Large format ink choices

[GoonerGary]

I've been awarded a nice little job today producing tiles for a community school. I have a few large printers which I've picked up over the years, so plan to put them into use.

I'm familiar with Artainium and might just go with what I know works, but are there any other inks producing equal or better quality? I can't find much feedback about the Lyson TX650 sub ink, so if anyone can share their experiences or recommend a decent ink?

Thanks

[bms]

I've been awarded a nice little job today producing tiles for a community school. I have a few large printers which I've picked up over the years, so plan to put them into use.

How large are these printers? Large format as far as sublimation inks are concerned are printers with a print width of 42" or more

[GoonerGary]

Don't know the exact length as I have a colleague from my local lab who set the printer up and looks after the technical/ maintenance side of it, but one of them is an ancient Epson 9600 and the other is a 7600.

[viccar]

o my eyes, i googled epson 9600 and got a pic of a naked woman!..............Betcha all google it now :biggrin:

[GoonerGary]

o my eyes, i googled epson 9600 and got a pic of a naked woman!..............Betcha all google it now :biggrin:

Yeah the joys of digital photography...you don't have to take the nudie pics of your girlfriend to the photo lab!

[RogerC]

and very nice she is too......

[pisquee]

Yes, the 9600 is classed as a large format printer, and so, with a set of refillable carts, or bottle feed system, you can open up your ink choices dramatically.
Although the 7600 is classed as large format by Epson, it is not classed as a large format printer by Sawgrass! But it does share the carts etc with the 9600 (and 4000!)
We use InkTec sublimation ink in our large format sublimation printer, and are more than happy with the results, in terms of quality of print as well as the price per ml. There are other high quality pro sublimation inks as well, including Lyson which you mention. We make our own ICC profiles for our work.

[GoonerGary]

Thanks for the info on the carts as that should make it easier to buy new carts. From a business point of view it would be natural to find the cheapest source, but the artist in me wants to provide the highest quality in reproduction.

Have you made direct comparisons with Artainium, Inktec and Lyson?

[pisquee]

From my experience and research, Artainium is made by Sawgrass, a company who only seem to really produce inks for users with small printers doing sublimation work. Lyson make professional art and photographics inks for digital printing, InkTec make a range of professional bulk inks (dye, pigment, solvent, and sublimation) for commercial/industrial level use.
I'd sooner choose a company which knows a lot about inks in general, and produces a range of them for pro level printing solutions, rather than one whos main market is small scale sublimation printers.

[GoonerGary]

http://www.lfp-products.com/latest.php

[2011-09-12]
InkTec's new Premium Sublimation Ink
InkTec is pleased to announce that it will release new Premium Grade Dye Sublimation Ink. With 'Sublinova Pro' as its brand name, it has strong advantages with vivid colour, fast drying time, no odour and no fume during fixation. We will keep Sublinova Smart(DTI) as our standard ink and will add this Sublinova Pro as a premium grade sublimation ink. The new ink will be available from November 2011.

No-one seems to sell the Pro ink though.