When I had my shop, I had a Novajet printer which printed 36" across.Like everyone else I used inks that came from the place that sold me the machine.
Their inks were "optimized" for use with their software and their papers etc.
I had also purchased a "bulk ink system" which allowed the cartridges to get their ink from bottles which held about 500ml of ink for each color. I forget the conversion but I think it's less than 16oz each.
They charged HUNDREDS of dollars for each 500ml bottle, and $65 for a cartridge which holds 42ml.
Well I got so sick of paying so much money for ink that I started refilling my own cartridges. After doing that for a few years, it developed into a little internet business on it's own.
If you knew how cheap ink is when bought in bulk, it would make you sick.
You will have to recalibrate your system when you introduce new inks. This will insure that what your scanner sees is what your printer prints, and what you see on your monitor is very close to what your printer prints.
The color range or gamut of different manufacturers inks can vary one company to the next, and even from one batch to the next within the same company.
If your printer uses cartridges that have the print head built into the cartridge, then don't worry about harming the printer with some other companies inks. You get new print heads every time you change cartridges.
If your printer cartridges do not have the print head built into them, like Epson cartridges, then there is a risk that the inks you buy in generic refill kits could clog the print head due to being the wrong viscosity, or drying too quickly, etc.
With the prices for desktop printers continually going downwards, it's probably almost as expensive having a print head serviced or replaced, as it is to buy a new printer.
If you do get your own refill kits or ink, make sure it is specific for your brand and model of printer and not one of those "universal" ink systems which they claim will work in ANY printer. It won't.
There's water soluable dye based inks, pigmented inks, UV enhanced inks, and archival inks. A print head which was designed for dye based inks will not work long if you try and run pigmented ink through it.
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[This message has been edited by EmpY (edited December 02, 2000).]
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