Sally Morgan
(K=9219) - Comment Date 11/26/2005
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I posted exactly the same question a few months back - but got no response!
Since then I've tried 'desk type' - which blocked up the heads, and the RE-NT ones - where the black is not very black and the gloss optomiser is poor.
I've had no luck so far - I've had to buy the real thing again (sigh) - so if you do have any luck - please, please let me know!
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Chris Hunter
(K=25634) - Comment Date 11/27/2005
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My personal preference is to use online digital photofinishers. Have any plans to purchase a $100,000 Fuji Frontier dye-sub printer in the future? Neither do I, but I have almost all my photos printed on one - via ezprints. If you're spending almost $100 for ink, you could have eight 16"x24" photos printed on Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper for the same price...or thirty 8"x12"...or one-hundred 5"x7" prints...all better quality and on better paper than ink-jet prints.
Chris
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Martin Halley
(K=580) - Comment Date 12/1/2005
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I only have a basic printer, Epson Stylus Colour 740(yes - really!), and I have always used third party inks. I now get mine from www.7dayshop.com and they work perfectly every time.
What with their ink and a 30 metre roll of 24 ins wide HP Glossy from Ebay, my prints work out at less than 10p each for A4. I did have to recalibrate the printer to get the colour balance right for that particular ink-paper combination, but that is to be expected.
Never, ever had any problems with clogging. When changing brands expect to have to clean the heads at least five times so as to flush through for colour consistency.
Even if you wish to stay with OEM inks 7dayshop, being in the Channel Islands is cheaper than UK prices as there is no VAT. on small consignments. Their list prices are much lower anyway.
As to quality, I regularly compete at club level with prints from my humble printer-ink-paper combination and so far no judge or member has ever noticed any significant differences between mine and those printed with exotic hardware.
As to longevity, no idea, once exhibited in competition, my prints rarely ever see the light of day again.
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Martin Halley
(K=580) - Comment Date 12/1/2005
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Hi Sally,
Saw your comment on 3rd party inks.
Have you tried www.7dayshop.com for your ink? At least you will save VAT even on original manufacturer stuff.
Martin.
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Sally Morgan
(K=9219) - Comment Date 12/1/2005
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Hi Martin - I've looked at prices of Epson cartridges on 7day shop - but they aren't as cheap as inkraider - even without the VAT - I haven't looked at their 3rd party ones though - so I'll go back and take another look - thanks!
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Richard Dakin
(K=12915) - Comment Date 12/3/2005
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Stick with Epson ink and paper Daniel. You might eventually get the same results with other brands, but it may take you a lot of experimentation to get the profile right. After spending so much on the printer it seems silly to be chintzy on the ink.
I must investigate the Fuji printer Chris mentions. It was the poor quality of the prints made here in Canada (mostly on Fuji equipment) that drove me purchase an Epson and do my own printing. Perhaps the Fuji "Frontier" is only used by specialized mail-order printing facilities. If you work out the costs of your printer on a per print basis you will probably find they are not too bad after all. Mine works out to about $0.50 (Can.) per print, and my Epson does not have the advantage of individual ink tanks.
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Jeff Fiore
(K=11277) - Comment Date 12/16/2005
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Whether the third party ink is good or not is totally irrelavant. I have gotten good results with third party inks but the blacks start fading after only a few months so I only use the manufacturer's ink
Perhaps an option is a bulk feed system for your printer? Pretty expensive initially but cheap in the long run if you print a lot.
I'm with Chris on this, I use online photofinishers also and rarely print photos at home. If the photofinisher uses a Lightjet or a Frontier printer, the quality is excellent and since it is done with photo paper and processed as photo paper the look IS a photograph.
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Mark - MarkMedia -
(K=1062) - Comment Date 1/13/2006
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Another idea - I use EPSON color ink, but use generic off brand BLACK.
Obviously, the color is more critical...
Mark
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