What ink is great for photo printing?Bottomless ink or pigment ink or dye ink?
Bottomless ink is just a way to set up your printer with large ink wells that can be easily filled. More trouble than it’s worth unless you do professional, high-volume printing. I’ve found that you’re really taking your chances when using bulk or cheap inks. They seem to fry print heads more quickly… and a fried print head can short out the delicate electronics in the printer. The life-spans of my printers were very short when using cheap inks. I’ve stuck to using only Canon inks with my current Canon IP6000D and I’ve had it… well… AT LEAST 3 years now and it still works like brand new. It doesn’t clog if I don’t use it for a week or two either.
Pigmented inks resist fading much longer with exposure to air or UV and can yield good results on the right paper. I believe Epson printers are the only ones that use pigmented inks for photos. Some of their models have tended to be somewhat troublesome lately though and they’ve sort of fallen out of favor to Canon and HP. Not sure about the newest line. Read some consumer reviews online at Amazon or something…
Dye inks are getting better all the time and can last quite awhile on the right paper. The results are excellent on the right paper. The downsides are… The papers with a plastic coating on top tend to be pretty waterproof (maybe even better than lab prints), but are usually succeptable to gas fading if not kept in an airtight storage situation. But, like I said, the inks are getting better all the time. Then, there are papers with a coating that kind of “melts” when the ink hits it and forms an image that will be much more resistant to fading. They take a little longer to dry when they come out of the printer. Any water will instantly melt and ruin these photos and they may stick together if stored in a moist environment though. The coating is made water-soluable in order to “mix” with water-based dye inks and seal the ink from air exposure.
My Canon uses dye-based ink and produces beyond excellent quality prints. I prefer the plastic-coated papers for prints that will be handled. I store them in a dark environment that’s reasonable airtight. I’ll use the paper with the water-soluable coating for pictures that will be framed or displayed and exposed to light or air.
Ilford makes an Asian manufactured, plastic coated “Printasia” paper that’s very inexpensive and the “Premium Photo Glossy” is almost exactly like Canon “Photo Paper Plus” paper, except it actually fades less over time. Ilford “Classic Gloss” is a paper with the water-soluable coating. There may be a “Printasia” version of that paper too. It also works well on the Canon “Photo Paper Plus” setting.
EDIT: I see Ilford has phased out the “Printasia” papers that were mainly being distributed by CompUSA and has replaced them with a new mid-quality range of “Ilford Photo” papers. They still carry a small “Printasia” logo on the box to attract the customers who were using it. I’m sure they’re comparable and they still look pretty affordable… But, not as. I was getting 100 sheets of 4×6 Printasia for a little over $8.00.
http://www.amazon.com/Ilford-Photo-Glossy-Paper-Sheets/dp/B000RQ22M6
http://www.ilford.com/en/pdf/prods/consumer/In-Pack-Leaflet_A4.pdf
Ranger Dye Ink Pads vs Pigment Ink Pads
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Judi Kins Microglaze Protects ink jet and watercolor or dye ink art – resist too $8.99 |
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* QUANTITY of 36 * Ink It Up DYE Ink Stampin Pads * NEW * LOT OF 36 * FAST SHIP $4.95 |
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QUANTITY of 8 * BRIGHT YELLOW Ink It Up DYE Stampin Pads * NEW * LOT OF 14 $0.99 |
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QUANTITY of 11 * KHAKI GREEN Ink It Up DYE Stampin Pads * NEW * LOT OF 14 $0.99 |
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QUANTITY of 10 * TERRA COTTA Ink It Up DYE Stampin Pads * NEW * LOT OF 14 $0.99 |
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Ink it Up! Premium Dye Based Stamp Pad – Terra Cotta T62 $2.86 |
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Dew Drops 12 INK PADS Memento Dye Inks Tsukineko NEW $29.99 |
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Rubber Stampede Set of 12 Dye Based Ink Pads – PRIMARY $9.99 |
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Blacklight Reactive GLOWING Liquid Ink / Paint / Water Dye – Neon Glow Effect! $0.99 |
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*Jenni Bowlin For Ranger BROWN SUGAR DYE INK PAD $4.49 |
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*Jenni Bowlin For Ranger CHEWING GUM DYE INK PAD $4.49 |
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*Jenni Bowlin For Ranger CHICKEN FEED DYE INK PAD $4.49 |
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*Jenni Bowlin For Ranger COUGH SYRUP DYE INK PAD $4.49 |
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*Jenni Bowlin For Ranger FOUNTAIN PEN DYE INK PAD $4.49 |
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*Jenni Bowlin For Ranger LAVENDER SACHET DYE INK PAD $4.49 |
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Gourmet Food Writer Edible Color Markers (10 color set) by AmeriColor $15.99 Use this super ten-color set to dazzle up your cookies or cakes. Use these edible color markers just as you would an ink marker. Draw fun designs on cakes, write messages on cookies, and highlights to icing decorations. The tips are fine for detail work The Gourmet Writer Food Decorating Pens are great for a fun, fast way to add dazzle to fondant cakes, cookies, and all kinds of food. &nb… |
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Gourmet Writer Food Decorator Pens, Assorted Colors, Set of 10 $14.49 Set includes 10 Beautiful Colors: Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Flesh, Pink, Red, Brown, and Black. Writes on most firm, dry surfaces! Including: Royal Icing; White Chocolate; Cookies- and so many more! Made from US Certified Food Color. Draws fine, medium or broad lines- depending on the pressure…. |
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Wilton Food Writer Edible Color Markers $4.45 These edible color markers are great for all kinds of food! Each marker is 0.35 ounces and features a fine tip. A fast fun way to add dazzle to fondant cakes and all kinds of food! Use these markers just as you would an ink marker. Draw fun designs on cakes write messages on cookies add highlights to icing decorations. Also great for: cheese fruit slices and bread. 2 color packs available…. |
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Memories 02-MEMCHR Acid-Free Dye Inkpad, 2-1/4 by 3-1/2-Inch, Cherry Red $13.17 A further installment of Asmus Tietchens’ Menge series from 2006 on LINE, the 12K sub-label, released in a limited edition of 500. Asmus Tietchens’ focus here is compositions based strictly on sine tones and white noise. Previous installments of the “Mengen” series have been released by Ritornell/Mille Plateaux (Alpha-, Beta- and Gamma-Menge). Zeta-Menge means Zeta quantity. TRACKLIST: 1. Teilmeng… |
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The Perfect Weapon [VHS] $14.95 Martial arts maven Jeff Speakman plays a drifter who returns to his hometown and finds that his old Kenpo mentor is being hassled by Korean thugs looking to use his store as a front for drug dealing. When the gangsters kill the shopkeeper, Speakman must defy his estranged policeman brother as he delivers his own brand of two-fisted vengeance. Wham! Bam! Speakman! Mariska Hargitay, James Hong, and … |
