Does anyone run an A3 printer with a CIS..?

crashtestmac

crashtestmac

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I have done a search but cannot find a clear answer on what i want.

I am after a VERY decent printer that i can use with a CIS system that will allow me to print up to a3.

It will mainly be used for portrait work and some sports presentations.

Does anyone run an A3 printer with a CIS.

If so please let me know what you use and what the costs are like or if you have seen a "Deal" anywhere....!

Thanks
Mac
 
Shall wait and see as I have a B9180 with pigment inks and am consiering a pigment CIS.
 
Further bit of info. I emailed a ebay user who bought one of the systems I am looking at.
His initial impressions are that the colours match the B9180 inks from HP and don't require custom profiles..

I'm fairly certain he is a member here as well, as I'm sure i've seen some of the photos on his website on TP.
 
I do. Epson r2400 with a fotospeed CIS. Don't want to put you off but I have had nothing but trouble with it. The print heads just block ALL the time, and I've basically given up on using it now.

When it worked it was great though - I had it fully profiled up and could get what I saw on screen to come out on paper. The holy grail of printing.
 
That is more what i am worried about.

I am running a canon MP610 at the moment and the quality is very good but i need to do a bit bigger every now and then.

I also refuse to pay £75 for a new full set of ink for a printer i can buy for that much. I have some refill carts for it that seem ok but i want a better quality printer.

Thanks
Mac
 
Hi,

We're running an Epson R1400 printer here on a CISS system. The ink we're using are actually dye-sub inks though so i'm not too sure if that's what you're after.
 
I have an Epson R2880 with an InkJetFly CIS. It does produce vary good prints and i can see the difference between this CIS and the original Epson ink.

The only downside to it is i don't seem to have it set up quite right, the ink tubes seems to rub slightly when printing and it's quite annoying plus you have to have the lip slightly open.

As i'm not really doing that much printing i'm tempted to take it out and use refillable carts instead.
 
My main problem with refill carts is the mess that u can make....

I admit it may be my fault but i got it on my hands, my desk, the carpet and my jeans the last time i had to refill one.

I must view the instructions but that came on a mini cd and i cannot put it in my imac or macbook.... (or can i...?)
 
Lol,i was the same the first time i refilled my old canon carts. Ink everywhere and wouldn't come off my hands for a couple of days.

The carts i've seen for the R2880 seem much easier to refill than the old canon ones.
 
crashtestmac said:
That is more what i am worried about.

I am running a canon MP610 at the moment and the quality is very good but i need to do a bit bigger every now and then.

I also refuse to pay £75 for a new full set of ink for a printer i can buy for that much. I have some refill carts for it that seem ok but i want a better quality printer.

Thanks
Mac
Click to expand...
Here is the one for your it the same as the 530
cost £40.20 I have had mine for over two years now and not had any problems
 
If you think £75 is bad, for the 8 HP cartridges for the B9180 it can be around £170 for originals.
Quality is amazing though.
 
Dangleman said:
I do. Epson r2400 with a fotospeed CIS. Don't want to put you off but I have had nothing but trouble with it. The print heads just block ALL the time, and I've basically given up on using it now.

When it worked it was great though - I had it fully profiled up and could get what I saw on screen to come out on paper. The holy grail of printing.
Click to expand...

I too have an Epson R2400 with the Fotospeed CIS system

Let me say that I too had an initialproblem with clogging heads. I thought it was due to lack of use but when I called Fotospeed they could not be more helpful. TYhey advised the height of the inks is a crucial factor and I raised the height of the tanks by half an inch and I've not had any trouble since.

Output is superb! Make sure you get a company that will provide custom profiles.

Not sure about the cheap ebay options. Mine came down to Fotospeed and Permajet - Went with Fs just because they were at a photo show I was at in Edinburgh.

No real issues at all and when I advised them of my problem I got 30% off my next ink and paper order!!! Great customer service.

Regards cost though, the initial costs are still expensive for a cis but when you consider you get maybe 5x the amount of ink for the same price then it's not so bad. To fill the 2400 costs about £80-£100. Do that twice and you could buy the CIS system.

I filled up inks too regularly but now not worried about my printing.
 
HybridUK said:
Hi,

We're running an Epson R1400 printer here on a CISS system. The ink we're using are actually dye-sub inks though so i'm not too sure if that's what you're after.
Click to expand...



Dye-Sub printers don't use ink? the printers use heat to transfer the dye onto a medium such as a plastic card, paper, or fabric.

Do you mean pigment ink?
 
Chaz Photos said:
for CIS check out City Ink Express I have one of theirs and it very good and the inks match Canons well and a friend has an Epson one she is please witrh that one
Click to expand...

city Ink is the sytem I was referring to. The chap I emailed is really happy.
 
EOS_JD said:
I too have an Epson R2400 with the Fotospeed CIS system

Let me say that I too had an initialproblem with clogging heads. I thought it was due to lack of use but when I called Fotospeed they could not be more helpful. TYhey advised the height of the inks is a crucial factor and I raised the height of the tanks by half an inch and I've not had any trouble since.

Output is superb! Make sure you get a company that will provide custom profiles.

Not sure about the cheap ebay options. Mine came down to Fotospeed and Permajet - Went with Fs just because they were at a photo show I was at in Edinburgh.

No real issues at all and when I advised them of my problem I got 30% off my next ink and paper order!!! Great customer service.
Click to expand...

I also called them and got this advice (raising the tanks). It seemed to do the job for a while, but it's gone back to clogging up all the time again.

I was using the fotospeed refill sets on fotospeed gloss paper with a custom icc profile thta you send away for. As I say when it works it's brilliant. But the hassle and amount if ink wasted running the printer 'cleaning' program totally negates this for me.

I've basically given up now. I use DS colour labs (printers) in manchester now - actually works out cheaper anyway I think.
 
Dangleman said:
I also called them and got this advice (raising the tanks). It seemed to do the job for a while, but it's gone back to clogging up all the time again.

I was using the fotospeed refill sets on fotospeed gloss paper with a custom icc profile thta you send away for. As I say when it works it's brilliant. But the hassle and amount if ink wasted running the printer 'cleaning' program totally negates this for me.

I've basically given up now. I use DS colour labs (printers) in manchester now - actually works out cheaper anyway I think.
Click to expand...

I've learned that sending out your prints is a better bet. Sure it's great having one handy but I guess you like me have spent £700 on a printer and CIS system + hundreds on ink!!! Think how many prints that would buy from a lab!!!
 
I just bought the Epson R2880 and the Lyson CIS system and its running great
 
CIS is the way to go....
It's so nice to be able to print without constantly feeling like you are being ripped off.

I've got an R1900 and back in the Summer went with Lyson CIS from Marrutt as their support came highly recommended by someone who has used a Lyson CIS for many years.
Mine's been trouble free and so has the the R2400 Lyson CIS I installed for one of my photobuddies who is a semi-pro portrait photographer.

With the 2400 we did comparisons again her reference prints made using the original Epson inks. There are very subtle differences; so subtle would would never spot them under normal conditions. She hasn't taken advantage of the free custom profile but given that she's very happy with the prints coming out of the CIS she may never use it!

However - I will note that CIS is a bit of a gadget and it's intricacies / foibles need a fair understanding. Getting the ink lines running smoothly and doing the initial ink filling without leaving air in the cartridges is not totally straightforward and needs a little experimentation.
Also very important to follow the printer settings instructions TO THE LETTER otherwise the prints won't come out right. They don't follow conventional wisdom and I don't think it is made clear enough just how important it is.
My photobuddy wouldn't have been able to have install her CIS without my help.
 
EOS_JD said:
I've learned that sending out your prints is a better bet. Sure it's great having one handy but I guess you like me have spent £700 on a printer and CIS system + hundreds on ink!!! Think how many prints that would buy from a lab!!!
Click to expand...

Yep, £700 desk 'ornament' it feels like at the moment. Really grates if I start to think about it, and I really do want the option of both to be honest.

I actually just bought a set of r2400 pigment ink refills off ebay. Eight 100ml bottles for £18 (the fotospeed set is about £180!). I figured I'd give it one last go, but there was no chance I was wasting yet more money. I figured it was knackered anyway, so worth taking a risk on 'cheapo' ink.

All was fine except 'cyan' is now totally blocked. Tried a 'magic bullet' cleaning thing which has helped a bit, but after running the cleaning prog about 6 times yesterday, still not all clear. I think I give up.
 
I learned anlong the way. A little reseacha nd a few forum questions helped.
 
DuncanDisorderly said:
However - I will note that CIS is a bit of a gadget and it's intricacies / foibles need a fair understanding. Getting the ink lines running smoothly and doing the initial ink filling without leaving air in the cartridges is not totally straightforward and needs a little experimentation.
My photobuddy wouldn't have been able to have install her CIS without my help.
Click to expand...
The City Ink ones come all ready to install as simple as changing your normal inks all ready filled and primed.
 
Dangleman said:
Yep, £700 desk 'ornament' it feels like at the moment. Really grates if I start to think about it, and I really do want the option of both to be honest.

I actually just bought a set of r2400 pigment ink refills off ebay. Eight 100ml bottles for £18 (the fotospeed set is about £180!). I figured I'd give it one last go, but there was no chance I was wasting yet more money. I figured it was knackered anyway, so worth taking a risk on 'cheapo' ink.

All was fine except 'cyan' is now totally blocked. Tried a 'magic bullet' cleaning thing which has helped a bit, but after running the cleaning prog about 6 times yesterday, still not all clear. I think I give up.
Click to expand...


These machines are very sensitive. There's cheap ink like that provided by Fotospeed, Lyson etc but £18 for 8 bottles says rubbish to me and I suspect that the reason they are clogged is because that ink won't be fine enough for the small nozzles.

It works ok for me now. Try the Fs inks again or just go back to originals and be selective about what you print :)
 
I've had no trouble at all with my photospeed quill cis system on my r2400 and I hardly print anything at the moment maybe once a week. clean the heads no more than with the Epsom carts


Dangleman said:
I do. Epson r2400 with a fotospeed CIS. Don't want to put you off but I have had nothing but trouble with it. The print heads just block ALL the time, and I've basically given up on using it now.

When it worked it was great though - I had it fully profiled up and could get what I saw on screen to come out on paper. The holy grail of printing.
Click to expand...
 
I just use Epson cartridges in my R2400. I just can't see the point in buying a £500 printer knowing how much refills are before I bought it and then trying to push cheap ink through it. I know what results I will get every time then.
I agree that the prices are an absolute rip off, but its a bitter pill I swallow because I want consistent results. I just can't be arsed with messing about with blocked jets etc.
I reckon I'm going to have a go at buying some genuine cartridges at wholesale somehow. There must be a way... :naughty:


Kev.
 
The Lyson system is really very good. You can also get refillable cartridges and that is what I am currently using on my R2400 but I have a CIS on an R300 (and will soon stick a Lyson on the R2400). For anyone wanting GENUINE ink you can buy the large ink reservoir tanks for the bigger format printers and use a syringe to remove the ink to refill your own cartridges. This halves the cost. The ink that Lyson supplies is rather good and they also supply profiles.
 
kevshore said:
I just use Epson cartridges in my R2400. I just can't see the point in buying a £500 printer knowing how much refills are before I bought it and then trying to push cheap ink through it. I know what results I will get every time then.
I agree that the prices are an absolute rip off, but its a bitter pill I swallow because I want consistent results. I just can't be arsed with messing about with blocked jets etc.
I reckon I'm going to have a go at buying some genuine cartridges at wholesale somehow. There must be a way... :naughty:


Kev.
Click to expand...

I must admit to thinking the same. But having used Fotospeed CIS system, I'm hugely impressed with the quality -easily the equal of Epson's inks. Ay least I can't tell the difference and I print a lot!
 
I refuse to pay £12 for 13ml of ink. if it were cheaper I would use the epson ink. I get the same results with the fotospeed ink as I do with the epson with no adverse effects on the heads.

kevshore said:
I just use Epson cartridges in my R2400. I just can't see the point in buying a £500 printer knowing how much refills are before I bought it and then trying to push cheap ink through it. I know what results I will get every time then.
I agree that the prices are an absolute rip off, but its a bitter pill I swallow because I want consistent results. I just can't be arsed with messing about with blocked jets etc.
I reckon I'm going to have a go at buying some genuine cartridges at wholesale somehow. There must be a way... :naughty:


Kev.
Click to expand...
 
POAH said:
I refuse to pay £12 for 13ml of ink. if it were cheaper I would use the epson ink. I get the same results with the fotospeed ink as I do with the epson with no adverse effects on the heads.
Click to expand...

Epson ink = £0.92 per ml (based on £12 for 13ml)

Fotospeed = £0.20 per ml (currently £24.46 for 125ml)

That's a huge difference - especially if you print a lot.

And as far as I can see you get the same quality. I've printed images for wall portraits & wedding albums and I actually prefer mine to the labs I've used!
 
You can also buy Epson 9880 cartridges (or the other 7000/9000 series printers that co-incide with your printers colours) and then draw the ink out of them with a syringe and then use this to fill your CIS

220ml for £75 = 34p per ml
 
cowasaki said:
You can also buy Epson 9880 cartridges (or the other 7000/9000 series printers that co-incide with your printers colours) and then draw the ink out of them with a syringe and then use this to fill your CIS

220ml for £75 = 34p per ml
Click to expand...

That's not too bad. They really should make their A3 printers with larger capacity cartridges though.
 
EOS_JD said:
That's not too bad. They really should make their A3 printers with larger capacity cartridges though.
Click to expand...

You can buy an empty CIS from Lyson for £49 then a set of Epson cartridges at £75 each. Then you will be using REAL Epson ink in a really good CIS.

This would cost £650 BUT even if you actually get all 12ml out of the Epson cartridge the £650 will get you 18 complete sets of cartridges so £36 for each set or £4.50 per cartridge. Somewhat of a saving.
 
Actually it would cost £724 (the 2400 can use 9 different cartridges (I use both blacks).

The Fotospeed system allows you to buy 500ml bottles for £69! So even cheaper still at less than 14p per ml !! :)
 
I've just printed 15 A3 prints on the HP B9180 and I have to say they do look blooming good. :) It would feel better if the ink was not quite so expensive though :)
 
We have all had the pain!
 
EOS_JD said:
Actually it would cost £724 (the 2400 can use 9 different cartridges (I use both blacks).

The Fotospeed system allows you to buy 500ml bottles for £69! So even cheaper still at less than 14p per ml !! :)
Click to expand...

I was simply pointing out to the Epson only group how they can get cheap epson ink :) I use non epson too ;)
 
cowasaki said:
I was simply pointing out to the Epson only group how they can get cheap epson ink :) I use non epson too ;)
Click to expand...

Haha - THe Epson ink is a bit of a rip off but they are not alone!
 
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