Well YES I have a custom formulation for the newer cartridges.but all colors are based on IS BCI-6 and CLI-8 colors.... mixtures of each really. I do not want to get into situation of whose ink is better than whose. Let me explain. IS had initially recommended a certain combination when the smaller Canon cartridges appeared. I received many complaints about the color rendition of this set to the point I issued refunds because it did not meet the user's needs for color rendition and to which I could not refute. ( BTW, try getting refunds that with a bulk ink dealer because of color). Even when profiled, it was short. Then when the 226 cartridges appeared which was the second generation of the short cartridges. IS recommended another Cyan which was the same one from the CLI-8 series. This did not resolve the problem. Images now appeared to have a green blue cast as you will see below.
I spent many many hours if not days, testing different combinations so that I could obtain prints similar to the OEM and output with ICC profiles. I printed out over three hundred test prints and flushed cartridges a similar amount to arrive at what I have today. Should I divulge it after investing this time and effort? I could not do that. But what I am offering at essentially the same cost as the standard set. I could have sat back and just offered what was off the shelf. So if you're satisfied with a green cast and want it, just purchase a set of ink offered for CLI-8 cartridges and use it on your 221/226 cartridges. If you trust that I have carried out some work to improve what is off the shelf that's fine as well. The decent gray ramp rendition was very difficult to obtain and it is this that gives pictures certain casts.
The following image was scanned all at once so that settings remained the same for all images. Paper used..the ever popular Kirkland Professional Glossy.
LEFT is output with easy to use print setting of Glossy Photo Paper with Auto color settings with my custom inkset...what most users end up using to print a photo.
CENTER is output that has been profiled. Remember, I provide FREE ICC profiles for this inkset for paper for Kirkland, 6 papers for Red River, Staples Matte and numerous others. . My profiles represents hundreds of hours of work and there are more profiles there than even Canon offers for what is used in the real world. The ICC output represents more accurate output than using Canon OEM inks on Kirkland paper.
RIGHT is the output using the IS currently recommended inkset. Off the shelf. The gray ramp has issues and there is noticeable cast. This was not good enough for me, maybe it is for you Tin Ho.
So yes, my inkset that I curently ship for the shorter 221/226 cartridges is a custom formulation and I had to do it to provide the best that I could personally deliver and by providing custom ICC profiles for it, the user can expect superb results as well. Here is the link for the ICC profiles for it.
http://www.mediafire.com/?77pods8w90a7r10
My goal was to remedy the not stellar results from the off the shelf to something that users can nice results from with just printing without the complication of messing around with color controls or complexity of ICC profiles but still provide the ICC profiles if the user is advanced enough to use it . Was the objective accomplished?
Maybe not, only the viewer can judge.
Here is one feedback that I might have succeeded.
" Thanks for your help, and between printing with the original inks and your inks, I have noticed no change in color!
Lorna Shepard "
I am a very small dealer compared to others. The vast majority of the others want a "universal" color for reasons of less complications and less cost of stock and space. So I am sure there is pressure to reuse colors where possible but there are compromises in such an approach as you can clearly see.