Epson Durabrite ink, waterproof??

[TerryG55]

About 2 weeks ago, I printed some 5 by 7s from a recent wedding. They are on Kodak Ultima paper. This past weekend, we had them outside when a light rain started. Some prints got about 1/2 dozen small drops on them before we could get them back into the house. Within 5 min, those spots turned white and ruined these photos. For a test, I took one of the photos and wet my finger under the tap and lightly touched the surface.
In less than 10 sec, I could wipe the ink off the paper. What gives here?

How can Epson claim that durabrite ink is "Water Resistant" when it behaves like this? Does this ring a chord with anyone else, or I'm I expecting too much??
--
Terryg

 

[Johanfoto]

Epson can never guarantee anything like that if you use a different brand of paper. Paper/ink combinations are very important, and Epson only tested their own combinations. I've seen demonstrations where prints were submerged fully, but obviously ONLY Epson ink/Epson paper combinations were used for that.

--
Johan
http://www.johanfoto.nl

 

[Bob Hellen]

Sounds like a case of durabrite resistant paper.

I dont have a durabrite printer but I believe you have to use plain paper or a special paper with it.

I do remember seeing at PC World once with the durabrite printers on display there a clear test tube type container with water and a printed strip in it alleged to have been printed with durabrite inks. It had not smudged or the inks run or washed off.

Bob

 

[TerryG55]

--Thanks for your thoughts, this could be it, I'll try a test on some
Epson glossy photo paper I have laying around somewhere.
Its interesting that their ad claims water resistand on most papers,

even plain paper. ...they never mention that it only applies if the paper is Epson. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts...

Terryg

 

[jdorff]

Epson DURABrite ink from a C86 seems quite water proof on Kirkland (Costco) glossy photopaper (made in Switzerland). I ran under water for several minutes and rubbed the surface with my thumb.. no ink fade or image smear.

 

[freddyNZ]

--Thanks for your thoughts, this could be it, I'll try a test on some
Epson glossy photo paper I have laying around somewhere.
Its interesting that their ad claims water resistand on most papers,
even plain paper. ...they never mention that it only applies if the
paper is Epson. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts...

Kodak Ultima and Kodak premium consumer photo papers are "Swellable Polymer" coated types, and will not be water resistant with any printer.

They have a layer of resin which softens and swells on the surface, with the aim of absorbing and "locking in" dye inks, to improve fade resistance - particularly resistance to gas fading. That layer remains sensitive to water and is easily damaged.

Epson premium glossy/semigloss photo papers are "fast dry" microporous papers, and will offer water resistance. There are non-Epson fast-dry photo papers from other manufacturers. Ilford Galerie "smooth" (not "classic" - which is a swellable polymer type) and others.

 

[Farmer281370]

You really should test it on Epson Durabrite paper - it's the paper specifically made for the Durabrite pigment inks.

--
Farmer
http://www.the-farm.net
http://www.the-farm.net/photo.htm

Contact me: http://www.the-farm.net/feedback.htm

 

[sting]

How can Epson claim that durabrite ink is "Water Resistant" when it
behaves like this? Does this ring a chord with anyone else, or I'm
I expecting too much??

I tested the claim myself. I used an Epson R800 to print on Epson Premium Glossy Photo 4x6" paper, then spilled some beer on it.
After five minutes, I wiped off the beer with a dish sponge. There were
no smudges from the moisture. Cool.

 

[sting]

Now THAT is proof !

 

[Woody W.]

Kodak Ultima is probably the worst printer on the market to use with an Epson printer. You don't even want to think about what it does with Epson's dye-based inkset...

--

• Woody -

Eqiupment: Lots. (partial list in profile)

Quote: 'The only thing some people will believe is their own eyes. But in the realm of the quality of a printed image, is there really anything else that can be believed? '

 

[beenya]

Durabrite ink is water proof on most media, except for swellable. I believe Kodak uses a hybrid type of paper (Colorlast) which is semi compatible with pigment inks.

 

[TerryG55]

--OK folks, I see where this is going... After some of the responses I got to this post, I feel much more aware of the interaction between ink and paper. I had no idea it was that critical. I did try a test on the Epson glossy paper and it seems to be water proof as advertized. For whatever reason, I get better color with the Kodac paper, its a little richer and more saturated. The Epson paper (the waterproof stuff) seems a little bit washed out by comparison. Maybe theres a setting I can change to get the color result I would expect. Thanks everyone for your help...

Terryg

 

[jdorff]

One thing I should note, I've never been that pleased with the color photo results from the C86 DURABrite printer. I'm not certain that the DURABrite family are truely "photo" printers. I have used a six color Epson printer and the photo results are much better. Perhaps the difference between "Epson Stylus" and "Epson Stylus Photo" ? I think all of the Epson "photo" printers use at least six inks.

C86 does make a nice office printer as well as a good B&W printer w/ ultratone ink.

 

[Ed Bigelow]

I've used the Epson C8x printers since the C80 for photo prints...but they are NOT designed for that. They are 4-color and so do not print well on glossy paper without banding....

They will print photo quality images on good quality matte papers, IF careful appropriate manual print driver adjustments are made...turning off fast printing, etc.

Ed