Exploring Third-Party Inks for Epson Printers: User Experiences and Recommendations
- By Kevin Day
- On Aug 11, 2023
- Comment 0
The Quest for Compatible Inks
Many Epson R2000 printer users, when faced with diminishing OEM cartridge supplies, consider third-party inks as a viable alternative.
Factors Influencing Print Quality
When transitioning to third-party inks, it’s pivotal to remember that the print quality hinges not just on the ink but also on the paper used. Users need to weigh both these variables judiciously. While some may contemplate switching to dye inks, this could necessitate new ICC profiles for specific papers.
PrecisionColor offers ICC profiles using RedRiverPaper. When juxtaposed against OEM ink profiles, discernible gamut variations in the red/magenta channels become apparent. But the pertinent question is whether this is an acceptable compromise.
How to Make ICC Profiles: DIY
Dissecting Gamut and Print Variations
Gamut variations might seem minuscule to some users, but they could manifest in print under certain conditions. However, a salient observation that emerges is the crucial role of black levels in influencing the overall print contrast. Non-standard ink colors, such as red or orange, also need careful consideration. Some users have had success in mixing colors to match requirements, but every ink-paper pairing can yield unique results in terms of gloss, bronzing, and other aspects.
Personal Experiences with Third-Party Inks
A user shared their less-than-satisfactory experience with Marrutt inks for the P400, highlighting significant deviations from OEM color, necessitating custom profiles. Despite this, they reported excessive bronzing on glossy papers. However, after switching to Precision Colour inks, they noticed a stark improvement, likening the quality to OEM inks, especially on glossy paper.
Another critical point raised was that issues like bronzing can vary with the type of paper used. Extensive testing has shown that overprinting with a gloss optimizer can significantly reduce bronzing and gloss discrepancies. But this isn’t a universal solution; different gloss optimizers can produce varying results.
Contrasting Marrutt ink and Precision Colour ink on Ilford gold fibre silk paper, the former showed evident bronzing in dark colors, while the latter did not. Furthermore, while Marrutt ink presented a pronounced blue hue, Precision Colour ink seemed to deliver a more accurate color without needing custom profiles.
Addressing Printer Challenges
Despite the choice of ink, some users face challenges like printers dropping ink splotches on paper. Regular maintenance, like cleaning the wiper and waste areas, might help alleviate these issues.
Ink, Paper, and Printer Synchronization
It's vital to create a distinct ICC profile for every ink-paper combination. Inks can deviate significantly, and different papers can similarly influence results. The gamut size is separate from gloss/bronzing effects, predominantly occurring on glossy or semiglossy papers. The Epson gloss optimizer, when activated via the driver, doesn't necessarily address bronzing issues. A distinct and second print pass, covering the print with a uniform layer of gloss optimizer, can enhance the print look, elevate the gamut, and address bronzing.
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