Original inks vs compatible

[smurfing]

Hi

This question has probably been asked before - although I cannot find it

I have an Epson xp-750 which prints fantastic quality photos
I see a tremendous variation in the price of cartridges from original to compatible

In the past I have found compatible cartridges a lower quality giving photos that deteriorate quickly

Does anyone have any views or advise that could help -
Are compatible lower quality ?
Does anyone have a sources for good cheap ink supplies?

Very many thanks in advance

Smurf

[Aladdin]

Re: Original inks vs compatible

Good & cheap do not go hand in hand. Granted, it is rip off the way they price ink.

[AKMac]

Re: Original inks vs compatible

This is something I'd like to know too.

[John Wheeler]

Re: Original inks vs compatible

Hi Smurf
Several downsides
- longevity of images in question
- consistency of ink may have higher variability
- you invalidate your warranty or the printer I believe
- If you use ICC profiles with that printer, those ICC profiles typically only cover the ink/paper combination on your Epson printer meaning you would need to have custom ICC profiles built
- Drying times can be different with "compatible" inks
- Related to drying time is dot gain with a given paper which is related to how much ink should be pumped out on the paper. When you chose the paper type with the Epson driver it is assuming you have Epson ink.
-----------------------
So using "compatible" inks is not a slam dunk under any circumstance so just make sure you know what your are signing up for before jumping in.

[xTakk]

Re: Original inks vs compatible

Just to add to and clarify some of John's post...

The warranty depends on the manufacturer, can only speak for the one I have experience with and this does not void the warranty, however you're counting on getting 'outstanding' customer service if they do agree to replace the print head for you.

To explain the high cost of ink, you have to look at how often compatible inks clog print heads and either cause them to need cleanings or replacements. Along with the fact that the manufacturing process that goes into legitimate high quality ink is pretty impressive, and the bargain ink prices have to be made up for somewhere along that path.

Yes, custom ICC profiles are generally necessary or your prints will be inconsistent.

To answer the question of is this OK... The biggest factor I see coming into play here is the manufacturing process behind the compatible inks and the nozzle size on your current print head. A lot of the moderately older printers will use a 3picoliter nozzle, and most manufacturers can get this standard. Most of the newer printers are using a 1pl nozzle size which is rather difficult for any but the highest quality ink manufacturers to accomplish.

Do note, I have seen refilled or compatible ink manufacturers which will actually sell a cartridge full of pigment ink particles for use in a dye based printer, which most certainly clogs nozzles with the quickness. It's a 50/50 shot if the printers cleaning functions will be able to resolve this, in any case, these cleanings will waste ink, regardless what price you pay for it and could compound the problem by jamming even more oversized ink particles into more nozzles. This is all assuming the manufacturer managed to keep any type of contaminant out of the ink in the process.

Long story short, I have heard of people who weigh the price of a printhead ($100 +/-) into the savings they get from compatible inks, and if that works for them, more power to them. For me personally though, I weigh the price of genuine inks in with getting consistent high quality prints every time and not wasting the time on fiddling with getting things to look the way I want them to with some hack job.

Quality is not cheap, if someone would sell you $1/gal gas, would you put it in your Porsche? Not me, but I may give it a try in my 84 Mercury Lynx that would be just as well left on the side of the street to burn. One way or another, I wouldn't feel it necessary to complain about the results if I wasn't willing to pay for them in the first place.

Hope this helps guys

[smurfing]

Re: Original inks vs compatible

Hi all

Many thanks for all the generous information
Think I'll stick to original cartridges for now - re-accessing the situation again at a later date

Thanks again

Smurf

[Benny Profane]

Re: Original inks vs compatible

http://shopping.netsuite.com/inkjetmall