QTR-Quadtone RIP

--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "John Gavan" <Gavan1@...> wrote:
>
> All,
> 
> I have been a QTR user for a few months using an Epson R1800 with 
> the stock Ultrachrome inks.  Last weekend I installed the K7 inkset 
> and began printing.  I ran two 8 x 10 prints that were stunning.  I 
> was ecstatic and said to myself that I had finally reached the point 
> where I was ready to leave the wet darkroom for good.  
> 
> The next day I hoped to run some final 11"X14" prints on Hanh photo 
> rag.  I found that I had to run three head cleaning cycles to get a 
> clean print and after printing two prints, got an out of ink warning 
> on one cart.  After spending almost $ 150 for the ink set, I was 
> stunned to find myself out of ink so quickly. When I checked the 
> other carts they were all down below 50% as well with some much 
> lower.  I then noted that the K7 carts seem to have inserts that are 
> slightly smaller than the stock carts and thus must contain less 
> ink. At a price of $ 25 or so per print, I know that I'm not going 
> to be doing this for very long.
> 
> My question as a semi newbie is:  Is this typical and is there any 
> alternative to this astronomically high ink cost?  I have looked at 
> the Niagara bulk ink system but its cost, coupled with $ 44 per 4 
> oz. bottle of K7 ink (times 7) yields a $ 607 solution.
> 
> Anyone have any thoughts?
> 
> John G.
>
John,

You might want to try pulling the empty carts out and shake them while
listening closely to hear if they are in fact really empty. I've had
two K7 carts read about 1/4 full when they were dead empty. This is
the opposite scenario of your problem but it may be the chips rather
than the ink. I've not had any unusual ink consumption problems with
the K7's vs. the UC's on my 2200, but like you, I would like to find a
more economical way to feed these inks to my printer.