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Printer paper and inks
Jun 24, 2014 07:05:21 #
Trentc wrote:
Hello all, br br First post to the site but I h... (show quote)
I'm using the Canon ink and paper, but I might be tempted to use third-party someday. I've used various brands in other printers with no problems. Using the manufacturer's ink and paper is probably going to give you the best - or close to it - results. When I print something large, I want it to look good.
Of course, what you're going to do with the prints makes a difference. If you want the ultimate print quality, researching other brands/types of paper (as you're doing here), might yield some surprises.
EDIT: When someone comes along with a continuous ink supply (CIS) for the Pro-100, I'll get it.
Jun 24, 2014 07:16:29 #
Trentc wrote:
Hello all, br br First post to the site but I h... (show quote)
Ilford paper is exceptional. Don't know how much longer it will be available. Company has shut down production and may go bankrupt. I have not used ICC profiles and still get extraordinary results with this printer/paper combination. I would strongly recommend against third party inks. Stick with Canon. Amazon has competitive prices on ink and paper supplies.
Jun 24, 2014 07:50:43 #
coyotecall
Loc: New Mexico
I have used Kirkland (the Costco brand) photopaper for years with very good results. I use an Epson artisan 837 (this is my third) and ink from ClickInks..not using Epson ink will not void any warrantee. My last two Epsons are replacements under warrantee. If you're concerned about that buy a Square Trade warrantee for three years for a little over $100. It's worth every penny.
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Jun 24, 2014 07:55:52 #
RON 11
Loc: Pittsburgh
I use Ilford Gold Fibre and love it. That being said, Canon has some good papers also. Luster, for instance and you can probably get best results with their papers. I have downloaded Ilford's ICC files, but it was a hassle.
Jun 24, 2014 07:55:52 #
RON 11
Loc: Pittsburgh
I use Ilford Gold Fibre and love it. That being said, Canon has some good papers also. Luster, for instance and you can probably get best results with their papers. I have downloaded Ilford's ICC files, but it was a hassle.
Jun 24, 2014 08:52:32 #
I have the Canon pro 100 and an older Canon pro 9000, love them both. I mostly use Canon or Kodak paper with great results. I use glossy for landscapes, flowers, etc. and matte for portraits. You can get the multipack ink from B+H cheaper than anywhere else I have found. I had horrible results with HP paper and aftermarket ink. Enjoy your new printer.
Jun 24, 2014 09:09:32 #
I stick with OEM inks, but actually have gotten better results when testing various papers...with Staples paper of all things. Yes, cheaper, and the colors were more vivid. I had several people look at all the prints of the same photo on about 6 different papers, and all but one picked the print on the Staples paper. (blew me away) I was expecting epson premium with the epson inks... I guess that's why we experiment. Your results with canon may be different. I would suggest you do the same thing I did.
Jun 24, 2014 09:53:09 #
I have had one experience with third party inks and it was bad. Had a nice Canon all-in-one ink jet printer that did a fine job on prints. Never had a problem with it until I decided to save a few bucks and use third party ink from a reputable company. Within a month, the printer stopped working and provided a repair code. After checking around, the cost of repair would have exceeded that of a new printer. Can I say positively that the ink was responsible? No. But I'll never chance it again. Have had absolutely no problems with the replacement printer using only Canon ink. It's your money. Do what you feel is best.
Jun 24, 2014 09:59:09 #
coyotecall
Loc: New Mexico
Yep. I had the same problem with both the Canon printers I owned. Anything other than OEM ink and I had problems. I switched to Epson printers and never had a problem with "alternative" inks.
Jun 24, 2014 10:02:17 #
rready wrote:
How do you calibrate your monitor?
OSX has a built-in but rudimentary calibration system. Not certain whether Windows has one. But the best route is to purchase a calibration system - Spyder4, Color Munkie, etc. - to calibrate your monitor. You'll be surprisd at the difference.
Datacolor - manufacturer of the Spyder4 - also has gear that will allow one to create a profile for one's camera and printer.
Jun 24, 2014 10:43:46 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
There are some excellent third-party paper and ink... (show quote)
This is some very good advice and the Epson 3880, which I have, is an excellent printer, also, the Epson Premium Luster paper is outstanding.
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Jun 24, 2014 10:58:44 #
Jun 24, 2014 10:59:28 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
OSX has a built-in but rudimentary calibration system. Not certain whether Windows has one. But the best route is to purchase a calibration system - Spyder4, Color Munkie, etc. - to calibrate your monitor. You'll be surprisd at the difference.
Datacolor - manufacturer of the Spyder4 - also has gear that will allow one to create a profile for one's camera and printer.
Datacolor - manufacturer of the Spyder4 - also has gear that will allow one to create a profile for one's camera and printer.
Window's effort is pretty rudimentary, also. I can certainly echo your suggestion on a calibration system, with this caveat: I doubt you will get very satisfactory results with a low-end flat panel monitor. If the brightness and color rendition varies significantly with the viewing angle, the monitor is probably not good for serious photo editing. Oddly, the old CRT monitors were fine, in this regard. Look for a monitor with an IPS panel. Check this site http://www.slrlounge.com/what-is-an-ips-monitor-understanding-ips-displays/ for explanations.
BTW, the moderate priced program ProfilePrism, in condjunction with a decent scanner, lets you build your own profiles to coordinate your monitor and printer.
Jun 24, 2014 11:15:31 #
TexasBadger
Loc: Wylie, TX
Red River and Moab do not manufacture paper. They buy it in large rolls and convert it to various sizes. I live in the Dallas area so I have the luxury of driving over to pick it up. For the last couple of years I have almost exclusively used Red River's Polar Pearl Metallic. Moab sells the same paper under the Slickrock name. Most people think that the actual manufacturer of the paper is Mitsubishi. This paper gives incredible depth to fine art prints and makes black an white prints jump out at you. I use the printer profiles provided by Red River and let Photoshop manage the printer. I have a calibrated monitor, so the colors come out with very few surprises. I only use Epson inks in my R3000.
Jun 24, 2014 11:20:05 #
JaiGieEse wrote:
There are some excellent third-party paper and inks, including those manufactured ...[snip]...
Saving $$ now for an Epson 3880 Designer Edition. eight-color large format, comes with full-size cartridges. When you subtract the cost of these cartridges, you get a printer for six or seven hundred dollars. And according to Red River's own tests, the per-print cost of using the 3880 is less than is the cost of using my little R260.
Saving $$ now for an Epson 3880 Designer Edition. eight-color large format, comes with full-size cartridges. When you subtract the cost of these cartridges, you get a printer for six or seven hundred dollars. And according to Red River's own tests, the per-print cost of using the 3880 is less than is the cost of using my little R260.
In general, the cost per milliliter (ml) of ink decreases as the size of the cartridge goes up. Examples for Epson Ultrachrome Inks from a web site this morning:
80 ml for 3800/3880 $0.79 / ml [80 ml cartridge]
200 ml for 4900 $0.50 / ml [200 ml cartridge]
350 ml for 9900 $0.46 / ml [350 ml cartridge]
Thus to a degree, the larger the cartridge the cheaper the ink - to a point.
However, the size of ink cartridge needed depends on how long it will take you to use it, as all the Epson Ultrachrome Inks have a recommended shelf life. You need to balance cost vs. time to use.
HTH
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