Is anyone using InkRepublic.com inks?

[Jiri Vasina]

I'm contemplating buying a printer to print my photos (mainly BW, but my wife would want color snapshots of family and I too have an occasional color shot).

From all the threads and articles I have read, the Epson printers are probably the ones to go. But my budget is fairly limited, I can't justify their R2400 printer (which is obviously the one to choose). R1900 is said not to be that good printing BW. The one I am considering is Epson Stylus Photo 1400 - I have notices some good comments on it. If I bought this printer, I'd also want a CIS for it, and from what I have found, the InkRepublic.com has one suitable for it.

Now the question:
is anyone here using the Epson 1400 printer with i-Ink CIS from InkRepublic to print mainly BW and occasional color photos? What is your impression? What is the quality? Are you happy with your results?

Thanks a lot

Jiri

[Paul H]

Don't overlook the HP printers, especially if you want to do mainly B+W but with some colour thrown in. You could look at the 9180 or cheaper 8850 for pigment ink printers. Or, you may like to take a look at the 8750.

CISS systems are available for all three major brands now, including the latest HP printers.

Photo-i (http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/printers_page.htm) has reviews of these (along with Epson and Canon printer), and may be a good starting point.

[Ron Marshall]

You might also have a look at Jon Cone's inks from Inkjetmall.

I used them in my 2200 and the prints are very nice:

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl;jsessionid=0a0106521f43ebe12e7c2cd84ba9a6b3effb38a9656a.e3eSc34RbhyRe34Pa38Ta38Rchb0?c=362672&sc=15

[Peter De Smidt]

My understanding is that Ink Republic inks are made by Image Specialists, who also make the MIS inks. I've used the MIS K4 inks in an R2400 with an Ink Republic CIS for awhile now, and I've been very happy with all of it. That said, Wilhelm does not rate the MIS inks as good for longevity as the Epson inks, at least this is the case for some of the colors. I use the color K4 inks. With a Print Fix Pro ICC profile made with extended grays, I get very good color and BW prints.

At work we do use the Cone K7 inks in a 2200. It can produce very nice bw prints on matte paper, we mainly use photorag, but we do have quite a few issues with clogging, and the inks are quite expensive.

Personally, if I were looking for a dedicated bw inkset, I'd check out some of Paul Roark's inksets, such as his Carbon 6 or Eboni 6 sets, as long as you plan on printing on matte paper.

[jetcode]

I have used Septone inks which produce wonderful B/W images though my 2200 is indeed suffering from clogged heads. The Canon ipf5100 produces equally wonderful B/W and color prints and is a real value IMO in today's market.

[Iskra 2]

I use their dye inks on my Epson 1280. Much cheaper than Epson inks and the color seems as good. Longevity, who knows, under glass probably ok, in direct sun, they all fade. I've considered using their pigment inks, I don't think the 1280's nozzles would like that. Regards.