Epson P400 Alternative

[pharmacist]

At this moment (and for somebody from the USA): the Epson ET-8550. If you are not faint-hearted you can sell the included dye ink bottles and use that money to buy some good pigment ink (type Precisioncolors or Inktec Powerchrome or even expired large format printer cartridges using K3 Vivid/Ultrachrome Pro 10 ink: MK, PK, Grey (=LK), Vivid Magenta, Cyan, Yellow) and use syringe to refill the ink containers and have full pigment printer. This way you will the fade resistance of pigment ink and thus something very similar as the P400. On top you will have true ABW-printing possibility (grey ink), that is not possible with the P400 and printing is possible on both matte and glossy/satin papers. The only negative side is there will be (some) gloss differential because there is no gloss optimizer, so I suggest on limit paper preference to matte and satin/pearl type of papers to minimize gloss differential.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

' If you are not faint-hearted you can sell the included dye ink bottles and use that money to buy some good pigment ink (type Precisioncolors'

Precisioncolors specifically supports pigment inks for the ET_8550 and gives tips

https://precisioncolors.com/ET8550.html

Pigment ink effects like bronzing or gloss differentials vary very much by the combination of ink and paper - it goes from virtually invisible down to practically useless - general tips cannot be given, and only testing would show the best ink/paper combinations. Paper suppliers typically can offer sample packs for their selection of papers.

 

[palombian]

Interesting discussion again.

BUT as I understand from the many positive reviews of the ET-8550, the dye inks - as genuine Epson - should have a fairly good fade resistance. The printer seems to be a star in making very glossy prints.

So why would you want to fill it with pigment inks - except when you mostly print matte and should buy another printer right away ?

 

[pharmacist]

Actually the ET-8550 does a pretty good job printing on matte paper even with its dye inks (and matte pigment black)

 

[palombian]

Actually the ET-8550 does a pretty good job printing on matte paper even with its dye inks (and matte pigment black)

Just as the pigment inks in my PRO-10 and Maxify have negligible gloss differences on a fair number of glossy (and in particular pearl) papers. Never seen the dreaded "bronzing" either.

(Dis)advantages of both ink types are grossly exagerated.

Since I mostly print glossy, if I had to start over I would not hesitate for the ET-8550 (or the A3+ inktank Canon has to release sooner or later).