Gloss Optimizer - Epson

I was already looking for a while into the performance of the Gloss Optimizer and tested that to a limited degree - e.g. by replacing the black ink by the GO in a R265 or a WF2010W last year. This would always require a 2nd print pass to apply the Go to a printed image.
I had a chance to do some brief tests with a SC-P400 , this was quite disappointing - see my post here
http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/which-pigment-ink-for-epson-1500w.9323/page-22#post-93886.

I now got a used R800 via the Ebay marketplace, for a bargain, with 1000 papes total print output and the waste ink counter at 50%. The previous owner did not use it very much since this printer is not a general purpose model, not very fast and consuming quite some expensive ink. I have some refill cartridges on order which will let me use my current 3rd party pigment inks and another GO. The first printouts look quite similar to the P400 output, still with visible gloss differences and some color changes against reflecting light.

I'll do some tests with various papers and this and that to see what the optimal combination could be.

I thought the GO was meant to be applied selectively according to the gloss of the inks, not an even overcoat?

This time if your using the GO independently in a single cartridge, try using a solid or a tint in Photoshop to overprint your image you can use different PPI quality output to control the amount of GO that’s applied to the surface, its only clearly visible on Gloss or Satin papers...

Vorkolor said:

I thought the GO was meant to be applied selectively according to the gloss of the inks, not an even overcoat?

Click to expand...

the Epson driver of a printer with a GO cartridge gives you some options - the GO is not active with matte papers, only with glossy type papers - 'GO off' does not use the GO or 'GO auto' which applies the GO selectively - by secret criteria in the driver or 'GO full' prints the GO everywhere within the paper size limits. I did not have a R800, 1800 or equiv in the past so I did a work around and overprinted a printout in a 2nd pass with another printer - modified with GO in place of the black ink. This way you can control the GO amount via the gray level of a print file you are using for that overprint. This approach requires more handling and may not be suitable for typical print jobs.

I'm still waiting for refill cartridges from China for further tests, so I'm using some interim no name cartridges in the meantime - with an interesting effect that the pigment yellow ink shows a pretty strong bronzing effect which I never saw before with other yellow inks. This no name GO does not make the printouts look different to those with Epson GO.

I got a refill cartridge set from China with ARC chips and installed them in the R800 - they work and have a nice feature - they reset in the printer once the chip reports empty/cartridge not recognized in the status monitor, and I cycle through the replacement steps via the status monitor, first the carriage moves to the replacement position, i can refill ink with the cartridges in place, I continue stepping trough the replacement steps , the cartridge resets and the printer starts a cleaning cycle. I happened a few times, but not frequently that the cartridge in question still reports 'not recognized'. Going through the same cycle again , not refilling , the chips resets at the end. This makes the possible use of a CISS a little bit easier, a separate reset button is not needed and neither a power cycle for the ARC chip reset. ARC chips in a R265 show the same behaviour. I tested two ink sets so far, not with very convincing results - some gloss difference remains even on the prints with the gloss optimizer, other inks are on the way. I don't have OEM Epson cartridges available to compare with - they are too expensive for regular use. A cartridge set via Amazon gave some strong gloss, more than the paper, and the yellow showed bronzing.

It’s a pity you’re not getting good results with your GO overprint, because I’m more than happy with the way my prints are turning out, and @palombian was also going to try his 9500 with GO in the carts, he should be reporting back soon with his test results...

part of the problem is that I'm probably looking too critical to the printouts - testing different inks, looking to the printouts under different light conditions - once you know what to look for you can't ignore it anymore.
I'm asking as well other people to judge the quality of printouts - they know that I'm testing this and that but I don't tell them specifically what to look for , and they tell me lots of other details as well - the paper is too stiff, not stiff enough, too glossy or not, some see a color tint which I don't see - it's too sharp, too dark, too big, etc but bronzing and gloss differences are rarely a recognized problem - they just would say - hey that looks funny

I am also very critical, I can’t pick up any printed matter, leaflet, newspaper, magazine or photo without seeing bronzing and especially gloss differential, it’s surprising how many can’t see it in everyday publications, it’s there if they care to look..

I even smell the darn print to see what ink was used, I also love the smell of fresh paint..

Ink stained Fingers said:

...
- they reset in the printer once the chip reports empty/cartridge not recognized in the status monitor, and I cycle through the replacement steps via the status monitor, first the carriage moves to the replacement position, i can refill ink with the cartridges in place, ...

Click to expand...

That's interesting.. do I understand correct, you don't have to pull out and put back in the cart, just press the ink button again to continue?

Could you post a link to the refil carts? I suppose you discovered this reset behavior by accident and it is not a special feature described by the seller?!
I had some trouble with different refill carts (all from aliexpress), there is air in the channel frequently and the eight channels would take turns in showing a bad nozzle check...

The R800 is still a very good printer, one of the few epson with MK and PK without switching. I had to buy three until I got one in good condition... many offers are worn out or have a bad MK nozzle row.
I have bypassed the waste ink outside the printer (detailed instructions for the surgery at inkrepublic), resetting is easy with SSC utility.

So I would like to hear more about your further experience with the R800!

I'm using bulk ink sets from farbenwerk (lyson photochrome, seems to be sold out now) and from precision colors, which may not have the wide gamut of photochrome but a good color matching.
GO from OCP (at octopus-office)