Digital BW, The Print

Hi,
   I am setting up a new Epson 1400 to use the MIS UT-14 inkset and
MIS cartridges.  I am wondering whether or not to first test the
printer with the Epson cartridges that came with it. I have read
suggestions that this is a good idea, but I wonder if anyone has
really had problems with a new printer and was helped by first testing
with the Epson cartridges.  It seems to me that ink mixing problems
might be avoided by going straight to the UT-14 cartridges, especially
with the Y-position, which is used for GLOP in UT-14.  Also, all
things being equal, I would prefer to keep the Epson cartridges
sealed, rather than using up half the contents priming the printer. 
I'm shocked at how small these cartridges are!

Thanks for any suggestions,
David

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "dpgoldenberg33" 
<dpgoldenberg33@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>    I am setting up a new Epson 1400 to use the MIS UT-14 inkset and
> MIS cartridges.  I am wondering whether or not to first test the
> printer with the Epson cartridges that came with it.

Hello David, between the initial charging, blown ink from switching carts and a few test 
prints you'll probably blow out a third to half the original carts and then, as you mentioned, 
they'll be unsealed.  I've taken three Epsons directly to third party carts without problem.  
You could always put the Epson originals back in if there are problems that can't be 
identified and you need to troubleshoot to see if it is a cartridge or printer problem.

David,
Just my 2 cents worth. I've had the same questions: first with a 
4800 and, more recently, with a 1400. I have tried each approach 
and, while you are right in your concerns about starting with OEM 
inks and then switching over there is a certain peace of mind in 
following a more conservative approach i.e. test the system with OEM 
inks to make sure it meets all manufacturer specs and then switch to 
alternative inks. This also gives you some time to learn about the 
manufacturer's intended mode of operqations. The small cartridges 
can be safely stored in plastic baggies and stored in a tupperware 
container standing vertical with the ink port facing up. Keep at 
room temp.

Regards,

Rudy
S.Hadley, MAsstts

--- In igitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "dpgoldenberg33" 
<dpgoldenberg33@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>    I am setting up a new Epson 1400 to use the MIS UT-14 inkset and
> MIS cartridges.  I am wondering whether or not to first test the
> printer with the Epson cartridges that came with it. I have read
> suggestions that this is a good idea, but I wonder if anyone has
> really had problems with a new printer and was helped by first 
testing
> with the Epson cartridges.  It seems to me that ink mixing problems
> might be avoided by going straight to the UT-14 cartridges, 
especially
> with the Y-position, which is used for GLOP in UT-14.  Also, all
> things being equal, I would prefer to keep the Epson cartridges
> sealed, rather than using up half the contents priming the 
printer. 

> I'm shocked at how small these cartridges are!
> 
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> David
>

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "dpgoldenberg33"
<dpgoldenberg33@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>    I am setting up a new Epson 1400 to use the MIS UT-14 inkset and
> MIS cartridges.  I am wondering whether or not to first test the
> printer with the Epson cartridges that came with it. 
> 
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> David
>

Thanks to Robert and Rudy for their comments.  In the end, I was
feeling lucky, brave or foolish, so I went ahead and installed the MIS
cartridges straight away.  With the usual amount of nozzle cleaning,
test prints and just waiting a while, things seem to be working fine.

I am very pleased with the results, though I have to say that they are
not, to my eye, significantly better than I have gotten with a C88+
and the MIS EZ ink set.  But, I bought the 1400 to be able to make
larger prints and for more flexibility.  Now, I just need to learn how
to control the ink set.

Finally, thanks very much to Paul Roark for developing these workflows.

David

MIS Associates, the UT-14 inks vendor, suggests starting with the
Epson inks on their web site.  They report several ink
incompatibilities, particularly if you go from one 3rd party ink to
another 3rd party ink.  You should be OK for what you did but will
want to avoid ink incompatibility in the future.  Their MIS Cleaning
Cartridges page www.inksupply.com/epsonclean.cfm states the following:

Purging Desktop Printers
Cleaning cartridges for Epson printers are not normally required on
Desktop printers before installing MIS inks. However, if you have been
using inks from another 3rd party, like Lysonic, you must purge this
other ink from the printer before installing the MIS ink. If you have
only had Epson ink in the printer, cleaning cartridges are not
necessary. This does not apply to Continuous Flow Systems. A new
cartridge set is required to change inks on a CFS.

Purging Wide Format Printers
If you are planning on using MIS 7600 Ultrachrome equivalent inks or
MIS Ultratone B&W inks in an Epson wide format printer
(3000/4000/5000/7000/7500/7600/9000/9500/9600), then you MUST flush
the printer with MIS cleaning fluid before installing the new inks.
Use the MIS cleaning cartridges listed below, and follow the purge
instructions on the purging page.

Compatibility Issues
Do not mix Ultrachrome ink (MIS or Epson) with dyebase inks (MIS or
Epson). Do not mix MIS 7600 Ultrachrome equivalent and Epson Ultratone
inks. Do not mix MIS 7600 Ultrachrome equivalent or Epson Ultrachrome
with MIS Ultratone B&W inks. Do not mix MIS Ultratone B&W inks with
MIS Original or Perpetual archival pigment inks. Do not mix MIS
Ultratone B&W inks with MIS Quadtone B&W ink or any other
manufacturer's B&W inks or color inks. If you plan on making a change
that involves these inks, follow the purging instructions above.

Epson dyebase inks and MIS dyebase inks are totally compatible, no
flushing or purging is required. The same is true with Epson archival
pigment ink (not Ultrachrome) and MIS Original or Perpetual archival
pigment inks.

Ink Installation in a New Printer
We recommend that the Manufacturer's ink be installed the first time a
brand new printer is started up. If a 3rd party ink is used for start
up, and printing problems occur, there is no way to know if the
problems were caused by the ink or by the printer. The manufacturer
will always blame the 3rd party ink.

This being said, if one chooses to take this risk, a new printer can
be started up or initialized with MIS ink. There will not be any
compatibilty issues as long as the printer has never had ink in it
before. The time and expense involved with using cleaning cartridges
can be avoided. 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "dpgoldenberg33"
<dpgoldenberg33@...> wrote:

>
> Hi,
>    I am setting up a new Epson 1400 to use the MIS UT-14 inkset and
> MIS cartridges.  I am wondering whether or not to first test the
> printer with the Epson cartridges ...