Green colourcast using Image Specialists (MIS) Ink with Canon iP5000

[arw4]

I have just received a set of sample Image Specialists inks from Gemini Colours in prefilled carts. This is the same bulk ink MIS supply.

Eager to test the performance of these inks, I prepared my printer by ensuring that it was thoroughly cleaned and flushed of the ink I had been using previously. I have now printed a number of photographs and test images (The Digital Dog, ColorChecker etc), and was somewhat surprised/disappointed to be getting a noticeable green color cast using the default Canon profile with the IS samples. I have run a nozzle check and all colors appear to be printing properly. I have run several test images and compared the results with my second iP5000 printer which has Canon OEM cartridges installed. I really expected the results to be a very close match, all else being equal. I am confident that both printers are performing equally well as I've also compared results using the same ink installed in both printers (no difference).

In an attempt to identify the possible cause, I switched back to my usual non-OEM cartridges (7dayshop.com). As expected, all colors returned to their normal state. BTW, I've not tried a huge number of different non-OEM inks, but I've found the 7dayshop.com prefilled carts to be the best so far. They're not perfect (slight yellow cast), but they are pretty close to Canon OEM cartridges.

Next, I switched back to the IS sample carts - still producing a noticeable green cast to images. This was a trate that persisted using a variety of different printing media, so I don't believe it's a paper issue. I now began to suspect a problem with the samples I received, and so began substituting one cart at a time to see if I could eliminate the culprit. I found that subsituting the magenta cartridge made the biggest difference, although it did not cure the green colorcast completely.

I'm now quite puzzled - I had much higher expectations of IS ink without profiling. I only intended to merely tweak the colors (if necessary) at a later date, and can't understand why I'm getting colors at such variance to OEM. I am now wondering whether I had been sent the correct samples, as specifically requested. It seems to me that the only other explanation is that IS inks just don't work well in the iP5000 printer for some reason, although I don't think this could be a major contributory factor.

I would be really interested to hear from anyone who might have thoughts or suggestions re. cause of green color cast issue. I'm also eager to hear from forum members who have experience of using IS inks, particularly with the iP5000 printer (BCI6 BK,C,M,Y & BCI3eBK). Has anyone had similar problems?

 

[mikling]

I sell Image Specialists inks and what I can tell you is that the Canon lineup of inks within the Image Specialists inks is very wide. This means that you need to stock a large broad inventory of ink. I cannot speak about what Gemini Colors is doing and what they are putting in BUT Image Specialists inks are possibly as close as you can get to OEM in the aftermarket. Neil Slade tests shows this and it is tested for Canon to boot. It is unlikely that Image Specialists are at fault since they do 100% batch testing. I am not accusing another vendor of "substituting" colors but that sounds like a possibility.
If you refill the cartridges yourself and it's really not a lot of effort, then you know that you're putting in the right inks. Many forum members have warned about this very issue with prefilled cartridges... you don't know exactly what they're putting at any given time.
I would rather tell a customer that I am out of an ink color rather than substitute a close enough. I know the feeling of "what the heck did I do wrong! is it my printer or ink????" It' s not pleasant. Make sure you didn't misplace / insert in wrong slot one cartridge, but that is unlikely as the effect would have been dramatic rather than a cast.
If you check my website and go through the different formulations for Canon magenta, you'll get an idea. Even a simple color as black has a range of densities.

 

[arw4]

Hi Mikling,

Thank you for your help and guidance.

I really don't have any reservations about the quality, accuracy and performance of IS manufactured ink. Like you, I believe the cause of my colorcast problem lies elsewhere. Over the last few weeks I have spent a great deal of time researching information regarding various specifically formulated bulk inks in order to identify the very best (or one of the very best) non-OEM inks for my Canon printer. This forum has proved an invaluable resource! Of course, people have their personal preferences (and that's fine), but IS ink is consistently endorsed by those who take image reproduction seriously.

I approached Image Specialists directly to obtain some samples and to enquire about suppliers. Joseph Costello (IS) referred me to Gemini Colours who are their exclusive European distributor, and they in turn sent me a comprehensive price list detailing product codes of all the IS ink types they supply for desktop printers. I stated my printer model and listed out the individual cartridge numbers for a set of cartridges containing ink samples to be sent to me, so I don't think there exists scope for ambiguity. As a reputable supplier of quality specialist ink, you would expect the samples to be absolutely representative of the quality of their inks, but maybe there is an issue of human error, contaminated cartridges, wrong ink type being sent... I really can't identify any problems my end - and I've tried.

Below are two scans of test images - one using Canon OEM ink, the other using sample of IS ink. The scanned images are somewhat different from reality, but it does illustrate the significant difference between the two inks. The OEM colours are actually more neutral in real life. The IS sample inks give a definite green colorcast, particularly noticeable when printing black and white.

I am 100% sure that the correct ink cartridge went in the right slot, so I know that isn't the cause. I can only agree with your analysis. One thing's for sure, I cannot live with the results I am getting from these samples. I think I'll have to take it up with Gemini Colours to see if I can get some answers. I'll keep this thread posted on any developments.

Thank you, once again, for your much appreciated advice and encouragement.

 

[arw4]

For those who are interested, here's a brief update on the Image Specialists ink I am currently testing.

I have been communicating with Robert Grafton of Gemini Colours who supplied me with IS sample inks that were producing the very noticeable green colorcast. He has been most attentive in rendering assistance.

I have since tested a separate set of the IS inks, as it seems that there was a problem with the samples I originally received - perhaps contaminated cartridges, incorrect ink type etc. Anyway, things now look much better. There is still a slight green colorcast when viewed under daylight. Robert commented that Canon OEM inks have a bias towards red, and to a certain degree I tend to agree with him. This becomes even more obvious when viewing images under incandescent light. Under this type of lighting images produced using IS inks actually look more natural than than those produced with Canon OEM inks. Greyscale images appear wonderfully neutral.

Early indications are that Canon OEM inks are very slightly biased towards red, whereas the IS bulk inks are very slightly biased towards green.

 

[fotofreek]

ARW4 - Your sample prints (post before last) do show the OEM inks with a red bias. I did side-by-side prints with OEM and MIS inks in my i960 two years ago and found that both had a similar red bias. For skin tones in your test prints I found the IS sample to be more realistic.

 

[arw4]

Fotofreek,

I was interested to learn of your experience of using IS ink. I'm afraid the scans of the printed test image are not especially representative of the true colors of the prints. My scanner leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to color accuracy! However it did manage to illustrate the differences I was obtaining. I can only assume there was a problem with the samples I had received.

The IS inks I am using at present give far more satisfactory results, but if were to be critical I would have to say that they still present a very slight green colorcast. The nozzle check shows the IS magenta to be slightly darker than the Canon OEM magenta, which is a little more vibrant. This may well explain the very slight tendancy towards green - only really discernable in greyscale images.

The differences are now very small, and I am generally very pleased with the IS inks, not to mention the savings over OEM carts. I intend to run the IS inks in over a few weeks worth of day-to-day printing, and then re-evaluate. But basically my initial query has been answered, and I'm pleased to report it wasn't due to IS inks pe se - but rather bad ink samples.

 

[Inky]

I wonder if the Hobbicolors BCI-6 ink is Image Specialists? It has the same the same grn/yellow cast problems. Though, perhaps cyans are more difficult to manufacture or something, making the yel/grn cast a common problem.

Regardless, the Hobbicolors UW-8 ink works great in my IP5000 and has very good color balance so I'd recommend it for your next refill/upgrade. See my review of UW8 elsewhere. The cyan is noticeably more balanced. Only problem is Hobbicolors web store is kinda lame, so you'll have to email and special request a kit with UW8 ink and BCI-6 carts.

 

[hpnetserver]

Inky, I have used both BCI-6 and UW8 ink from Hobbicolors. I can see what you are talking about. I believe the Image Specialists and Hobbicolors WC6 inks are probably based on a same generation of ink technology. According to UW8 instruction they say the UW8 ink uses a latest generation ink technology. I can clearly see the difference in Cyan between WC-6 and UW-8 ink. I do not use Image Specialists ink so I can't comment about it other than opinions based on what other say about it. But I use UW-8 for my ip4200. This UW-8 ink is truly wondeful stuff that you have given your review more than accurately.

Something worth mentioning besides the UW-8 ink is the plugs they provide. They are the best I am aware of. Once a fill hole of the right size is drilled the plug can be very easily plugged half way in. What I will do is to flip the cartridge upside down and press the plug against my desk surface. The plug will them fully plugged in. It's very unlikely there would be any leak still as a result in my opinion.

The best part of these plugs are they have a pan head on top. It prevents the plug from falling into the ink tank. It also makes removal extremely easy. They really make the difficulty of resealing a history. It's really a piece of cake now. I agree with you that they for some reason did not advertise well about their products. They did not advertise anything about the plugs. I really think the UW-8 ink plus the kind of plugs they provide really make their kit the best in the market for all Canon new printers with CLI8 and PGI5 carts.