Any recent ink fading tests?

[ThrillaMozilla]

Having misspent a lot of time on this in the last few days, I found only a couple of reviews of ink fading that I found really useful.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1003&message=12198835&changemode=1 from 2005 and
http://www.trustedreviews.com/printers/review/2008/04/29/The-Inkjet-Investigation-Part-3/p2 2007-2008.
I did also find some brief opinions in this forum, which I summarized here:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6192 .

I know there are also a few very exacting reports of a very few ink/paper combinations, but generally far too few to be of much use. And not to criticize, but some of these reports are also difficult to understand. Are there any other especially useful recent reports on the inks that you guys all know and love?

(By the way, I know most of you know and love Epson and Canon, but happen to have an HP.) Gosh, this stuff is all-consuming, isn't it?

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

Aw, gee, how could I have missed Mark McCormick's work? I don't know, maybe I was looking for something else. I think you've gotta join to see the results, but you don't have to pay to join. (But please do donate.)

http://www.aardenburg-imaging.com/about.html


EDIT: I'm posting my own tests here: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=6481&p=1 .

EDIT: There's also this: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/inkjet-fading.php . Same inks, mostly.

EDIT: #30 and #31 are for HP56-57. Same ink as HP564, as far as I can tell. It fares rather well.

EDIT: There are other tests archived on the InkTec Web site, here: http://www.inktec.com/english/support/tech_info.asp . InkTec tested the color inks against HP-57+ (Vivera). InkTech magenta faded much faster than HP ink; the cyan and yellow were more comparable to HP ink.

EDIT: Here's a report of IS ink (for Canon) fading rapidly in light and in semi-darkness.

EDIT: Here is a report of IT ink (for Canon) fading rapidly but IS ink being light-fast.

EDIT: Here is an unfavorable report for IS (for Canon), probably having to do with chemical fading.

EDIT: Here is a very favorable report for IS (Canon) under display conditions. http://www.printerknowledge.com/thr...0-vs-refill-precision-colors.9096/#post-71244

Here's a similarly favorable one with a reply by Mark McCormack: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3633678 . It depends on the lighting.

 

[l_d_allan]

This printing newbie's impression is that if you are concerned about print longevity, stay with OEM ink and paper ... especially if you are selling prints to people who have an expectation their prints will be fade resistant for decades. YMMV.

I've looked at the Aardenburg website, and read some material from Wilhelm, but all I saw were OEM combinations, which I can't cost-justify.

I do have sheets of the following sitting around inside out of the sun to do my own informal fading test:
* Canon Plus Glossy II printed with Canon OEM ink in an acquaintance's Pro-9000-2. This would be the "gold standard" for moderately affordable paper.
* Canon Plus Glossy II printed with OCP ink
* CostCo Kirkland paper printed with Canon OEM ink
* CostCo Kirkland paper printed with OCP ink

It has only been several weeks, and this newbie has his doubts if I did everything just right to have valid results. Seems like I would have to have accurate profiles of the 8 combinations ... 2 9000-2 printers, 2 inks (Canon and OCP), 2 papers (Canon and Kirkland).

In any case, I won't be using Canon OEM ink for cost considerations, so it really doesn't matter. If the Kirkland+OCP still looks fine after a year, I'll be satisfied. All I'm really doing is what we used to call a "smoke test" ... plug a prototype in and watch for smoke to tell you that something is obviously wrong.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

No, HP ink (in my case) is completely out of the question, unless Bill Gates wants to pay me for some prints. My initial ink cost was approximately 70 to 80 cents per page, for mostly text.

Aardenburg does have some non-OEM inks, and they generally fared quite well in his tests.

 

[l_d_allan]

I'm curious ... does your HP printer have the cartridge and head as an integrated unit, or separate? When you buy a new cart, does it include the print-head?

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

5 cartridges, separate print head.

 

[l_d_allan]

I had the misconception that only high-end HP printers had separate heads and cartriges. I thought that entry level to mid-level HP printers had integrated heads with the cartridge.

If you "look around the forum", my perception is that you don't see all that many HP users. Seems like most are "Canon guys" like me, then Epson, and a few HP'ers.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I bought HP because I wanted a specific combination of features, including all-in-one for making easy copies, good Linux drivers, CD printing, and good construction, etc. I'm not printing masterpieces. In fact, I'm not sure I'll print photos, since I can get good and economical prints at a photo store, although I don't get my choice of art papers. I like Canon printers, and I may get one later. Some Canon models lack Linux drivers, and that tipped the balance.

I really didn't want to make a second career out of refilling, but it turns out you either have to get a second job to pay for ink or marry the darned printer. I didn't realize just how bad it would be.