Formulabs ink question

[jesoonster]

Hello everyone. I finally got an opportunity to buy formulabs ink from alotofthings and test it out with a computer graphic designer friend.

The test was done on a canon IP4000 printer with canon OEM inks and formulabs refill inks into virgin tanks. For the most part, I would have to say that formulabs ink is fantastic. However, I must say the magenta is WAYYYY off. -30 magenta on the magenta color profile will get rid of the darker red on people's faces but then at that kind of profile, it will drastically change the color of solid red objects (red to a more orangish color). We found that many black objects are also affected as an lighter shades of black color are made from a mix of black ink and magenta. We've tried the following settings for color:

-5, -10, -15, -20, -30, -40 color for magenta.

-5 for black w/ some of the magenta combinations from above.

The ultimate solution that we found was to use all of formulabs ink with the exception of magenta. We substituted magenta with canon OEM ink and the results were fabulous. We could still tell a SLIGHT tint of light blue (sky) and yellow (pigment on faces) but the difference was negligible.

I am preparing for a trip overseas so I can't scan these pics right now but in about 2.5 weeks I'll post some scans up for people on the forum to see.

In the meantime if anyone wants to recommend a good, cheap magenta source I would greatly appreciate it. Thx. (BTW I think the profile on this page is quite misleading for the formulabs magenta:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1003&message=10377832

If that profile were true, I can't imagine how "magentaish" inktecs ink would be.....

 

[RC]

To Josoonster:

Formulabs just cancelled one of their magenta production for that reason, the prints were to reddish-magenta.

You should find out from the vendor which magenta they sold you, is it the magenta (IJC-4424) or (IJC-4420). If it is the 4424, that was discontinued, as I mentioned before. The 4420 is much better, it is actually their BCI-3e, but it works perfect.

Another option is the BCI-7 magenta (IJC-4820).

I am currently testing the BCI-7 ink, which are exactly the same as the BCI-6, except for the magenta and photo-magenta.

So far I find them easier to profile. I think that the magenta and photo magenta may be better balanced to complement each other.

I will let you know my results when I am done.

Good luck
Robert

 

[Grandad35]

jesoonster,

You could also consider purchasing a custom printer profile for your final selection of inks and your favorite paper for about $40. I don't know how much printing you do, but the savings on ink costs (over OEM carts) for PM would pay for the profile after only 4 PM carts.

 

[RC]

I looked at the sample, and I can tell you that it is impossible to test ink with that method.

You must put the ink in a printer, purge the printhead and the print the samples. Even then it is quite impossible to tell, unless you print an image that mixes colors.

Robert

 

[jesoonster]

Thx for response folks.

To grandad:

How would I purchase the custom printer profile? I'm unlikely to do that b/c I like fiddling with things on my own but I would like to hear options that are available

 

[Grandad35]

The two that are most often mentioned are Dry Creek and Cathy's Profiles (about $40/profile). There is a lot of good information on their websites:
http://www.drycreekphoto.com/
http://www.cathysprofiles.com/

The adjustments that you can make in the driver are simple linear increases/decreases in the ink coverage, regardless of how much of the other colors are present. A profile generates a "look up table" that can correct the colors in a non-linear fashion, in addition to allowing different corrections based on the local levels of other colors - there is no comparison between the final results of the two approaches.

If you are fussy about your colors, you should also consider purchasing a system to profile your display so that the display and printer give similar results.

 

[JV]

RC and others,

There is a reference to Image specialists ink for the BCI-7 "Longlife" ink in

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1003
Find: BCI-7 (message by R.Sach, 7-17-2005)

where inks for all colors except the Cyan,Yellow and Green colors have been revised for "Longlife".
I have a recent rapid fading Green print. Is anyone testing the "Longlife" ink?

JV

 

[Inky]

ARGH!


I knew it. I had the same problem with my Alotofthings ink. Way too magenta amd dialing it down to acceptable levels destroys reds, making them orange. So apparently Formulabs changed the formula, and has now switched back... I think. Anyone ordered inks recently and verified this?