I just purchased an epson 3800 pigment-based printer. Prior to this just had a R200 dye-based printer. I am finding that the prints from the 3800 are not as glossy as the R200. Is this the nature of the ink? Is it possible to duplicate the gloss of the dye with the pigment inks?
Hm well – not really. It is the nature of the ink, yes.
I use an R1800 and have experienced this myself but I'm getting fine results from applying Premier Art Print Shield spray on my Ilford Smooth Pearl paper. It definitely eliminates any gloss differential and seems to add a subtle sheen to gloss papers (matte papers look the same which is good!). However, there is now a Premier Art water based spray that is just for gloss papers and I've heard of good results but haven't tried it myself. I'm getting the Eboni inks described in this months Shutterbug magazine and I'm curious to see how this works in conjunction with Ilford Gold Silk fb paper. We'll see – looks promising though.
Actually, many people prefer the pigment inks because they aren't as glossy. Fine art prints are usually done on matte papers and sometimes on satin or pearl papers, not the really glossy ones.
If you look at the professional inkjet printers, I think they all use pigment inks.
Framed and behind glass really glossy prints can also have problems with glare.
Of course, some only like the glossy papers, so it's really a matter of preference.
Thre R1800 runs the pigment inks with a gloss optimizer on the surface. You can do something opf the same by choosing a glossy spray and sp[raying your prints.
You get used to the pigments. Most pros use them. I am going to set up a machine with dye too though. If I guess right, Epson will have the Claria dye available for the Epson 7880, etc in the next release.
Permanance was a serious problem with dye before the Claria inks. Everyone went to pigment in 2002 or so for longevity because dyes sucked so badly. But the gamut on pigment was bad. Not trure anymore - they are faily close.
Thanks. I have seen the sprayed results and am not happy. It is an extra step, expense, it smells and it did not give me the same results. I just purchased an R280 just to have the glossiness, and it does have the Claria inks. I did not expect to have to have a dye-based ink printer in addition to the 3800. It would be nice to have the claria inks in the future for the wide format units.
Thanks,
Jim
Edited by J4644 on Feb 12, 2008 at 12:58 AM GMT (Reason: Typo)
Spraying is just not the answer for me. I have seen it used and it smells, is an added expense and an extra step. I guess I will have to wait for new inks with a gloss optimizer or something like that.
I agree, for fine arts gloss would not be the best choice. I would just use it for 4 x 6 prints to hand out to friends and family because that is what they are used to receiving from their photo labs.
I print on epson R1800 with Ilford glossy. I found this tip on the MIS website.
Open a new blank doc. in photoshop sized to the print. run the print through the
printer again. With the blank image all that prints is another coat of GLOP. This
helps most when a lot of dark colors are on the print.
Carl T.
I can't say that you'll ever get all you want, but I would try some glossy papers. Sounds like Tinner has some more direct experience, I don't know anything about telling my printer to make another coat of GLOP -- they seem to do that once in a while all by themselves, but not at my command. Anyway, try the Ilford papers.
