Epson and Farbenwerk Carbon inks.

[RaysJ]

On glossy papers my P900 produces slight pizza wheel tracks on the surface if the sheet feeder is used. I think this is well known and due to the transport mechanism. If I use the straight through path (front feeder) the surface is fine.

The piazza wheel issue has been reported many years ago, 15 to 20? I think it was on the R2400. Way before the P900.

The back feeder has caused problems also, on Epsom printers.

 

[Gesture]

That is the general trend. My entry level EcoTank printer being a prime example.

But the last of some of the WorkForce printers are an exception.

I have a lower-end WorkForce 3820 bought for $70 on Epson ReNew USA. This is a quite robust printer with many improvements from earlier models, including a well-designed paper tray that holds a good amount of paper. The included inks retail for about $140!

My Epson XP-7100 is also a fairly robust printer with a single sheet paper feed for photo paper and an excellent scanner. The only real drawback is the flimsy, low-capacity paper tray.

If I could afford a new 13 or 17-inch pigment ink printer, I couldn't really choose any more.

 

[befo1968]

I am using Canson papers, both Arches 88 and Plantine rag (which has an ICC profile). I am using "Velvet Fine Art" per instruction as the media type. I am pretty sure I am on the correct side up for printing, the results so far are 100% consistent when printing photos. I have tried using the ICC profile, ABW (disaster) and letting the printer driver manage the color. All following the very limited instructions.

I am frustrated and disappointed, both with the printer and the support from Farbenwerk. This is sold and supported as turn-key, I am going to go back and review what I have done so far and see if I can find a new way to try, but I'm close to throwing in the towel.

Will let you know anything new.

I'm following this thread closely because in the future I want to convert my Epson P900 to BW only, as I'm not 100% satisfied with the machine, especially with A2 formats. I saw that you used Canson Arches and Platine Rag paper, but in Farbenwerk's profiles these two papers are not available for the ET-8550 printer. Could this be the problem? Best regards.

Stefano

There are some Farbenwerk profiles for the ET8550 and Canson papers.

I'm considering getting a P900, what is the issue with A2 prints?

Yes, there are some for the Epson ET 8550, but not for those papers, but for others, which are also very interesting. I've been using Canson papers for quite some time... perhaps it would be better to try a profile and a paper for which the profile is available.
The P900 works well, but with semi-gloss papers like Canson Platine in A2 format, despite there being a mode for using it without rollers, it tends to always leave small scratches on the image. For me, this is unacceptable. After various repairs and calibrations by the Epson technician, he confided in me that it is a known problem and not very solvable, and so I'm thinking of using this only for black and white since I would use matte papers, which have no problems there, and getting a recent Canon plotter for my color prints.

Thanks, that is helpful. I used mainly Baryta papers for my B&W and Matt. I don't generally use gloss or semi-gloss papers now. Do you know if Baryta papers, which use the gloss black ink, is affected by this scratching issue?

I used Hahnemuhle FinaArt Baryta 325 paper on my 8550 and under a certain light angle gave very clear indentation marks. You have to look for it but then its very visible. The marks also didnt dissapear after a month or so.. I think heavier papers like over 250 gsm are prone to it. RC-papers work perfect.

 

[MikeRizzo]

Peteinseattle. I read on the FW site concerning the 8550 and their carbon inks that you must use the direct paper path, have you been using that? Not familiar with the printer myself.

 

[Menno]

Hi Peteinseattle,

Did you work out whether the issue was the printer or the inks? Was looking into this same combination, so keen to know what went wrong.

 

[MikeRizzo]

I spoke to Pete via pm, he sent the printer back for a refund, left the FW inks in. He hadn't seen that bit of information I discovered on the FW site about using the direct paper path for those inks before he sent it back, I would have been very interested in seeing if that was the issue. Several posters thought it looked like a wet ink smearing issue and it very well might have been. This was an ink/printer combo I was very much interested in also, bought the printer but have not loaded any ink yet, so still open for that. Although I have not received the sample prints I purchased from them months ago.

 

[MikeRizzo]

I recently received the sample prints I ordered a few months ago from FW. Not sure if it just got delayed, or they generously resent them after I mentioned I hadn't received them. I certainly like the look, particularly the warm carbon museum, which I assume is printed on their best paper. The 8550 is still in the running for me with these inks. Would have been nice if Pete's outcome had been better.