Printing is reality of life!
Written: Jun 14 '02 (Updated Jun 14 '02)
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Pros: Autonomous mode, high quality of prints (even on a usual paper), two-sided printing
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: HP PhotoSmart 1218 has demonstrated great productivity and exactitude of colors.
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| 200067's Full Review: Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart 1218 Inkjet Printer |
Construction
The rather stylish body of the printer (form and color recalling the predecessors - models 1000 and 1100) is executed from dark plastics, and only lower part is painted in light gray color. Traditionally for ink printers HP receiving and giving trays are located one under other. The access to the printing mechanism is ensured with the help of throwed off cover. The printer uses 4 paints, in the holders are installed two cartridges: black and color.
On the right side of forward board are located the numerous controls (five usual buttons and four buttons "on-off"), two indicators, and also two-line LCD-display and window of infrared interface. In the right board there are two slots for SmartMedia and CompactFlash cards, each of which is supplied with the indicator.
Work in an autonomous mode
HP PhotoSmart 1218 allows to make printing images from changeable cards of memory SmartMedia and CompactFlash in autonomous mode without the help of the computer. When you setting card in any from slots the printer automatically reads out the contents list and show on the LCD-display an amount of the found images. With the help of controls the user can select those images, which it is necessary to print, and also to set a necessary amount of copies and their size (6 standard sizes are stipulated). Depending on the made tunings the printer automatically places images on the setting format of a paper (letter or 4õ6 inches) or in a mode of a photoalbum, or maximum effectively using square of a sheet. For convenient choice of images is stipulated the printing of miniatures with the indication of their serial numbers and names of files (Index).
Software
For testing the driver of version 3.1.77 was used. After its installation in system tray there is icon of the printer, by pressing on which it is possible to set of default settings and to call the service program.
Settings of the driver allow to select a type, orientation and format of a paper (as one from standard, and any, specific in inches or millimeters (from 77 x 128 mm up to 215 x 355 mm), and also amount of copies. There are options printing of pages in the return order, manual and automatic two-sided printing for a fastening of sheets on the long or short part, printing of two or four pages on one sheet, printing posters (large image on several sheets for a consequent glueing together a size 2õ2, 3õ3 and 4õ4), and also printing on a rolled paper without gaps between pages. The user can select one from three gradation of quality (draft copy, normal and best). Besides for printing on photographic paper you can select one from two modes of printing - PhotoREt or 2400õ1200 dpi (last mode it is recommended for printing of images with the resolution more than 600 ppi).
In additional tunings there are options of forced printing in a monochrome mode (only by black ink and optimized for transfer by fax or phototelegraph), automatic improving of a printed image and mode of economical use of memory. A saturation, brightness and common balance of an image, and also intensity of plotting of ink and waiting time for drying ink before printing of the following sheet are adjusted with the help of movable indicators.
Together with the driver the service program HP Toolbox is installed, with the help of which can initiate procedures of calibration and clearing of printing cartridges, to print out test page and page of diagnostics, and also to realize fine tuning of a tray for photocards. Besides in a separate folder the level of the contents of ink in printing cartridges is mapped.
The attention is deserved also by the program HP Photo Printing, permitting to form libraries of images and to realize their automatic placing for printing on a sheet both on ready, and under the independently created schemes.
Quality
The prints executed on a usual paper, looked attractive due to the brighter and saturated colors and magnificent detail. The images are excellent balanced on color, has optimum brightness and contrast. It is necessary to mark very qualitative reproduction of 100-percentage black color.
The images executed on a paper with the improved cover differ by the bright and saturated colors. All samples of the black and color text are well read, and the numerals have precise outlines.
The prints executed on photographic paper practically are faultless. It is necessary also to mark very high detail.
Common notes
Connection of the printer and installation of the software have passed without any problems. The printer works rather silently.
The loading of the processor during dispatch of an image on printing (approximately one sixth time of a full cycle of printing) reached 100 %, then minor time (about 15 s) changed in limits from 40 up to 90 %, and after activation of the printing mechanism up to 100 % was again lifted. After that the loading on the processor considerably has decreased (till 6-12 of %).
One from advantages of printing technology of ink printers ÍÐ is smaller, than at devices of other manufacturers, the dependence of quality of a printing on a type of a used paper, as was confirmed by this tests. It especially is obvious noticeably for images printed on a usual paper, here HP PhotoSmart 1218 was outside of competitiveness.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 290
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
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Epinions.com ID:
200067
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Member: Ihar Shymanovich
Location: Somewhere in the world
Reviews written: 92
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
My love is my family. Digital cameras and mobile phones are my favorable interest.
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