AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH - my brain hurts!!

[smitch6]

i have an epson B1100
and i have 2 sets of carts
1 for normal ink and 1 for sub ink
i swap them over depending on what type of printing i have to do as it's an A3 so always handy to have that capability

ricoh however if you put the normal ink in then it can't be used for sub ink

[accdave]

i have an epson B1100
and i have 2 sets of carts
1 for normal ink and 1 for sub ink
i swap them over depending on what type of printing i have to do as it's an A3 so always handy to have that capability

ricoh however if you put the normal ink in then it can't be used for sub ink

So simple I've never thought of doing that

I prefer carts, yes a lot more filling than a CIS but I'be had 2 CIS systems and both goosed up.

[smitch6]

i changed from CISS to refillables
and so glad i did haven't had a bit of problem since
even over Christmas i didn't touch it for 2 weeks came back and it printed 1st time

might be a bit more messing filling up the carts etc but to me it's worth the effort

oh and don't do what i did when swapping them over lol
i did put a post about the fun i had

[JSR]

I switched to refillables and immediately resented the thimble-sized cartridges used in Epson printers. They only hold about 9ml of usable ink, so it felt like I was always refilling them.

I did keep a second set filled up ready to swap in place when one ran out but each time you replace one, they all go through a charge sequence leading to more lost ink. Also, I found I was having more frequent air-block issues when I swapped-out cartridges. If you don't keep the inks topped up and inadvertently let one or more run dry, you're heading for an air bubble in the printhead, and that's a real job to shift.

Such a shame because otherwise Epson are great printers.

But I wouldn't go back to using a CISS these days either.

[4binlids]

So, going back to what smitch6 said - would it be ok for me to have 2 sets of refillable cartridges - one with normal ink (for transfer printing) and one with sublimation ink? Would it harm the printer at all? Also please could someone explain the 42" wide format disclaimer I keep seeing? Thanks )

[JSR]

So, going back to what smitch6 said - would it be ok for me to have 2 sets of refillable cartridges - one with normal ink (for transfer printing) and one with sublimation ink? Would it harm the printer at all? Also please could someone explain the 42" wide format disclaimer I keep seeing? Thanks )

You can swap cartridges without harming the printer (although you should be wary of introducing air bubbles into the printhead) but, each time you do, you waste ink from all cartridges. Printers are so cheap these days that you'd be better served to have one dedicated to each type of ink.

The wide format disclaimer is because Sawgrass hold the patent for dye-sublimation ink on desktop printers and no one can legally sell dye-sub ink for desktop printers without authorisation from Sawgrass. The same patent does not apply to wide format printers, so other makes of ink can be sold for use in those printers. I believe the seller has to get proof that you have a wide-format printer before they can sell you ink for that purpose to ensure that they're not infringing the patent.

[AdamB]

The wide format disclaimer is because Sawgrass hold the patent for dye-sublimation ink on desktop printers and no one can legally sell dye-sub ink for desktop printers without authorisation from Sawgrass. The same patent does not apply to wide format printers, so other makes of ink can be sold for use in those printers. I believe the seller has to get proof that you have a wide-format printer before they can sell you ink for that purpose to ensure that they're not infringing the patent.

Sorry JSR - are you basicaly saying that this ink is IDENTICAL to other sawgrass ink? (just sold in bigger bottles as their patent is for wide format printers).

[JSR]

Sorry JSR - are you basicaly saying that this ink is IDENTICAL to other sawgrass ink?

As far as Sawgrass ink is concerned, I believe that's correct. I stand to be corrected, but I'm under the impression that the only difference between Sawgrass ink for Epson printers between wide-format and desktop is the patent. No one else can sell dye-sub ink for desktop printers without Sawgrass' permission without infringing the patent. There is no such restriction for wide-format printers.

If you have an Epson wide-format printer and an Epson desktop printer, there's no physical reason why you can't use the same ink in both printers

That's how I understood the situation.

[AdamB]

That's how I understood the situation.

Got you - just need to find someone to test and verify this then ..................... for someone who uses the ink in a wide format printer anyway it would be a great saving (if you know what I mean).

[pisquee]

The printer doesn't know what you are putting in it, and will happily pump through any liquid of the right consistency and quirt it onto the page, the printer doesn't know whether that liquid has or needs or license. In the same way the ink doesn't know whether the printer it is going into is the right width to fulfill any legal or patent issues.
So from a technical view, the inks are the same, although inks from different manufactures (or even different lines of ink from the same maker) will not be the same in terms of colour or whether you can mix them together safely in your printer.
So, as long as your printer uses the same technology/systems as the wide format printers they are designed for (or supposed to be used on) then you will be fine technically. How 'legal' you are is another thing mind!
As far as I know all of Epson's inkjet printers use the same type of print technology, but am happy to be corrected.