dye-based to pigment based ink

[herrpee]

Hi, I just bought an ET-8550 and I have been experimenting with it. I totally love the printer, but I'm afraid I bought I without doing all the research I needed to Costly mistake, but maybe you can help me out... The ink used in the colors is the dye-based ink, with one black being pigment based (and only used when you select velvet paper if I'm correct?) I would want to sell some pictures and for that I best use pigment ink, so the colors stay true for a long time.
And now for the questions:
1) How long do the colors last, presuming you print them on high quality archival paper (maybe like the epson fine art cotton textured natural II) and keep them behind glass when using the normal ink?
2) Can I change to the pigment based ink for the colors? (from 114 to 113?) Would that damage the printer? I guess the bottles won't fit, but I can alway use a syringe to transfer the ink to the other bottle.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

Sesveral ink suppliers offer pigment substitute inks for the ET-8550, you may read the recommendations for pigment ink conversion and usaage here by precisioncolors

https://precisioncolors.com/ET8550.html

General statements about the longevity of dye ink are not possible, every ink/papertype combination may deliver widely different results, and archival papers are not necessarily better. Canon and Epson always refer to one of their premium glossy photo papers. Tests show that presentation behind glass extends longevity for pigment and dye ink prints in general.

If longevity is your concern don't use 3rd party inks - information for those is scare if at all. Some of 3rd party dye inks don't fade in years but in weeks or even days. And don't believe statements of UV resistance etc by 3rd party sellers.

Results of lots of tests have been published here in several forums - use the search function here for 'longevity' or 'fading' or 'Epson 114' inks or 'Inktec' or 'Wilhelm Research' or 'Aardenburg Imaging'

 

[thebestcpu]

Here is a link to the Wilhelm Research for the Epson ET 8550:
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/eps...o_ET-8500_and_ET-8550_Printers_2024-08-09.pdf

Here is a link to the Epson P900, which is all pigment inks:
http://www.wilhelm-research.com/epson/WIR_Epson_SureColor_P700_and_P900_Printers_2021_07_23.pdf

I hope that is helpful
John Wheeler

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

P.S. - the top of Epson Ecotank ink bottles can easily be unscrewed with a little bit of force which makes ink swapping - refill etc easy.

 

[herrpee]

Thanks, I will check the links out.
One more question, the printer refuses to connect to my pc via usb. I use win 11, totally updated. When I turn the printer on, I hear the usb connection sound but it doesn't show up in my selectable printers. I can connect via wifi, but the connection in my studio is bad (and I don't like wifi connections, cables to rull them all).
I tried multiple usb ports (on top of the pc, on the back, the one wher my other printer is connected to), none work.

 

[bplaman]

Hi.
Buy a new high-quality USB 2.0 cable (USB 3.0 cable IS NOT SUPPORTED) no longer than 2 meters.

 

[thebestcpu]

I am not a Windows user (I'm on a Mac) so this list is from online of items that you coud check into:

1. Confirm the USB Connection Basics​

• Use a known-good, shielded USB 2.0 cable no longer than ~6 ft. The ET-8550 is picky about signal quality over longer cables.
• Make sure the cable is connected directly to the PC — no hubs or docking stations in between.
• Try a different USB port that’s directly on the motherboard (often on the back of a desktop).

---

2. Check Windows Device Manager​

• Press Win + X → Device Manager.
• Look under:
  • Printers
  • Universal Serial Bus controllers
  • Other devices (look for “Unknown device”)
• If you see the ET-8550 (or an unknown USB device), right-click → Uninstall device, then unplug/replug the printer.

---

3. Clear Old Epson Entries​

Sometimes stale driver entries prevent proper recognition.

1. Disconnect the printer.
2. In Windows Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, remove all Epson ET-8550 entries.
3. In Device Manager, remove any “Epson” or “Unknown device” entries under USB controllers and Imaging devices.
4. Restart your PC.

---

4. Install the Epson USB Driver First​

• Go to Epson’s official ET-8550 Support & Downloads page.
• Download the full driver package (not just Windows Update’s generic driver).
• Run the installer before plugging in the USB cable when prompted — many Epson installers prefer that order.

---

5. Force Windows to Use the USB Port​

If Windows insists on Wi-Fi printing:

• Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add a printer.
• Select The printer that I want isn’t listed → Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings → choose a USBxxx port (created when the printer is connected).
• Pick Have Disk… and point it to the Epson driver you downloaded.

---

6. Check for USB Power/Sleep Settings​

• In Device Manager → Universal Serial Bus controllers, double-click each “USB Root Hub” → Power Management tab → uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
• This prevents Windows from dropping the connection.

---

7. Test with Another PC or OS​

If possible:

• Plug the printer into another Windows or Mac computer.
• If USB works there, the problem is PC-side.
• If not, the ET-8550’s USB interface might be faulty — in which case Epson support should be contacted for repair or replacement.

---

Extra note: The ET-8550 will still emit the USB “connect” sound even if only the printer’s internal memory reader is recognized, so you need to confirm that the printer itself (not just the card reader) appears in Device Manager.

 

[The Hat]

I tried multiple usb ports (on top of the pc, on the back, the one wher my other printer is connected to), none work.

Your problem is the new Win 11, because you don’t have an updated driver for your printer, yes I know it works on Wi-Fi, but that doesn’t use the same protocol as direct connection, and quality USB cable will work up to 5 metres..
.. But not without a new driver..

 

[herrpee]

Hi.
Buy a new high-quality USB 2.0 cable (USB 3.0 cable IS NOT SUPPORTED) no longer than 2 meters.

Hmm, it's 3m, is it that simple? And why only 2m?

 

[The Hat]

And why only 2m?

It’s 2 metres for cheap ones…