Advice on iPF6100?

[EldorGemst]

I'm just about to take the plunge and get a Canon iPF6100 printer. (Moving up from an Epson 2200.)

Anyone here have one? Is there anything I should know before I buy?

My use will be for printing my own photographs and possibly offering a printing service (as a sideline) to clients. I'll also be using the printer within my retail business (an art gallery) to produce window signs to announce various specials and events and occasional posters.

I've pretty much decided NOT to buy a RIP (at least initially). Both the distributor and the local dealer I spoke to talked me out of getting one, saying that it's really only needed for pre-press proofing applications, etc. They tell me that I don't even need to get a custom profile for the printer, as long as I stick with Canon papers. (Not sure I believe that!) Color accuracy is pretty important to me (my monitor is calibrated and profiled and I use custom printer profiles with my Epson 2200) as I regularly photograph artwork for clients.

One reason I was interested in a RIP was for when I'd be printing several (say) 8" x 12" images... With the 24" wide roll paper a RIP would easily let me tile the images on the paper efficiently. But I could also do that manually with PhotoShop (as I've been doing for years with the 2200 when I print several images on a single 13" x 19" sheet). It's an awful lot of money to spend just to make this one thing easier for me. Besides, I guess I could just switch roll sizes when/if needed.

Anyway, if anyone has any comments about this printer (or about the value of a RIP) I'd sure appreciate hearing them.

Thanks!

Eldor