Share your experience please!

[lobar]

Guys, share your experience please! Do you print at home or in copy centers? What is more cheaper?
recently... i found this video Epson CISS vs original cartridges. I don't know, but it seems to be true. And now I'm thinking about own good small printer.
Nevertheless, I am afraid to use non-original cartridges. What can you say?

[artdemole]

HOME PRINT.2 Printers.One is epson using non-original cartridges but using for monochrome print offs.The other is Kodak which is Only used with Kodak Cartridge,worth the expense for colour printing.

[glsammy]

I had a CISS set up on my Epson. Worked well for a while. My biggest problem though is that I hardly ever print so eventually I get blockage problems. This happens whatever cartridges I used. Eventually I had to get rid of the Epson and I settled for a Kodak, with compatible cartridges from 7 day shop. A fraction of the price of the originals and so far OK.
As for CISS, if you use your printer a lot then it makes good sense.

[cosmicma]

depends on what size prints you are considering

quite a few places are doing 200 6 x 4 prints for 5p a photo nowadays
you can't buy quality photo paper never mind ink for the same price and it's getting pretty much the same at bigger sizes too
a3 or 12 x 16 prints can be got at just over a quid the last time i bought quality a3+ photo paper it cost more or less the same per sheet

i still have and use my printer but it's more of a convenience than a cost cutter but the in all honesty i don't think i will be replacing it when it finally gives up the will to print

[Jim Ford]

I used a CIS with an Epson for years, until the waste tank got full and overflowed!

I'm now using a Canon Pixma iP4850 with a CIS and it's working well.

I would say though, that the key to successful non-OEM inks and paper is to calibrate the printer. You can then use any mix of inks and paper. I use a ColorMunki.

Jim

[Geoff F]

You may find this discussion interesting Educate me on Printing

I have had several printers over the past 10 years and found that they do have a limited life. Currently using an A3 Epson R1900.

From my experience, Epson printers do suffer more from ink clog. Although it isn't that much of a problem to clear.

I tried compatible third party cartridges once and although they worked OK I could tell the difference, but only slightly. For general 'office printing' I would say they would be sufficient.

With regard to price; it depends on what you want and, to some extent, where you live. Some people live in cities with a number of excellent photo print companies just around the corner but, for many of us, it is a different situation.

I spend quite a bit of time editing my photos and want top grade prints, often at larger sizes, whenever I need them and on best quality paper which won't yellow within a year! So producing my own prints does give me flexibility and quality; or at least I know why I made a mistake.

Most friends just take their cameras to a local printer and pick up the 6 x 4 prints a couple of days later. Personally, I wouldn't accept the quality they get; but they seem happy with their snaps, just like the old film days.

It was the lack of quality from my 'auto enhanced' film prints which first persuaded me to go digital and do everything myself. Although it does cost more to do it yourself.

But having said that, if you discount the cost of purchasing a printer, because you have to have one anyway, and print mostly at larger sizes, which have a premium price at printing stores, the difference isn't so great.

[hank]

I use a CISS on my Epson. Never had any problem until about 3 months ago, when I had the 'WASTE INK PAD FULL' error. Apparently, all waste ink is collected on a large pad, in the base of the printer. The printer 'counts' or guesstimates when the pad is full. It then disables your printer! When this happens, you are advised to take it to your nearest service centre. The cost will probably be more than a new printer!! I checked out other printers and it seems that they're all the same! So, a perfectly good printer is destined for the scrapheap just because of waste ink !
This is Epsons take on the matter ...............
Epson Ink Pads Info - Epson America, Inc.

However; there is a firm that allows you to download a resetting program, and they also send you an external plastic tank to contain any future overspill. I paid about a tenner and now have my trusty Epson with CISS up and running again! Here's the link .............
Waste ink box kit for Epson inkjet printers

H.

[DOXHOPE]

I print at home, on an Epson 1400, on Epson paper using Epson ink..at a recent club competition I thought it great when the judge remareked on the high quality of one of my prints, "obviously printed professionally" he said..

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by hank

I use a CISS on my Epson. Never had any problem until about 3 months ago, when I had the 'WASTE INK PAD FULL' error. Apparently, all waste ink is collected on a large pad, in the base of the printer. The printer 'counts' or guesstimates when the pad is full. It then disables your printer! When this happens, you are advised to take it to your nearest service centre.

You can reset Epson ink counters (and other tasks) with this utility:

SSC Service Utility for Epson Stylus Printer.

It works well.

Jim

[hank]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

You can reset Epson ink counters (and other tasks) with this utility:

SSC Service Utility for Epson Stylus Printer.

It works well.

Jim

Ahh, now I remember! I tried that utility, probably the only printer not supported is the Epson R360 - which is my printer !

H.