Inkjet printer and sparse/occasional use?

Krilbe · Dec 19, 2017

Hi,

I've had some older Canon printers, e.g. MP980, and had problems with large amounts of ink being wasted on deep cleaning. The problem stems from the fact that I do ink prints rather sparsely, perhaps a few times a year. (But when I do them, I really want the quality that inkjets can provide as opposed to lasers).

So, when I finally switch on the printer after a long period, it ALWAYS performs a deep cleaning. In effect, I suffer a deep cleaning once per "print project". I estimate that with the MP980 I had at least one ink tank run out every other print. Not acceptable, of course. I do understand that deep cleaning might be necessary after such a long time, and why, but...

My question is: How do you recommand I handle an inkjet printer and its ink tanks in this usage scenario?

I'm primarily interested in buying a Canon PIXMA PRO-10S or something similar.

Some ideas that I come up with, please expand/add/comment:

Do a dummy print once a week just to keep the printer in good condition and the nozzles clog free. Will this avoid deep cleaning? How do I keep up that habit? Ugh...
Switch off automatic deep cleaning. When switching on after a few months, do a nozzle check print. Perform manual deep cleaning if necessary. How likely is it that a deep cleaning can be skipped, i.e. will it actually save me from deep cleaning or will it be necessary anyway? Which printers do allow me to switch off automatic deep cleaning?
Remove ink tanks between uses and store them in a sealed air tight container. Will this even help? I assume it's the print nozzles that dry up/clog, and not the ink tanks...

Does anyone know how much ink (how many ml) a deep cleaning actually consumes?

As an aside: anyone know if ther are any new models coming up from Canon? The PIXMA PRO-10S is a few years old, isn't it?

skiptesch · Dec 26, 2017

Simple fix to your problem.

Vote with your wallet. Don't but any printer or ink. Send your photos out and print off site.

If that doesn't work for you, then either live with the state of the industry today,

Or start your own printer company with;

Better engineering

A superior knowledge of color theory

A state of the art chemistry lab to formulate inks

A manufacturing facility with skilled human and robotic resources

Software (good thing you are in the software business) including drivers for most os

Whops, I almost forgot acquiring a paper company to supply paper and profiles to
get the best out of the first three items in this list.

And build a better printer (if you build it, they will come), or not.

Krilbe · Dec 26, 2017

I did NOT shoot the messanger because of his actual message/info, but because he was out of line and not by any small amount.

In addition, he was a coward to attack me not to my face but behind my back in a public video that he didn't even post a link to in this thread. That's what I mean: his video is wrong at so many levels... I just can't believe it! It's about the worst "RTFM" kind of reply I've ever seen, and believe me I've seen a lot.

Krilbe · Dec 26, 2017

More condescending jibberish. Let me do my job, which I'm pretty good at, thank you. I'll let others do theirs, but I will not refrain from pointing out when they fail to do it well.

Inkjet printing seems to me to have gone through almost no innovation the last 10-or-so years. I see the same kinds of specs: resolution, print speed, droplet size... Nothing much has changed. Where's the innovation? Wher'e the new tech?

Gesture · Dec 26, 2017

https://epson.com/precisioncore-advanced-printing-technology

Loading…

mediaserver.goepson.com

The real (r)evolution is in the above plus print speed and the development of the ink sets. See the above re: "droplet size."

Moreover, the use of "inkjet" printers in ever-expanding commercial applications, including solvent printers and direct to garment printers.

https://epson.com/surecolor-s-series-solvent-printers

Loading…

epson.com

https://epson.com/For-Work/Printers/Large-Format/c/w140

Scroll the entire lists.

Epson is not sitting still in inkjet technology or printers. It's just that the smaller fine art printers that we discuss in this form (Even something like a Canon P-1000) are a tiny subset of modern inkjet printing.

Most of us are happy that Canon and Epson are still offering printers for the advanced amateur or smaller commercial photographer and graphic artists, Remember the origin of inkjet printers as a convenient and less expensive means to prepress proofs for graphic artists.

skiptesch · Dec 26, 2017

Krilbe said:
More condescending jibberish. Let me do my job, which I'm pretty good at, thank you. I'll let others do theirs, but I will not refrain from pointing out when they fail to do it well.

So complaining is your second job, congrats, but it must be poor paying.

I gave you three options, IMHO you don't need or even want a home photo printer.

So, don't use a home photo printer. Source it out. Pretty simple, cost effective. ESPECIALLY for someone complaining about ink wastage with an extremely long time between printing sessions.

Bitching about your perceived printer shortcomings accomplishes nothing. Why don't you take your suggestions to the printer mfgrs or start a cottage industry.

Regards

Petruska · Dec 26, 2017

ChicagoRob said:
What's the replacement cost for the toner cartridge, Bob?

I refill the toner cartridges myself, extremely easy to do.

I purchase the refill kit on Ebay or Amazon, 3 color, 2 black(5 bottles of toner)and 5 reset chips.

$40 for the complete kit with free shipping.

Bob P.

jpegman · Dec 26, 2017

Krilbe said:
More condescending jibberish. Let me do my job, which I'm pretty good at, thank you. I'll let others do theirs, but I will not refrain from pointing out when they fail to do it well.
Inkjet printing seems to me to have gone through almost no innovation the last 10-or-so years. I see the same kinds of specs: resolution, print speed, droplet size... Nothing much has changed. Where's the innovation? Wher'e the new tech?

Krilbe · Dec 27, 2017

What I'm barking about, primarily, is not the printer shortcomings, but the way that some people bark on me for asking about and pointing out problems with the current state of technology. A different tone in replies, aimed to help and inform rather than ridicule or bash, would result in a quite different response from me.

And yes, I am discussing the issues with Canon.

bobh121 · Dec 27, 2017

Petruska said:
It seems users just don't use it anymore and could solves a lot of problems with ease.

From just two months ago.....

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60241896

Jtoolman has over 25 printers and is probably one of the most knowledgeable printer user/ink cartridge refilling supporter on this planet. I have 5 printers and usually print the nozzle check every 1-2 days and basically have zero problems with excessive uneccessary ink useage and clogging.

I do have one printer, Epson "pigment" R2880 that I use Cone EconoColor "dye" ink in it. I use that printer once a year to print some VFW flyers. The printer sits in a storage area that gets to over 100 degrees F. I just turn it on after 1 year of non use, no auto cleaning takes place, perfect nozzle check on first print!

A laser printer is a way for you to meet your needs, do not knock some of the newer lasers.

I bought this Ricoh multifunction, new, with free shipping, for $135.

Bob What model Ricoh do you have? This would be perfect for my wifes needs. Shes been bugging me about getting a color laser so she doesnt have to deal with my 3880.

Petruska said:
Here is a scan of the prints which are very acceptable for photography work and printed on standard copier paper.

Bob P.

farmersteve · Dec 27, 2017

Krilbe said:
More condescending jibberish. Let me do my job, which I'm pretty good at, thank you. I'll let others do theirs, but I will not refrain from pointing out when they fail to do it well.
Inkjet printing seems to me to have gone through almost no innovation the last 10-or-so years. I see the same kinds of specs: resolution, print speed, droplet size... Nothing much has changed. Where's the innovation? Wher'e the new tech?

Gesture · Dec 27, 2017

Take a look at some of the links I posted. Inkjet printing technology is not standing still. At the consumer level, Epson just hasn't taken the effort to work on certain longstanding design areas. Ink is not a problem, as far as I am concerned. Paper advance is more of an issue on some design.

Gesture · Dec 27, 2017

"People are printing less and less due to their cell phones and sharing apps like Instagram"

Maybe. At my local drugstore, I see lots of people connecting their smartphone and custom printing off the images to the store's printer-spending a fair amount of money in the process. For many, much more practical than owning a home printer.

junk1 · Dec 27, 2017

>>Most inkjet users follow the simple mantra of frequent use - of something as small as a nozzle check every few days!

I bet 95% do not, actually. 90% have no clue that they clog due to misuse/underusage.

And who truly knows - maybe not using it for a year (which I think I did once or twice), and therefore having the ink at the ends of the nozzles dry and form a layer 1x per year is better than to use it weekly and form 52 layers.

Clearly using it often enough to never dry would be best, but nobody seems to truly know how long between uses is OK. The ink dries (somewhat) practically instantly on the paper, so who knows how long it takes to dry on the ends of the nozzles???

One idea somebody had was to cover the printer, and have some moisture under the cover - a damp sponge for example....would that work though, ink won't dry if it's moist? Maybe it would need to be 95 to 99% relative humid???

My Epson 870 (17 years old?) worked for 10+ years and didn't clog for quite a few years. a few nozzles are clogged and I gave up on it - was not printing much anymore, but I just got a Canon Pro-100!!! Hopefully it'll make photography fun again.

I remember 10-15 years ago, people would show prints to coworkers, but nobody does that anymore.

jtoolman · Dec 27, 2017

Krilbe said:
What I'm barking about, primarily, is not the printer shortcomings, but the way that some people bark on me for asking about and pointing out problems with the current state of technology. A different tone in replies, aimed to help and inform rather than ridicule or bash, would result in a quite different response from me.

And yes, I am discussing the issues with Canon.

farmersteve · Dec 27, 2017

Gesture said:
"People are printing less and less due to their cell phones and sharing apps like Instagram"

Maybe. At my local drugstore, I see lots of people connecting their smartphone and custom printing off the images to the store's printer-spending a fair amount of money in the process. For many, much more practical than owning a home printer.

At my local Target they have a small Kodak kiosk that almost nobody uses and is broken half the time. There is a Costco nearby that seems busy, but Costco is ALWAYS busy so it's hard to tell. More people use online services to print I think these days. Let's put it in perspective when there was a photo processing center in every strip mall printing hundreds of prints a day...

--
Film is making a comeback!

junk1 · Dec 27, 2017

Most people have voted against printing at home...coworkers used to bring prints to work 10-15 years ago but nobody does anymore. I don't think they print at home, nor via a printing service either.

Would be interesting to know what percentage of prints at done at home versus a service (Walmart and other local stores and online). I don't recall ever printing via a service, not even after my ink jet started clogging after 10 years. No particular reason.

skiptesch said:
Simple fix to your problem.

Vote with your wallet. Don't but any printer or ink. Send your photos out and print off site.

ChicagoRob · Dec 27, 2017

jtoolman said:
Aaron,

I am here to publicly apologize for what I did as yes, it was completely done in a moment on mental stupidity in my part I should have joined in publicly here and engaged you in a constructive discussion rather than the Crappy way I handled it. Not an excuse in any way, but I was sick as dog when I read your OP and have been on the phone with multiple folks trying to solve printer problems they had created.

Just letting you know I will delete the video, I will donate the $3.37 it generated and I have just posted a public apology video for everyone to see.

I still want to extend my hand and ask you to consider joining the channel and facebook group.

We are a great bunch of folks with one track minds.

VIDEO:

Joe

Standup move, Jose.

mikek200 · Dec 27, 2017

Lets just forget about it,Jose'

We all know,you are the best,and without you,we all would up a creak without a paddle.

MikeS.

skiptesch · Dec 27, 2017

junk1 said:
Most people have voted against printing at home...coworkers used to bring prints to work 10-15 years ago but nobody does anymore. I don't think they print at home, nor via a printing service either.

Would be interesting to know what percentage of prints at done at home versus a service (Walmart and other local stores and online). I don't recall ever printing via a service, not even after my ink jet started clogging after 10 years. No particular reason.

I agree, most people no longer print. But most people (gasp) do not own DLSR camera's either or for that matter anything but point and shoot cameras. So on the whole, we represent a small percentage of the population. Smart phone photos have become the Kodak instamatics of the times. Social media and computers the print Kisok's.

Petruska · Dec 27, 2017

bobh121 said:
Petruska said:

It seems users just don't use it anymore and could solves a lot of problems with ease.

From just two months ago.....

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/60241896

Jtoolman has over 25 printers and is probably one of the most knowledgeable printer user/ink cartridge refilling supporter on this planet. I have 5 printers and usually print the nozzle check every 1-2 days and basically have zero problems with excessive uneccessary ink useage and clogging.

I do have one printer, Epson "pigment" R2880 that I use Cone EconoColor "dye" ink in it. I use that printer once a year to print some VFW flyers. The printer sits in a storage area that gets to over 100 degrees F. I just turn it on after 1 year of non use, no auto cleaning takes place, perfect nozzle check on first print!

A laser printer is a way for you to meet your needs, do not knock some of the newer lasers.

I bought this Ricoh multifunction, new, with free shipping, for $135.

Click to expand...

Bob What model Ricoh do you have? This would be perfect for my wifes needs. Shes been bugging me about getting a color laser so she doesnt have to deal with my 3880.

bobh121 said:

Here is a scan of the prints which are very acceptable for photography work and printed on standard copier paper.

Bob P.

Click to expand...

It's a Ricoh, SP-C250SF, a few months ago Adorama was having a close out for $135, with FREE shipping . This thing weighs 60-65lbs! It also has a scanner. There is the same printer without a scanner at a lesser cost. Ricoh has new models to replace these, but look almost the same.

If you want to look at actual prints, give me your mailing address in a PM to me and I will send you a few. Now this is very nice print quality for a color laser but it won't match a good quality inkjet print. Remember the toner will always be above the paper surface layer so gloss/satin papers won't mean anything. The image quality on all paper types will look the same, just the paper thickness and feel will be different.

Bob P.

Inkjet printer and sparse/occasional use?

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