A4 printer which uses pigment inks...? Recommendations?

[O F Ransen]

I've had an EPSON Photo 2200 A3 printer (pigment inks) for years. It has been repaired twice and given good service. But it gave up the ghost last week. I no longer need A3, but I do think I'd like pigment (not dye) inks because of their longevity.

But I can't find an A4 pigment printer, they all seem to be A3. Any reccommendations? (Not HP, I've only ever had trouble with HP printers...)

Or am I wrong to think that pigment = longevity?

 

[andyred]

I've had an EPSON Photo 2200 A3 printer (pigment inks) for years. It has been repaired twice and given good service. But it gave up the ghost last week. I no longer need A3, but I do think I'd like pigment (not dye) inks because of their longevity.

But I can't find an A4 pigment printer,

Hi and welcome to TP

I used to have an Epson printer and swapped to one of the Canon iP range (not sure what type of ink it uses though) but I have been very happy with it and for me, it's better than my Epson printer was...

 

[ChrisR]

Or am I wrong to think that pigment = longevity?

I believe pigment inks do last longer, and are sometimes quoted as "archival". But I suspect that the normal good quality OEM inks in Capson printers will last quite long enough for most of us...

 

[O F Ransen]

Hi and welcome to TP

I used to have an Epson printer and swapped to one of the Canon iP range (not sure what type of ink it uses though) but I have been very happy with it and for me, it's better than my Epson printer was...

Better in what way?

 

[O F Ransen]

I believe pigment inks do last longer, and are sometimes quoted as "archival". But I suspect that the normal good quality OEM inks in Capson printers will last quite long enough for most of us...

Hmmm. What is your evidence for you suspicion?

 

[andyred]

Better in what way?

Doesn't waste as much ink as the Epson did with cleaning, cycling etc, easier to use interface, generally better colour prints and more life like colours...

 

[ChrisR]

Hmmm. What is your evidence for you suspicion?

Well, I haven't seen many (or even perhaps any) articles or posts from folk complaining about fading and colour drift with modern A4 printers, unless they were using non-OEM inks (and some using non-OEM inks seem pretty happy, too).

 

[O F Ransen]

Doesn't waste as much ink as the Epson did with cleaning, cycling etc, easier to use interface, generally better colour prints and more life like colours...

Ah well that is better. I'll have a closer look at Canon printers...

 

[O F Ransen]

Well, I haven't seen many (or even perhaps any) articles or posts from folk complaining about fading and colour drift with modern A4 printers, unless they were using non-OEM inks (and some using non-OEM inks seem pretty happy, too).

I did this experiment, see attached. That was a dye based printer. Now, somewhere I have a direct comparison in an album... if I find it I'll post it.

 

[O F Ransen]

Well, I haven't seen many (or even perhaps any) articles or posts from folk complaining about fading and colour drift with modern A4 printers.

Maybe I was too in love with my idea that pigments don't fade and dyes do. See attached.


And that was in 2004. If anything the pigment printed image is slightly lighter than the dye one.

Probably all I have to do is use the correct paper and store the images away from the ligjht. Duh.

 

[ChrisR]

Well I was pretty convinced by your first example, and then also by the second! I guess there may have been improvements in ink since those days. I'm sure for archival quality one would use pigment, despite your example, but I don't know of any A4 printers with pigment inks. In fact, A4 printers seem to be treated as pretty much disposable items by manufacturers. I've been trying to get decent black and white quality from my A4 printers, and even the Canon MG6350 which has a grey as well as black ink struggles to avoid colour casts. The advice on here seems mostly to be, get yourself a proper printer (ie A3 or larger). Good luck, anyway.

 

[O F Ransen]

. Good luck, anyway.

Thanks!