Digital BW, The Print

Just like to share some experience: Since a few weeks I'm running my Epson 3800 on the new refillable cartridges from InkRepublic

http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800-iRefill.asp

I've loaded these with color inks from Gemini Colours here in the Netherlands. I use QTR for black & white and Epson driver + own profiles for color. I have printed ~200 prints now and must say I'm very happy with this system. The cartridges are quite a bit more expensive that the flimsier versions I have for my 2100 and R285 but they are so much more reliable and easier to use. On their request, I've written a review that I assume they will put on their site shortly.

Joost

Hi Joost:

InkRepublic doesn't seem to sell the carts empty. If you received the  
carts with ink in them, did you just use that up and then loaded with  
Gemini?

I just got a used machine with carts half empty and would like to  
switch to something more economical than oem.

thanks,

Les Otterbein


On Jul 27, 2009, at 2:06 AM, Joost Horsten wrote:

> Just like to share some experience: Since a few weeks I'm running my  
> Epson 3800 on the new refillable cartridges from InkRepublic
>
> http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800-iRefill.asp
>
> I've loaded these with color inks from Gemini Colours here in the  
> Netherlands. I use QTR for black & white and Epson driver + own  
> profiles for color. I have printed ~200 prints now and must say I'm  
> very happy with this system. The cartridges are quite a bit more  
> expensive that the flimsier versions I have for my 2100 and R285 but  
> they are so much more reliable and easier to use. On their request,  
> I've written a review that I assume they will put on their site  
> shortly.
>
> Joost



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Les,

I got empty carts + separate ink bottles (as part of a replacement). I did not use the IR inks and just loaded my stock inks. In your case I imagine you could just go with the IR inks.

Joost





--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Leslie Otterbein <lotterbein@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Joost:
> 
> InkRepublic doesn't seem to sell the carts empty. If you received the  
> carts with ink in them, did you just use that up and then loaded with  
> Gemini?
> 
> I just got a used machine with carts half empty and would like to  
> switch to something more economical than oem.
> 
> thanks,
> 
> Les Otterbein
> 
> 
> On Jul 27, 2009, at 2:06 AM, Joost Horsten wrote:
> 
> > Just like to share some experience: Since a few weeks I'm running my  
> > Epson 3800 on the new refillable cartridges from InkRepublic
> >
> > http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800-iRefill.asp
> >
> > I've loaded these with color inks from Gemini Colours here in the  
> > Netherlands. I use QTR for black & white and Epson driver + own  
> > profiles for color. I have printed ~200 prints now and must say I'm  
> > very happy with this system. The cartridges are quite a bit more  
> > expensive that the flimsier versions I have for my 2100 and R285 but  
> > they are so much more reliable and easier to use. On their request,  
> > I've written a review that I assume they will put on their site  
> > shortly.
> >
> > Joost
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hallo Joost,

can I aske you for some more information on the subject? such as:

the Gemini Ink:

where to find info and where to buy?
comparison with the K3 Inks for color.
did you find generic profiles? for what paper?
would you be willing to share your profiles?

The IR cardridges:

It seems they come filled with IR Ink.
You mention the empty cardridges as a part of a replacement. Was this because of a problem with with the IR inks?

QTR

did you make special profiles here too or do you use the generic profiles for the 3800 comming with the RIP?


regards

remko






--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Joost Horsten" <j.h.j.h@...> wrote:

>
> Hi Les,
> 
> I got empty carts + separate ink bottles (as part of a replacement). I did not use the IR inks and just loaded my stock inks. In your case I imagine you could just go with the IR inks.
> 
> Joost
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Leslie Otterbein <lotterbein@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Joost:
> > 
> > InkRepublic doesn't seem to sell the carts empty. If you received the  
> > carts with ink in them, did you just use that up and then loaded with  
> > Gemini?
> > 
> > I just got a used machine with carts half empty and would like to  
> > switch to something more economical than oem.
> > 
> > thanks,
> > 
> > Les Otterbein
> > 
> > 
> > On Jul 27, 2009, at 2:06 AM, Joost Horsten wrote:
> > 
> > > Just like to share some experience: Since a few weeks I'm running my  
> > > Epson 3800 on the new refillable cartridges from InkRepublic
> > >
> > > http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800-iRefill.asp
> > >
> > > I've loaded these with color inks from Gemini Colours here in the  
> > > Netherlands. I use QTR for black & white and Epson driver + own  
> > > profiles for color. I have printed ~200 prints now and must say I'm  
> > > very happy with this system. The cartridges are quite a bit more  
> > > expensive that the flimsier versions I have for my 2100 and R285 but  
> > > they are so much more reliable and easier to use. On their request,  
> > > I've written a review that I assume they will put on their site  
> > > shortly.
> > >
> > > Joost
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

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

> the Gemini Ink:
> 
> where to find info and where to buy?

Their website is still not really up and running. I'll send you the e-mail address.

> comparison with the K3 Inks for color.
> did you find generic profiles? for what paper?

Gemini's claim is that they should be compatible with the Epson inks. I've not made detailed comparisons but I don't think that's fully true: after re-profiling (full-color) I got a noticably more neutral print. IR claims that their new IRK4 inks are much better compatible with the Epson inks. I believe them, but have not seen it myself.
 
> would you be willing to share your profiles?

Of course, I've currently color profiles for Epson Premium Glossy and Hahnemuhle Photo Rag. As they are off-topic here, I'll mail them to you.


> The IR cardridges:
> 
> It seems they come filled with IR Ink.
> You mention the empty cardridges as a part of a replacement. Was this because of a problem with with the IR inks?

No, I struggled a bit with priming their CIS (not really a problem, but I did not fully understand the priming procedure) so I contacted them and then it turned out they were looking for a guinea pig for their cartridges.
  
> QTR 
> did you make special profiles here too or do you use the generic profiles for the 3800 comming with the RIP?

I've not come to that point yet. As a parallel project, I've installed UT3D inks in a R285 (see separate thread). So at this moment the R285 is my BW printer and the 3800 my color printer. Given the deviations I found in the color performance, I expect some (minor) deviations in the QTR curves as well. I will definitely check that in detail but can't give timing for that as summer holiday is coming up. Once I have adapted curves, I'm happy to share them.

Joost

http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800.asp

They normally offer the systems with and without ink. They also generally offer videos on how to set up the system with new designs, they may not have had that done yet. The videos are normally on the disk with some other useful tools. Drop them an email and tell them that I sent you

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Greg" <dfaprinting@...> wrote:
>
> http://www.inkrepublic.com/3800.asp
> 
> They normally offer the systems with and without ink. They also generally offer videos on how to set up the system with new designs, they may not have had that done yet. The videos are normally on the disk with some other useful tools. Drop them an email and tell them that I sent you
>

Hi Greg,

Yes, the Ink Republic site is very good. I meant the Gemini website...

Joost