Alternate ink options

[pmnapier]

I see this is a popular forum! Anyway, I have an Epson C-84 printer - a freebie that came with a new Mac a year ago. It's actually a pretty good printer, except for the fact that when it comes to printing photos I really don't care for the DuraBrite ink it uses and the DuraBrite paper it requires. Results in a sort of matte like finish, but not quite as good. Not a nice glossy finish at all. Using any other paper is a disaster. Does anyone know if it's possible to use regular Epson ink in this machine without making it unusable? (If Epson even makes other ink cartridges that would fit)

[jaykinghorn]

I think it's pretty unlikely that you could substitute any other Epson ink. It is possible that another 3rd party manufacturer has created ink cartridges for your printer, but that isn't often the case with the less expensive printers.

I'm afraid that you are stuck with the Dura-Brite.

Best regards,

Jay Kinghorn
RGB Imaging

[pmnapier]

I think it's pretty unlikely that you could substitute any other Epson ink. It is possible that another 3rd party manufacturer has created ink cartridges for your printer, but that isn't often the case with the less expensive printers.

I'm afraid that you are stuck with the Dura-Brite.

Best regards,

Jay Kinghorn
RGB Imaging
Thanks. I was thinking it was a long shot all along, but thought I'd take a stab at asking. And considering it was free, I guess I can't complain too much!

[George Riehm]

I see this is a popular forum! Anyway, I have an Epson C-84 printer - a freebie that came with a new Mac a year ago. It's actually a pretty good printer, except for the fact that when it comes to printing photos I really don't care for the DuraBrite ink it uses and the DuraBrite paper it requires. Results in a sort of matte like finish, but not quite as good. Not a nice glossy finish at all. Using any other paper is a disaster. Does anyone know if it's possible to use regular Epson ink in this machine without making it unusable? (If Epson even makes other ink cartridges that would fit)

Try using Costco Kirkland photo printer paper, works fine with my Stylus Photo 870 and even my Epson 2000P. Red River also has some papers that work well with Epson.

Also Print Rite makes replacement cartridges for all Epsons, although I'm not sure of their lightfast qualities.

http://www.print-rite.com

[pmnapier]

Try using Costco Kirkland photo printer paper, works fine with my Stylus Photo 870 and even my Epson 2000P. Red River also has some papers that work well with Epson.

Also Print Rite makes replacement cartridges for all Epsons, although I'm not sure of their lightfast qualities.

http://www.print-rite.com
Thanks very much George. I'm in western New York State and we don't have Costco here. I did find replacement cartridges at Print-Rite. Do you have a recommendation on where to find Print-Rite products? The web site didn't appear to allow direct ordering.

Thanks again

[George Riehm]

Thanks very much George. I'm in western New York State and we don't have Costco here. I did find replacement cartridges at Print-Rite. Do you have a recommendation on where to find Print-Rite products? The web site didn't appear to allow direct ordering.

Thanks again

No Costco? Here is the paper available on their web store:

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&cat=1200&hierPath=354*&Browse=

I buy Print-Rite at Fry's Electronics...

...another store not in Western New York. I haven't tried Print-Rite for color inks yet, only black.

So it looks like you may be confined to Epson branded products as far as your local stores go. You can also check with the larger Ritz/Wolf stores as to various papers, or order from Pictorico, and Red River via their web pages.

That's about it. I use Epson papers (Matte) and inks (pigmented) for medium format (11 x 17 and 13 x 19) as these are typically for other people and I want them to last for a long time.

I'm reasonably confident that the Kirkland paper will survive well if I use Epson inks. Again I have only used Print-Rite for black cartriges so far.

[pmnapier]

I'm not sure I'll try the paper yet. I really think the problem is the ink (unless, of course, the printers you referred to that you use are Dura-Brite ink). When I tried printing on Epson premium glossy they came out awful. You could actually wipe off a thin, almost dust-like layer, after they dried. The ink just didn't take to the glossy paper. And as I said, with the Dura-Brite paper they come out fine and are supposed to last a very long time, but there is little if any gloss, yet they don't have a nice matte look either. Just kind of lifeless. Especially if I'm doing 4x6s to pass around I want a glossy finish.

So I may make a concerted effort to get those Print-Rite inks and try them on various glossy papers. So let me know if your printers do indeed use Dura-Brite inks, because then my whole theory is up in smoke!!!

[George Riehm]

I'm not sure I'll try the paper yet. I really think the problem is the ink (unless, of course, the printers you referred to that you use are Dura-Brite ink). When I tried printing on Epson premium glossy they came out awful. You could actually wipe off a thin, almost dust-like layer, after they dried. The ink just didn't take to the glossy paper. And as I said, with the Dura-Brite paper they come out fine and are supposed to last a very long time, but there is little if any gloss, yet they don't have a nice matte look either. Just kind of lifeless. Especially if I'm doing 4x6s to pass around I want a glossy finish.

So I may make a concerted effort to get those Print-Rite inks and try them on various glossy papers. So let me know if your printers do indeed use Dura-Brite inks, because then my whole theory is up in smoke!!!

The cartridges for my 870 and 2000P do not say Dura-Brite so maybe this is a different formulation specifically for overall durability characteristics.

It would be cheaper to try the paper than to change inks, but if it doesn't work, either way, you are only out $18 vs. more than double that for new ink.

[pmnapier]

George, FYI. Information on DURABrite inks.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/DuraBrite/DuraBriteMain.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

If you look at the technical brief it says that the formulation for my printer, the C-84, "adds improved printing on glossy papers." Just not good enough for me I guess. But you're right, I'll try some different paper first. If anything, I'll have it available if I ultimately have to change inks (or printers).

[ktixx]

This may be a stupid suggestion, but you might try going to an art store and purchasing some fix spray. It is used to coat pastel or charcole drawings. They make it in 2 finishes, glossy and matte. It may be a quick solution to give a glossy appearance to your matte photo's. I know I have used this before just to protect a photo I put in my wallet, it didn't seem to have any adverse effects. After googling "fix spray" I came across this link http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&ci=862&Q=&O=NavBar it is actually that spray, but made for photographs. Not sure if it is chemically different then the spray I use for my art. Good luck

Ken

[pmnapier]

This may be a stupid suggestion, but you might try going to an art store and purchasing some fix spray. It is used to coat pastel or charcole drawings. They make it in 2 finishes, glossy and matte. It may be a quick solution to give a glossy appearance to your matte photo's. I know I have used this before just to protect a photo I put in my wallet, it didn't seem to have any adverse effects. After googling "fix spray" I came across this link http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=search&ci=862&Q=&O=NavBar it is actually that spray, but made for photographs. Not sure if it is chemically different then the spray I use for my art. Good luck

Ken
Not a bad suggestion at all. However, with the relative inexpensiveness of some very good photo printers from Canon (iP series) & Epson, I'm thinking of shifting the C-84 over to the kids full time and getting something that will give me the look I want out of the box. The other problem with the Epson DuraBrite printers is the relative lack of photo paper options designed for that type of ink (you're stuck with Epson DuraBrite paper. You can't even use Epson's own high quality glossy - I tried, it's awful). Too much fiddling around for me. It'll work fine for anything the kids produce and I'll have my own for photo printing.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[romith]

Like you I have a C84 also which came with a new PC last year. I also notided the matte effect of DuraBrite inks on glossy photo paper.

Why? DuraBrite ink is a pigment based ink that claims to have desirable qualities of both pigment based and dye based inks. Pigment inks supposedly print poorly on plain paper so Epson formulated DuraBrite so it would heavily coat the print surface of plain paper, but with the trade off being the effect you mention on glossy media. See this pdf at Epson.com:
http://files.support.epson.com/pdf/sc80__/sc80__db.pdf

My big beef with DURABrite ink isn't so much print qualities but rather how expensive it is. (Probably why Epson is basically giving away printers.)

I'd think using Print-Rite pigmented ink could also relieve the need to use special DuraBrite Paper (or fixative) while also preserving surface gloss.

Where to find Print-Rite C84 Ink Cartridges: Print-Rite, like DuraBrite, is a pigment based ink. Haven't tried it yet, but next on my list. Print-Rite is available in the US here:
http://www.advantage-data.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=T044120-RP&Category_Code=3504
(1/3rd the price at Fry's, no tax, no shipping)

To the forum moderator: I'm confused about the policy re no commercial links as I see them posted in other messages, in this thread and others. My intent isn't to promote or compete, but only provide information relevant to a request, as others have.

[pmnapier]

And I was just about to unsubscribe to this thread! Thanks romith. In fact, I've read the information at the Epson site and sent someone there as well. I've found that 1800savemart.com offers BOTH pigment and dye based replacement ink cartridges for the C-84 and other DuraBrite printers. You'll see two offerings for each color (plus black). I haven't tried them yet. If you give it a shot let us know how they work. I'll do likewise. Thanks again.

[romith]

I've been using the dye based ink cartridges from 123inkjets.com which look like the same "G&G" brand (magenta & blue box) as 1800savemart.com. Other than the Epson DuraBrite, G&G and PrintRite (both Made in China) are the only makers of replacement ink cartridges or the C-84 I've seen, the former making dye based-, and the latter pigmented ink cartridges.These G&G dyed ink cartridges make prints that are defenseless to moisture and I'm concerned how they'll look in a few years. Otherwise, I need compare them to so I'll give these pigmented inks a try and let you know. Thanks for the quick response and the info.

[goodolddave]

I see this is a popular forum! Anyway, I have an Epson C-84 printer - a freebie that came with a new Mac a year ago. It's actually a pretty good printer, except for the fact that when it comes to printing photos I really don't care for the DuraBrite ink it uses and the DuraBrite paper it requires. Results in a sort of matte like finish, but not quite as good. Not a nice glossy finish at all. Using any other paper is a disaster. Does anyone know if it's possible to use regular Epson ink in this machine without making it unusable? (If Epson even makes other ink cartridges that would fit)
Here are a couple of links that might be of interest to some of you... referring to CIS or continuous ink system. Sounds expensive... but is it really? Depends on how much you print I guess. www.brandonstaggs.com/epson-r200-continous-ink-system-review.html www.inkrepublic.com Hope this is of interest to some of you.

[Alnath]

Ridisc inks were superb and only 65p a cart but Epson have had them removed on sale in the UK, if you can find them though they are great.