Digital BW, The Print

For some of us who do not sell prints for profit, a real issue is 
cost.  Last year I got very nice results B&W with a Canon S9000 using Lyson 
Quad Black bulk inks that I used to refill cartridges, for under 
$2.50/cartridge.  I couldn't get durable B&W results from Canon inks at any 
price.  On the Epson side, wouldn't a 2200 + RIP run me about $1000+?  And 
what would my ink cost per print be using Epson inks with that setup?  I'll 
bet it would far exceed $0.50 and might approach $1.00.

This year I am probably going to use an Epson C84 with the MIS EZ 
inks.  I'll have about $150 invested in the printer and CIS system, and my 
preliminary estimate is that my per-print cost for ink will be under 10 
cents.  I don't think I could do the kind of B&W I'm getting from those 
inks using Epson OEM inks, and certainly not at as low a cost per print.

I print nearly 1000 prints (8x8 on 8.5x11 paper) to bind and give away each 
Christmas, and the difference in cost between third party inks and OEM inks 
is dramatic.

Cheers,
Kip

At 7/14/2004 08:23 PM +0000, you wrote, in part:
>Would someone explain to be why there is so much banter/trial and
>error/ and switching of vendors with regards to third party ink
>systems when all you really need is a good RIP using Epson inks.