compatible ink cartridges question

[archie123]

Hello
Ive just purchased an Epson R240 photo printer and im ver happy with the results im getting , obviously as its a new printer im using the Epson ink supplied with it.

Will i get the same quality of pictures using compatible ink which i find to be much cheaper.

I dont mind digging deep if i have to buy originals but id rather pay less if i can.

So does anyone here use compatibles? what results do you get? Do you use a particular brand you find to be very good?

I would be very gratefull for any input thank you

Darren

 

[Michael52x]

Most printers today are designed to use their own brand of ink for a reason. Third party inks are the biggest rip off going. Toners are one thing, but risking an expensive inkjet printer is not worth it!
Would you go to a printer company and say "Hey, use the cheap ink, and paper, and maybe an older printer, and not charge me as much"? Dont think so.
The advent of personal printing has killed print shops, and you must realize that printing is expensive.
Use a high-end printer, use good ink.
You want cheap, get a cheap printer and ink and dont mind having cheap print quality.

 

[Sympology]

For a less ranting response:

Archie, it comes really down to what you want to achive from your prints. As I was a Lithographic & Flexographic printer for 8yrs, before moving into paper coating for a further 3, I'm in a pretty good position to respond.
As a simple rule, often you get what you pay for. Personally I would say, yes stick with the Epson inks if you can afford it, as they will have a better quality control and the ink colour will be consistantly the same. That said, if you go and then shove cheap uncoated paper in, you colours will be dull and may suffer bleed. So where possible always use the best you can afford, but don't over spend on one, just to cut back on the other.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[archie123]

Thank you Stu i was kinda thinking Micheal was just "telling me off" like a naughty child

I have used up all of my first set of cartdridges (well the three colours anyway) and if i buy them individualy it works out at £18 for 3 for genuine replacements. With this first set of colours i have printed off nearly 80 6x4 prints at high quality and 4 at A4.

I hear that because this was my first use the print heads had to be charged with ink and this occurs only the first time so for future cartridges they should last even longer.

As this works out much much cheaper than taking them to a shop to be printed im happy and will continue to use the genuine article.

I just didnt realise how many prints i would be able to do with 1 set of cartridges.

My two new sets of colours are already on there way

Thanks for advice both of you

Darren

 

[kiddpete]

One more note. The Epson inks on Epson paper will produce the best results. The images should look good, and should last a long time. Third party ink and/or paper would require calibration before comparable results could be achieved, and usually don't have the longevity of the Epson product.

 

[assets]

With HP with ther lower end printer, the ink replacement is 90% the cost of the printer. It cheaper tho buy a new printer (if it 12 months old). But it adds to land fill.

Never give up never give in.

There are no short cuts to anything worth doing

 

[Stathie9]

There 3 types of compatible Ink/Toner cartridges:

1. Refill (Drill and Fill) very unreliable.
2. Re-manufactured (not much different to a drill and fill
maybe some cleaning). Again unreliable.
3. Manufactured (the only thing re-used is the case
everything else is replaced as new). Look for ISO 9001
quality standard stamp for reliability.

Some of the major manufacturers recycle so they are no different to no. 3

 

[Sympology]

As a subnote :

"The European Union has passed laws against the practice of embedding chips in printer cartridges, which lawmakers believe leads to fewer cartridges being reused and more scrap going into landfills"

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Sympology]

Sorry forgot to add:
Full info on this story can be found at:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/12/30/eu_tells_hp_et_al/

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004