Try Clayton Jones' site and read the article, The Great Paper Chase.  http://www.cjcom.net/articles/digiprn5.htm  It may be more than you want.

Get sample packs from Red River and Hawk Mountain.  Hawk will give you a $25 credit back on your new purchase.  Both had options to build different packs.

Also, Hawk Mountain will let you print a supplied profile pattern (two sheets) on your printer, send it to them and they will build an ICC profile for you--free.

Epson will give you some papers but not enough to really do testing.  Their profiles are pretty tight if your printer is tight.  You can run their Colorbase to linearize the printer.

Thank you for the help.  The printer arrived today BUT it proved to be a demo model, missing the disk, any sample papers, and the cartridges were part used.  The company (Park Cameras, UK) was most apologetic.  They had sold out of new machines and had shipped a demo which was not apparent on line but apparently would have been in store or on the phone.  They have offered me my money back or a pack of new cartridges almost half the cost of the printer).  I'm a little cagey about the latter because my usage won't be that high and I don't want the cartridges to go too far out of date.  Maybe I'll let my wife or daughter negotiate; they take no prisoners. I just say, "That's generous.  Thank you."

I've been downloading software, manuals, etc from the internet and learning FAST.  Thank goodness for Eric Chan's site and that much/most of the control panel is pretty intuitive.

Re papers, unfortunately Red River don't supply to the UK but I've just checked Hawk Mountain and they do.  I'll check them out further.

I see the paper select makes it clear which requires photo black and which photo black.  That stops my swapping cartridges too often as I try out papers and controls.

Sandy

Sandy-

Like Fred said, I wouldn't be too worried about the ink as long as they will give you good warranty on te printer.

 I have some of the ink (for the Picturemates) that expired in 2007 and 2008 but none has been defective.  I believe Epson's take i two years after manufature and six months after opening.  With reasonable storage they'll last quite a while.

Kind of like film.  I always watched for the short-dated boxes and bought at rock bottom.  Have fun.

My concern about the age of the cartridges is eased.  BUT I have turned down Park Cameras' offer.  Relative to a new printer (which will have a full set of inks), they are giving the ink that is currently in the printer which is about 1/3 of the ink.  Against this, the printer has seen significant use, is missing the installation disk (OK most or all can be downloaded), any paper samples and any introductory offers.  The company isn't inclined to improve its offer so back goes the item - no animosity.

Now looking for another Pro3800 and wondering whether to go for very attractive prices from lesser known suppliers or a fair price from a supplier I know I can trust.  I suspect I'll go for the latter.

Thanks again for the help.  I could be back to pick brains on this printer.

Sandy