saidel42 Loc: NJ

I've been wondering for at least 3 years now whether compatible inkjet cartridges make prints as well as oem cartridges. Details: I have a Canon Pixma Pro 9000 which uses 8 different ink cartridges. OEM price for all 8 range from ~$140 and up while compatible can be had for ~1/3rd the price. I am a serious 35 year amateur and give quality prints as gifts and as an occasional sale. The 9000 makes great prints with OEM ink and I do believe one gets what one pays for. Still, ink is ink.
Will compatible cartridges with refilled ink make as good prints as the OEM? I'm looking for 2 types of answers: i) an answer based on experience and ii) articles that discuss this issue.
Thanks in advance. (I cannot believe I am the first to ask this. Being new to UHdghg, I don't know how to search the message board.)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Searches only work if the words you are looking for are in the title.
So titles like "Help", "Question", etc. are worthless for searching.
(Your title is good.)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

No, ink is not ink, its just like quality oil paint, as in oil is not oil, one can get a cheap tube for 3 bucks, or get a good quality tube for $200, same thing!!

saidel42 Loc: NJ

Thanks...appreciate the comment. It is certainly true for cars and cameras. Now I can say for ink, too.

jdedmonds

For ten or twelve years I used two Epson 2200 printers for all my photography work, and I made a whole lotta prints. After four or five years I decided to try the generic cartridges, and once I had made a few prints with them I never again bought OEM 2200 carts. I used these two printers for all kinds of work, including publishing a book using double sided paper with ten full pages (verso and recto) on each sheet of 13 x 19 fine art paper. About half the prints I made were on 13 x 19 paper, and the prints made with the generic inks were indistinguishable from those made with OEM carts. Because Epson support for the 2200 just fizzled out a few years ago I bought a new Epson P800, which I've used since then. I'm not aware of any non OEM cartridges yet available for this newer printer, but when I find some I'll certainly try a set. If things remain the same for me I'll thereby avoid paying $500.00 for a set of OEM P800 carts. The OEM cartridge prices are beyond outrageous.

JaiGieEse Loc: Foxworth, MS

One caveat for third-party ink. Cheaper ink may or may not have the archival quality you hope for.

Case in point - I was exhibiting some of my prints at a local gallery. The wall space the gallery gave me was about 12 feet from a large front window. At first, I was either using photo labs to produce my prints or using an Epson R260 for smaller prints. I also used the R260 to print my display placards - the small cards that go next to each print, containing the print's name and price and my logo. These were printed with Epson OEM ink.

First two batches of prints I exhibited had no issues. Then, as I was readying a third set for exhibit, I elected to print my display placards with a Brother all-in-one printer a friend have given me. As I normally use this printer for scut work - printing out documents, copies and faxes, I'd found a batch of very inexpensive ink cartridges for the Brother on eBay. These had done well for my scut work, so I used the Brother and its cheap ink to print my display placards for this new exhibit.

All looked well just after I opened the exhibit, but upon returning to the gallery a month later to check on sales, I discovered that the Brother-printed display placards, which were originally black text on white glossy paper, had faded to a muddy red.

That did if for printing important items with cheap ink. I'd hate to make a nice print and discover that it had badly faded a few months later.

So. I still use the Brother and its cheap ink for scut work, but anything important is printed on my Epson SureColor P800 - with OEM inks.

jdedmonds

I use a spray (Premier Art Printshield) on all important prints, and the literature says the spray will prevent fading, color shifts etc. for at least 200 years.

JaiGieEse Loc: Foxworth, MS

That

That may well be true, But I sell my images as art prints. I manufacture these prints myself, using my Epson SureColor P800, loaded with OEM ink, and printed on a selection of Red River Papers. I've gotten superb results so far.

I've worked hard to set up my business and I'm simply not willing to jeopardize what I have by using cheaper materials.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Maybe maybe not. camera makers do not make ink, they buy it from ink suppliers. The only way tofind out if aa third party ink gives a good result is to try it and see. I am not a pro, if I were I would omly use OEM ink. I use Ink Farm for my ink. I give away a few prints to friends and familly. I did a comparison of Ink Farm and Canon ink. I asked others if they could see a difference and/or which one they perferred. It was a toss up in every case. Some say that 3rd party ink will ruin a printer, I am so far ahead with Ink Farm I don't care if the next set kills my printer. That's my 2 cents

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I posted an ink comparison on this site in June od 2013 comparing HP factory ink with refilled factory cartridges from Costco. At that time these two pucs looked quite similar. This is how they look now after 65 years hanging on the same wall in indirect lighting. Both printed on the same Costco photo paper using exact same printer and settings.
Case closed.

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Um, 65 years ago? Maybe 6.5?
Wow, didn't think they would fade that soon.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

LOL, typo. Was 5 years ago in June 2013.
Notice the original blue sky under the tape holding both to the wall.

Joe Blow

Five years? Both demonstrate severe fading. That suggests they were set up as either a test or on the inside of a South facing window in the desert.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Try reading the placement info. Both prints have ALWAYS been exposed to the exact same light, and never exposed to direct sunlight. It WAS set up as a test, as stated. Why do you have a problem with direct test comparisons?
Test shows the Costco refill ink is inferior as well as the Costco paper.

Joe Blow

All ink will fade. It's just a matter of time. All inkjet printers under $10,000 use ink. You can slow this by mounting the photo in archival frames with archival matting and backing. Keep them away from UV light, including windows and fluorescent lighting.

For the longest lasting prints, use pigment colors. These are expensive and usually only available with large volume art shops.
https://www.archival-photos.com