Wide-format Canon printer showdown

[ghwellsjr]

I decided to have a little race between my two Canon 13" wide printers, the i9900 and the i9100. I printed a photo from my Canon camera as large as it could be without editing. It was 12.7"x16.9". The i9900 took 2:52 and the i9100 took 4:44. This is a ratio of about 3 to 5. In other words, in the same time it takes the i9100 to print 3 large pages, the i9900 can print 5. To put it another way, it would take 5 i9100 printers to produce the same output as 3 i9900 printers.

Both these printers use unchipped cartridges. I believe the newer chipped cartridge wide-format printers are even faster.

Some differences between these two printer models are that the i9100 uses six cartridges while the i9900 uses eight, and the i9100 uses only the older and slower USB connection while the i9900 uses the faster USB 2 connection. However, with a fast computer, neither printer is slowed down by the USB connection.

However, the picture produced by the i9900 is noticeably better, especially in area of green plants, not surprising since it has a green cartridge just for that purpose.

EDIT: As requested, here is the image that I used for this test:

Email me if you would like the 568K original.

 

[avolanche]

gh,

OT,but where do you get Inktec Ink......Are you using it over Hobbicolors for fade resistance(or have you tried Hobbicolors CLI8 type)?

How do the wide printers compare in image quality to the MP780?I'm using an MP780 w/Hobbicolors.It's more vivid than the G&G.I have 3 ip4200's that use chipped cartridges that are still in the box(CCity was selling for $39!).I'll use them when the MP780 gives out.

Thanks,Fred.

 

[ghwellsjr]

You can get bulk Inktec ink and prefilled Inktec cartridges from:

inkiesonline.com EDIT: this website is no longer in business.

Another place that advertises Inktec is inkjetcartridge.com BUT DO NOT BUY CARTRIDGES FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE INKTEC. However, they do not sell the red and green ink and they no longer sell the ink in large bottles. They only provide ink in the small bottles that also serve as syringes. That's the way I buy them because you can attach a needle to them and you never have to pour ink.

Yes, I use Inktec because of its fade resistance and also because they have the best pigment black of any that I have tested including Hobbicolors (but this is not to put down their dye inks as I have no experience with them). EDIT: I no longer recommend the Inktec pigment black ink because it clogs the purge system after a long time.

You will get a better image, as far as color goes, with more cartridges. There is a big difference between a four color, like the MP780 and a six color, like the iP6000D or i9100. However, if you just look at a photo printed by any Canon printer, even a three color, you will think it looks good. It's when you compare them side by side with other photos that you really notice the difference.

I think the Inktec inks look slightly better than the Canon inks but the real issue is how closely they match the specifications. To do that, you have to get involved with calibrating your monitor screen and using profiles to get as close a match as possible, something I have never done.

The real question is: will the person you are printing the photos for be happy? That's all that matters.

 

[avolanche]

You can get bulk Inktec ink and prefilled Inktec cartridges from:

inkiesonline.com

Another place that advertises Inktec is inkjetcartridge.com BUT DO NOT BUY CARTRIDGES FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE INKTEC.



I think the Inktec inks look slightly better than the Canon inks but the real issue is how closely they match the specifications. To do that, you have to get involved with calibrating you monitor screen and using profiles to get as close a match as possible, something I have never done.

The real question is: will the person you are printing the photos for be happy? That's all that matters.

Thanks!I'll try some Inktec when my Hobbicolors runs out.The MP780 is very good,but I have not done a side-by-side with a 6 color Canon(I'm a little afraid to compare,I like the 4 color so well).

 

[pharmacist]

Hi ghwellsjr,

I'm interested too in giving Inktec ink a try. The most important isue is whether the ink has an improved fade resistance against UV-radiation (sun) or oxidative gases (like NO, ozone, SO2). What is your experience with the ink when hanging your prints made with Inktec ink at area's with bright sun light ? I can order Inktec ink here in Belgium from Germany for about 37 per colour per litre CLI-8 compatible ink.

 

[ghwellsjr]

I have never seen any fading from any brand of ink and I have not run any of my own tests on the dye inks. My preference for Inktec is base solely on the tests done by Renard DellaFave on this site:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1003&message=12198835

I believe these tests were done by exposing the samples to sunlight.

 

[stratman]

I have never seen any fading from any brand of ink and I have not run any of my own tests on the dye inks. My preference for Inktec is base solely on the tests done by Renard DellaFave on this site:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1003&message=12198835

I believe these tests were done by exposing the samples to sunlight.

Looking at the jpg's of the test results in your link, I don't see much difference between MIS and InkTec. In fact, they seem identical to me.

What is it about InkTec that was the deciding factor(s) in purchasing it over MIS?

 

[ghwellsjr]

MIS and Inktec are both very good in the fade resistance test but Inktec is perfect on the magenta and photo cyan (on photo paper) whereas MIS shows a slight amount of fading.

I actually used MIS for my first batch of ink but there were several reports of it clogging, especially magenta, in the iP5000 which has 1 pl nozzles rather than the 2 pl that most of the other printers had years ago. That's what caused me to switch to Formulabs for my second batch. When I saw the fade test report, I did not reconsider MIS but rather went to Inktec. I also liked the pigment black better because it does not have any dye in it.

 

[stratman]

My bad. I was mistakingly comparing MIS with Image Specialist.

The InkTek was the best at mimicking Canon's own ink overall.

Nice find.

Do you purchase the little 20 ml refills? They look like fat syringes with a cap over where the needle would be located. They certainly seem inexpensive.

How do you like the Pigment Black compared to OEM Canon?

 

[ghwellsjr]

I usually buy the 1 liter bottles because I vacuum fill about 75 cartridges at a time. The last time I did the pigment black, I purchased two 1 liter bottles because they hold twice as much ink.

However, I did purchase some of the small refills so that I could send some Inktec samples to Cannonfodder to include in his ink tests (I wonder how that's coming) and you are correct, you can remove the cap and put a needle from a regular syringe on it and use the container as a syringe. The nice thing about doing that is you don't have to worry about any evaporation like you would in a regular bottle half full of ink.

I cannot tell any difference between Canon pigment black from a BCI-3eBK and Inktec pigment black. However, there is a difference between the Canon pigment blacks from a BCI-3e and a PGI-5. The pigment black ink from the new chipped cartridges will not smear when you use a highlighter on it. I was hoping that Inktec's pigment black for the PGI-5 would also show this improvement but it doesn't.

EDIT: the above paragraph is all wrong. Please see this thread.