Ink, paper, and refilling carts

[sixgunSal]

I am new to this refilling carts and have been doing some reading of old posts (Seems like I've read a book so far) By reading I have found various websites that sell ink, paper, and accessories. What should I be looking for in determining which has the "best" ink? (I hate using the word "best" cause it's so subjective) What differences in inks should I be aware of and how to determine what is good for my printer and what isn't? I am using a Canon iP3500 bought over the holidays(I have a i960 that is blinking orange after I cleaned the printhead). I have the same basic questions regarding paper. I am finally getting around to printing the pictures I have taken over the past few years with my digital camera. I have, in the past, used only Canon paper but only because I was using Canon ink. Some of these ink selling sites have a pretty comprehensive list of printers they sell ink/kits for but on most of them I don't see the iP3500. Is it to new a model yet? Once I narrow down the places I can get ink from, then I can ask about accessories, etc. Thanks for any help you all can give me.
sgS

 

[Smile]

I am new to this refilling carts and have been doing some reading of old posts (Seems like I've read a book so far) By reading I have found various websites that sell ink, paper, and accessories. What should I be looking for in determining which has the "best" ink? (I hate using the word "best" cause it's so subjective) What differences in inks should I be aware of and how to determine what is good for my printer and what isn't?

In general good ink is determined by how long it resists fading, and if it does not clog the print head. The print head clogg test is non-subjective as you can easily print head clogg test. The fading and ink quality can only be tested using special equipment (spectrophotometers) and a process called calibration & profiling. A method that describes how your printer-paper-ink can output colors.

I am using a Canon iP3500 bought over the holidays(I have a i960 that is blinking orange after I cleaned the printhead). I have the same basic questions regarding paper.

The paper quality is determined by, spectral paper measurement, gamut size, white point, black point that your printer can produce. Black point is different for the same paper but printed on different printers therefore you need to do calibration - get best settings out of your printer followed by profiling - color "description" how your printer prints color. Finally you install custom built ICC files for your windows system and you are ready to print.

One thing I would like to note is the profiles need to be created from as many color patches as possible, and to read 3 times for averaging to work. You also need to consider to calibrate your monitor so you can see what you are going to print before printing ! That saves paper and ink. BTW most of LCD monitor tend to be very unstable in blue color specrum - by calibrating you adjust your monitor brightness, contrast and individual RGB output and make more confortable for the eyes.

I am finally getting around to printing the pictures I have taken over the past few years with my digital camera. I have, in the past, used only Canon paper but only because I was using Canon ink.

Thats why custom built profiles can free you from using only manufactures paper and ink, it's the best thing since sliced bread
You can be more creative by choosing a variety of papers and ink combination.

If you need more info about profiling contact me using the forum.

Some of these ink selling sites have a pretty comprehensive list of printers they sell ink/kits for but on most of them I don't see the iP3500. Is it to new a model yet? Once I narrow down the places I can get ink from, then I can ask about accessories, etc. Thanks for any help you all can give me.
sgS

Well ip3500 is achipped printer that uses CLI-8 cartridges since there is a problem with resseting them nobody sells them, only a few third party ink manufacturers claim they can reset them. Contact Pharmacist he has purchased one of resseting machines and can give you more info on reseting.

You can always hold printer reset button for 5 seconds and use cartridges but you will loose ink monitoring features if you print frequently you can live with it by installing cis, BTW you will loose the warranty this way.

 

[NoWaste]

Hi sixgunSal,

It is common for most people who purchased a colour printer to print their photographs. However, only some printers are especially make to provide good quality photo printing with the proper ink and paper. It will be good to do a simple calculation on the cost of printing your own photographs or get it done at the photo shop. And also to compare the quality. You might be surprised to find out the cost and quality different.

 

[sixgunSal]

Thanks Smile for your information. It brings up a few questions (dumb questions) What is ICC? What are color patches and how do I get them? I found it very interesting that I can create my own "profiles"? I am guessing but this would be for the differences in color that different paper shows? Hmmm that is very intersting....means I can buy less expensive paper and get the same results as the Canon paper. My thought process in the past has been to print only a select few of my digital pictures due to how much the Canon carts and paper cost. Now, with the option of less expensive ink and paper, I can print all the pictures that I have been skipping.

When I do searches on these ink web sites for the CLI-8, I find the colored ink but my black is a CLI-5 and that one I never see listed. The iP4200 has these same carts except for the CLI-5 black. I think that the iP4200 has 5 carts(?) it has 2 different blacks - a PGI black and a CLI black - I'm guessing I could probably use that kit but have no use for that PGI black. I think I'm going to go the refill my carts path, and not buy replacement carts and have to re-chip them. I was reading about that German method and, by the response the post received, figure that is the way to go.

Do you have a favorite ink supplier? Or a brand of non-Canon paper? I have seen ppl reccomend Costco's paper but I don't have access there.

I bought an "extended 12 month" warranty with my printer and they said they would replace it during that time for ANY reason (they told me the story of how one of their customers dog chewed up his cell phone and they exchanged it on the spot no questions asked - so they convinced me, it was only 1$/month for 12 months)

I have also, (while I have been reading old posts) been doing searches for any tutorials on the art of "picture taking" lol I'm a point and shoot w/o any thought to the picture kind of guy. thanks again
sgS

 

[fotofreek]

Sixgun - You've given up on the i960! The ip4500 is reputed to be an excellent photo printer. I believe that ink for this printer is sold by Hobbicolors, Alotofthings (selling Formulabs inks, made in the US), and possibly MIS. MIS ink for the Canon printer is probably Imaging Specialist inks - made in the US. Imaging Specialist inks are available from Precision Color. I've used MIS inks in my Canon printers for three years and am very happy with them. The last two batches of ink came from Precision Colors - they are Imaging Specialist inks. Smile gave you some excellent info. What I would do, however, is settle on any one of the three inks noted here. Face it - they do not have the fade resistance of the Canon OEM inks. Having said that, I have three year old prints that look great, made with MIS inks (imaging specialist, probably.) In albums or framed under glass and not hung in direct sunlight they hold up extremely well. If you put them directly in sunlight full time you will get considerable fading of certain colors.

Most people with these printers who refill their carts know that they will lose their warranty. When you consider that two sets of Canon OEM cart replacements cost more than the original price of the printer, one set of two ounce bottles of refill inks will save more than enough to offset the cost of more than one ip4500. Don't worry about not finding the ip4500 listed at the ink vendors' sites. Look for the ip4300, the ip4200, or the ip4100. They all use the same carts and inks.

The least expensive paper I've used with excellent results is from Costco. They sell both 4x6 (less than 5 cents per sheet) and 8.5x11 - 125 sheets for about $19, as I recall. My 4x6 prints cost less than 10 cents and an 8x10 probably costs about 25 cents. I don't know that this paper/ink combination has the best fade resistance, but the prints are absolutely beautiful. As far as custom profiles are concerned, profiling the specific ink/paper combination gives the best results mroe easily, but you must also callibrate your monitor. Color management issues have been covered by Grandad35 very extensively on this forum. On the other hand, you might buy the ink and paper you decide to try and experiment with various settings on the printer. You may be very happy with the canon profiles by chosing the settings that produce the best result for you. If you aren't pleased with the result you can then look into paying for a custom profile.j

 

[Tin Ho]

What is ICC?

ICC is International Color Consortium. This is an international organization that initially wanted to achieve one thing. There were so many different image capturing devices (film scanners initially then CCD based digital cameras, etc.) and there were also so many output devices such as monitors, printers, etc. In order for a same image from being captured to being displayed or printer to look the same (or very close) a common color scheme needs to be set up and adopted by every input/output product and its manufacturer. ICC is the organization that made it happen. When you look at an image out of a web page on your monitor of your PC it should look almost the same colors displayed on a different monitor of a different PC, as long as both PCs and monitors are set up to display in a same color space, usually sRGB.

 

[Smile]

Thanks Smile for your information. It brings up a few questions (dumb questions) What is ICC? What are color patches and how do I get them? I found it very interesting that I can create my own "profiles"? I am guessing but this would be for the differences in color that different paper shows? Hmmm that is very intersting....means I can buy less expensive paper and get the same results as the Canon paper. My thought process in the past has been to print only a select few of my digital pictures due to how much the Canon carts and paper cost. Now, with the option of less expensive ink and paper, I can print all the pictures that I have been skipping.

With custom profiles you can get the nearly the same quality like canon paper or sometimes even better. The profiles do not make your printer better they only allow the printer to print right colors that even shaddow colros are printed correct this results in better looking photos, saved ink, paper, time etc. Then you can spend your time not for tweaking the printer but for tweaking the photos you want to print. As I said here: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2584

"My company works most locally because it's the best way to ensure client satisfaction and reduce user errors. We plan to begin taking printer remote profiling orders internationally from Jan-Feb 2008, payment accepted by Paypal."

So if you are intrested contact me using forum e-mail form.

When I do searches on these ink web sites for the CLI-8, I find the colored ink but my black is a CLI-5 and that one I never see listed. The iP4200 has these same carts except for the CLI-5 black. I think that the iP4200 has 5 carts(?) it has 2 different blacks - a PGI black and a CLI black - I'm guessing I could probably use that kit but have no use for that PGI black. I think I'm going to go the refill my carts path, and not buy replacement carts and have to re-chip them. I was reading about that German method and, by the response the post received, figure that is the way to go.

Do you have a favorite ink supplier? Or a brand of non-Canon paper? I have seen ppl reccomend Costco's paper but I don't have access there.

I mysel use InkTeck ink, it is very good ink, fade resistant and does not clogg. Some fading reviews have been done on this and dpreview forums about this ink. It was rated one of the best.

I bought an "extended 12 month" warranty with my printer and they said they would replace it during that time for ANY reason (they told me the story of how one of their customers dog chewed up his cell phone and they exchanged it on the spot no questions asked - so they convinced me, it was only 1$/month for 12 months)

I have also, (while I have been reading old posts) been doing searches for any tutorials on the art of "picture taking" lol I'm a point and shoot w/o any thought to the picture kind of guy. thanks again
sgS