Epson Gemini 3

[frank]

From now on we will be demonstrating the Gemini 3 system for Epson as an Epson Mentor in our studio.

We will be demonstrating the Epson Gemini 3 in our studio during the workshops and my work will also be used of course for the tests.
The system is absolutly easy to use and I think for ALOT of studios the solution they want, so that's why I wrote this little review.

The Gemini is based on the 4800 but TOTALLY modified and made much easier to work with.
In short, you don't have to worry about colormanagment or whatever just open the studio software, select your template, drag the photos to the template and press print. You can ofcourse custom make templates and change positions arround in the prints, like zooming, cropping etc. or everything can go automatic.
I know this can be a bit strange to come from someone who normally wants to control everything but I have to tell you the results are absolutly stunning and colorcorrect.

The Gemini is located as a standalone machine in the Network and you can send cues from every PC you want.
For example I work in my office on some pictures after work I can select the batch and select my layout, drop everything in the templates and send the que to the studio. After that you can powerdown your PC and a few moments/hours later the prints are done.

When it was told to me I was a bit sceptic because you see alot of solutions that really aren't solutions but this works like a charm.
So when visiting the workshops be sure to check it out.

The costs are also very nice for the photographers.
The unit is not for sale but can be leased, you have to think in the range of 55-95 euros per month and app 2.25-1.80-1.62 per print (A4) larger than A4 is calculated as for example 1.4x A4 or 2xA4, so it's a really no surprises deal, printer maintance, paper, inkt is all included.

Also very nice is the custom ICC profile that is made for your printer and your paper.

Are there no drawbacks ?
Well yes and no.
It depends on what you want to do.
Normally I will print borderless on the 3800, the Gemini will not print borderless.
The reason for this is that Epson cannot guarantee 100% perfect quality when the borders are printed.
I can understand this, however I would love to have the option to print borderless for my own risc, on the other hand when something goes wrong (inkt spill on other prints which can happen) it's of course for Epson very difficult to judge this for service, and because the Gemini is meant as a service product I can understand this.
I have to be 100% honest that I now delivered a few test prints to a customer and she did not even noticed the prints were not borderless, so it's also in what you tell the customer, for framing it's always good to print borderless, for portfolio work I normally print borderless but from now on it will be only on special order (keeping the 3800 for personal use).

If your not in the Netherlands contact Epson about the Gemini printer solutions, or when you are located in the Netherlands contact Epson NL or visit our setup.

[frank]

A small update

There are new options for the Gemini 3 which is now 4.

Option 1:
Epson 4880 Gemini 4
Montly fee 150.00 with touchdisplay

Option 2:
2x Epson 3800 gemini 4
Monthly fee 99.00 with touchdisplay

Option 3:
Epson 4880 Gemini 4
Monthly fee 95.00 without touchdisplay

and of course you can add large format printers with the system.

For more information for BENELUX customers contact Peter at peter.de.ligny@epson.nl

I think for every studio that runs their own prints the Gemini is one of the best solutions, no more worries about paper, inkt or profiling and a fixed price per print.
And the quality is superb.
You can of course go cheaper with for example a standalone setup from Epson, Canon or HP.
But the concept of Gemini is very appealing if you want to take out all the variables of running your own prints, we have to compete with lower pricing every day meaning most photography studios are printing for almost cost price, when something goes wrong like a paper error or print head cleaning loosing inkt you are often running losses on a printrun, with this system that's not an issue anymore.

[jbouma]

Hi Frank,

just wondering if you still use the Gmini system.
I'm in the market for this sytem and talked with Peter once but would like to know your opinion, because you use the system for a while now?
Is it sufficient for a small studio (portraits, Family Photography), wich printer combination do you use an does the chosen combination restrict you in your daily print work?

kind regards,

John Bouma

[frank]

Hi,
I'm still using it and love it.
I would opt for the 3800 version, we use the 4800 gemini and the 3800 as standalone.
the Gemini beats the quality of the 3800 standalone, so I would expect that the 3800 in the Gemini system is really nice.

[jbouma]

thanks Frank,

just curious, but how do you service clients who wants larger prints, exceeding the 17 inch, provided by the 3800 and 4800?

regards John

 

[frank]

Most customers order A4 - A2.
If I need to print larger we order them from a lab.