Sublimation inks for Ricoh GX7000

[bms]

If its the same ink but re-branded then how come i was given the impression that you cant use a mixture of each cartridge in your printer?

I would assume the distributor who sold you VisiSub ink told you that! Clearly they want you to buy their inks by saying you can't mix, but the only difference between VisiSub and SubliJet-R is the label on the cartridge. The company selling VisiSub is owned by someone who use to work at Sawgrass and now sells their inks under their own brand name.

You'd be amazed how many different brand names there are of other Sawgrass inks, such as Artainium - it is sold under different names to make customers think they have to buy from the same original source.

[ADP]

your right Martin, i was offered a visi sub cart as my yellow was getting low a few weeks back but never took it, i was in 2 minds so i emailed sawgrass to see if they what they said as i know they are the same ink, this was their reply

Thanks for your enquiry received via our website. I would advise that the inks are not the same as the formulation is different. Whilst it is possible to change you would need to first thoroughly clean the printer of the existing ink and then install the new.
Carry out a series of head cleans (around 10) and check the print quality and colours after this. Of course this will consume a large quantity of ink so any perceived financial gains are quickly lost.
Hope this helps you but should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards

Nigel Reeve

I would assume the distributor who sold you VisiSub ink told you that! Clearly they want you to buy their inks by saying you can't mix, but the only difference between VisiSub and SubliJet-R is the label on the cartridge. The company selling VisiSub is owned by someone who use to work at Sawgrass and now sells their inks under their own brand name.

You'd be amazed how many different brand names there are of other Sawgrass inks, such as Artainium - it is sold under different names to make customers think they have to buy from the same original source.

[bms]

your right Martin, i was offered a visi sub cart as my yellow was getting low a few weeks back but never took it, i was in 2 minds so i emailed sawgrass to see if they what they said as i know they are the same ink, this was their reply

Thanks for your enquiry received via our website. I would advise that the inks are not the same as the formulation is different. Whilst it is possible to change you would need to first thoroughly clean the printer of the existing ink and then install the new.
Carry out a series of head cleans (around 10) and check the print quality and colours after this. Of course this will consume a large quantity of ink so any perceived financial gains are quickly lost.
Hope this helps you but should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards

Nigel Reeve

Interesting reply - misleading though! VisiSub also sell ink for Epson printers using the same ICC profile as the Artainium ink from Sawgrass website. What does that tell you?

[pisquee]

There are alternative inks available for the Ricohs, which you could look for a well known website for trading with places like China, and another website for more local selling. But this is at your own risk in terms of whether the ink is any good, and any potential legal problems to do with Sawgrass' patent claim on sublimation inks. Ricoh's are said to use a gel-ink,and whether this is true or just a marketing term, it would imply that it isn't a printer you could put 'normal' sublimation ink in like you would with an Epson, and get good results - it could be that you can but I haven't tried it.

[bms]

There are alternative inks available for the Ricohs, which you could look for a well known website for trading with places like China, and another website for more local selling. But this is at your own risk in terms of whether the ink is any good, and any potential legal problems to do with Sawgrass' patent claim on sublimation inks. Ricoh's are said to use a gel-ink,and whether this is true or just a marketing term, it would imply that it isn't a printer you could put 'normal' sublimation ink in like you would with an Epson, and get good results - it could be that you can but I haven't tried it.

Watch the ink pour through the printer head and have plenty of tissues to mop up afterwards.

[pisquee]

I would be more inclined to think that ink would possibly pour through the head with trying more normal sublimation ink, but you can buy ready made carts filled with sublimation inks for the Ricoh, so would be surprised if these weren't filled with a more suitable ink formulation.

[Jimbo]

I think it's totally ironic that the VisiSub ink for the Epson, which I believe is rebranded Artanium, is the brand of the original owner of Artanium.

[WorthDoingRight]

You can buy ready made carts filled with sublimation inks for the Ricoh, so would be surprised if these weren't filled with a more suitable ink formulation.

Well, if anyone has tried these and would like to PM me to tell me how they got on I would be interested to hear (for research purposes only)

[pisquee]

Not tried, just seen them pop up on the well known internet auction site in the past week or so