QTR-Quadtone RIP

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.

Check out www.inksupply.com.  Use bulk inks and refill carts.

Regards
Duane



--- 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.
>

--- 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.

We actually fill just a few more cc's then EPSON so that the carts will never run dry when 
the chip says its dry. The chips read what EPSON would have them read...  While we realize 
we are slightly over-filling, the inks left are not meant to be used - simply an insurance 
against printing through a "dry" inkjet head.

With that said, the carts are a two-piece design with a clear film ink bladder that makes 
them very easy to re-fill. You simply pull off the silicone plug and fill it carefully. However, 
we happen to draw a vacuum out and then replace the vacuum with ink - using 
professional filling equipment. You could imitate this by taking a syringe with a needle 
filled with some ink. First tape off the vent. Pierce through the silicone plug while the 
cartridge is above the needle, draw a vacuum, hod the draw, then invert the cartridge so 
that the needle is now above it (the ink will now be against the needle) and you can release 
the draw from the syringe which will replace the vacuum in the cartridge with ink.

Reassemble the cartridge. Then you need to reset the chip with a chip resetter. And pull 
off your tape tab.

You can buy the K7 inks in 4 oz and 16 oz bottles. We are working on a new design of CIS 
which will be available soon.

regards,

Jon Cone
InkjetMall


--- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "wjlafever" <will@...> wrote:

>
> --- 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.
>