Which Pigment Ink for Epson 1500W?

[Borut]

Pigment photo black is for use on photo papers
did you tray that?

 

[martin0reg]

The deep blacks are missing both on matte and on glossy PHOTO paper (both coated!):

- the photo black (both inktech and IS) is definitely not black enough, neither on glossy nor on matte paper. Dye ink generally results in much deeper black.
- the matte black (IS and OCP) on matte photo paper results in deep blacks - but it cloggs the printhead very fast..

So the posted B&W portrait looks the same on glossy paper. It's the ink not the paper..
(edit): I am learning about pigment ink and paper...see post 42 and 52...

It may be that the pigment ink set needs the Lbk and LLbk (=3K) to print deeper blacks...but I don't know, as actually Lbk and LLbk is for better gloss and more subtle tones, not for deeper blacks...

PS: my question to those who are using a pigment ink set in a 6 channel dye printer (1400..1500..p50..): how are the blacks compared to dye ink..??

 

[Apostolos]

PS: my question to those who are using a pigment ink set in a 6 channel dye printer (1400..1500..p50..): how are the blacks compared to dye ink..??

Generally all the colors of dye ink give me more vivid printings in photos. However, i have not encountered yet a problem with the six cartridges of pigment ink. I'm printing mostly flyers, and A3+ posters on glossy offset paper, but some of photos that i have printed on 10 X15 cm glossy photopapers come out pretty ok. In fact i think the black comes even "harder" and darker with pigment ink.

I wish i could tell you which brand pigment i use, but it is from a local here in Greece, and he has his own brand on the bottles.

 

[martin0reg]

For my tests of the pigment ink set I have used "cast coated" papers, perhaps not the best suitable type of coating. I will try "resin coated" too.
Matte paper seems to be always "cast coated" while glossy is available both cast or resin coated.

I found a very long video lecture about photo printing (inkjet and chemical), ink (pigment and dye) and papers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wd9hjDtqM8
..might be interesting if you have the time...

 

[Apostolos]

I have also used uncoated semi-glossy and velvet offset paper, with good results. With dye ink on that, the rsults were just terrible (expect if you go for a simulation of hand drawing), but with pigment ink the poster quality comes out very good.

 

[martin0reg]

Apostolos, I assume you are using photo black, right? If you have the option for matte black at all..

And what kind of paper is "uncoated semi-glossy" and "velvet offset"? Could you post a link to describe?
As far as I know, such papers are good for laser printers not for inkjet, at least not for dye...so pigment could work..

 

[The Hat]

For my tests of the pigment ink set I have used "cast coated" papers, perhaps not the best suitable type of coating. I will try "resin coated" too.
Matte paper seems to be always "cast coated" while glossy is available both cast or resin coated.

I found a very long video lecture about photo printing (inkjet and chemical), ink (pigment and dye) and papers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wd9hjDtqM8
..might be interesting if you have the time...

I viewed all of this video and found it interesting to say the least and it asked more questions for me than it answered ?

This guy is saying the same things as all of the other experts are saying about their products, OURS is much better than yours because I said so, Wow.

I really don’t know why the experts seem to think they know more about printing and light sources that anyone else, they certainly do a very good job at convincing us that they are right and you can be very easily taken in by it all.

But beware of what you see and hear, if you really want to know for sure yourself then do your own experiments and testing and then you can proudly share your experiences and knowledge with others if you so wish. (As many on here do)

Don’t expect any printer or paper to reproduce something that you’re really not sure of yourself, the more complicated you make it the harder it then becomes to achieving it.

The big debate is whether dye ink is better than pigment ink ? The answer is perfectly simple they are both equal in their right.

Just make sure you know the type of light where you’re masterpiece will be hanging then you can be the very best critic..

Have a look at this trickery for instance, it made me laugh…

 

[Apostolos]

I assume i'm using photo black as well, but i can't be sure. The bottle just says black pro-series.

As for the paper, i 've learned that this is working, from the e-shop owner i bought the ink from. I asked him where could i find a paper that will come quite cheaper than a glossy one, and give me a "poster result", and he guided me to that one. It is as you would assume an offset paper for industrial laser paper use (for example printing magazines) that i have asked a paper industry i'm working with to cut it in the dimension of A3+. So far my advertising posters kick ass!
I have used it also with the OEM dye ink. Don't bother. It's a waste of time, paper, and ink.

So far my pigment ink works well on Epson glossy photo paper, on a budget photo inkjet paper, on the offset i mentioned above, and of course on plain paper (but not for quality photos, only simple bussines text. Somehow they don't come out good). My problem is that the tones of black come a little darker than the real picture, when i'm printing photos HQ.

Is there a way to "tone down" the black so that in very dark grey to black areas i can see the details? Now i just see plain black from a tone and above. Also the other colors need adjustments as well, but i don't know where to start.

I don't even know if you can understand what i'm talking about when i say tones. Perhaps i should give an example. The #1 photo is printed on Epson Glossy paper, using the OEM inks. The #2 photo is printed on inkjet permium photo paper, using pigment ink. The photo that best matches the original picture taken is the photo #1. How can i fix the tones?

P.S The photos were scanned on my Oki Mc332

 

[martin0reg]

...
This guy is saying the same things as all of the other experts are saying about their products, OURS is much better than yours because I said so, Wow.
..

Basically agreed...I was focusing on the parts where inkjet technology and papers are explained...

...
How can i fix the tones?
...

Thank you for the infos...
Regarding your problem with "tones" or gradation, on my monitor the print on the right seems to have a slightly softer gradation and a greenish color cast. So what about profiling the printer, i.e. the paper and ink?

 

[Apostolos]

So what about profiling the printer, i.e. the paper and ink?

I thought about that, but after i googled for "printer profilling" i found that for good results i will need a spectrophotometer and special software.

Is there a way to have decent results without paying for software or anything else? I'm not looking for excellent results, i just want to be as close as i can to what i'm seeing on my screen.

Although, i 've read somewhere that perhaps what i am seeing on my screen could be "the wrong" image.
http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/How_To_Get_My_Monitor_To_Match_My_Printer