine
Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
Phone 81(27)220-7912, Fax 81(27)220-7916