Latest News

(8/18/2001) For the past week, I've been testing identical prints made with the newly repackaged Epson inks, and comparing them to (nearly) identical prints made with the original version of the Epson OEM inks. The new inks are packaged in much larger boxes (more wasted space and more dead trees). The new inks can also be identified by a lot number beginning with the letter "A". Unlike the old inks, which were made only in Japan, the new inks may be sourced from Japan, China or Mexico. The prints I tested were made with "Type A" inks: the color ink was made in Japan, the black in China.

There has been some anedcotal evidence that the new inks might be more resistant to orange shift than the original inks. How did they fair in my test? Take a look at my scans, and see for yourself.

(8/11/2001) Several new updates. I've reworked the intro and summary (main page) and my recommendations page, to reflect some of the recent developments in inks and papers. I've also updated my ColorLife review after reprinting the test using Epson's recommended media type settings.

And I've also been testing the MIS Hextone inks for monochrome printing. I've got samples on 7 different papers, printed on an Epson 1200. After about 2 weeks in the ozone chamber, there is no visible chnage in color, contrast or brightness. The samples will go back in for a few more weeks, and then I'll check them again.

I've also updated the 3rd party inks page to reflect some new products offered by WeInk. And I've begun an ozone test of Cone Color Piezo inks on several different papers. No results yet, but you can read my image quality impressions.

Finally, I've made minor updates throughout the site, bringing some old or outdated comments up to date, and making sure all my paper tests are included on the manufacturer organized pages. (Click on Paper Tests on the menu at left to get a list of brands tested.) And I've added a scan of a shift test for the Canon S800 using 3rd gen PGPP (It still shifts just like the Epson photo printers do.

(8/05/2001) Here's what you've all been waiting for! Orange shift tests of the new Epson ColorLife and similar Ilford Gallerie papers. Read all about the new papers (the orange shift results are at the bottom).

I've also got orange shift test information on 5 more papers: Epson Watercolor, Ilford Fine Art, Red River Premium Matte and Denali Matte, and Kodak Ultima. I have to say I was a bit disapointed. Only one of the five appears to be really resistant to orange shift.

(7/21/2001) After a bit of a hiatus in tests of new papers, it's time to begin anew. Thanks to various mailing list members and friends at a few paper companies, I've got some new samples to test. Actually, I have more than the five I'm reporting on here, but can't fit them all in my ozone test chamber at one time. So here's round one, and round two will follow later. No ozone test results yet (keep watching), but I've written preliminary desciptions of paper characteristics and image quality.

And thanks to my good friends at Epson America, I've got a few sheets of their new ColorLife paper. This is, in Epson's words, "made with a newly designed swellable polymer ink receptive coating that will give unprotected prints excellent resistance to atmospheric contaminants." It is supposed to be far more resistant to gas fading (orange shift) than any of Epson's current papers. The latest word I have is retail availability in late August or early September. You can read what Epson has to say about it in this press release.

Ilford has also just announced a new paper, called Ilford Gallerie Classic Pearl. Coincidently, this is ALSO a polymer paper. No word about it being "swellable", but Ilford says it "will not sufffer from gas fading. It also will not show coalescence or bronzing, which were the main complaints with [Ilford's] current desktop papers. There have been other various improvements too, to give images made on it a longer life." The obvious question: Are these the same paper?

In the interests of science I am, of course, going to subject these papers to my ozone torture tests. While we're waiting for results, you can read my impressions of their output compared to 3 other Epson papers.

I've also added an image quality comparison test between a regular, chemical photo print made by a one hour photo lab to the output of my inkjets. I'm also doing an orange shift comparison of the lab print (which is on Fuji Crystal Archive paper) with a couple of 1270 and 2000P prints.

It's too early to report any orange shift results, but the print comparisons revealed some surprising (to me at least) and interesting results. Click on the Fuji Crystal Archive link in the main menu to see scans of my comparison prints.

And, finally, I've added a pair of User Reviews (Thanks Travis and Steve!) of the NoMoreCarts CIS system.

(7/07/2001) I've added a lot of new information to the 3rd party inks page (link at left). And there's a new link from there to James Hill's web pages, where he has posted a new user report of the MIS CFS, complete with photographs and a demonstration of the printer in action..

(06/26/01) I've got three new samples of prints made using MIS Lightfast inks. They've been in the ozone chamber for about 3 weeks. Unlike the first sample, these were not supplied to me by MIS, but by three separate users of the ink. How are they doing? Check out scans of the latest test results, here, or click on MIS Inks in the menu.

Also, I've been asked by quite a few people to test Office Depot Premium glossy paper. I've added a page with test results, and scans. Take a look here.

(06/18/01) Do clear protective sprays work? I can't offer a definitive answer to that question, but my tests do provide some interesting information, I think. Click on "Clear Spray Tests" in the menu.

(05/28/01) Do prints from the Canon S800 turn orange? The test results are in. Click on the Canon S800 link at left to read my results and see scans of the output.

I've also summarized my comparison of prints from the 1270 vs. 1280, and of prints at 1440 and 2880 dpi. Is the higher resolution useful? Is the 1280 better than the 1270? Read my thoughts at the 1270 vs. 1280 link, at left, and see comparison scans.

Finally, I'm performing more tests of MIS dye inks for the x70/80/90 printers. I've had a second set of test prints made with MIS ink in my ozone and West window tests for about 8 days now, and the results are paralleling the first round of tests. The OEM inks have shifted noticeably in the ozone test, the MIS inks have not. Neither have shifted or faded in the West window, so far. All samples are back in the ozone chamber, and I'll continue to monitor them and report on them periodically. Note that in my prior test of MIS dye inks, the MIS inks shifted slightly, though at a much slower pace than the OEM inks. I cannot, and did not, say they are completely free of orange shift.

NoMoreCarts announces a new CIS for the 1270/80/90 printers. With a real twist! Not only does it allow you to use less expensive bulk inks, but it totally eliminates the need to reset any chips! Read all about it.

MIS Associates announces yet ANOTHER way to reset Epson chipped cartridges! This is a software solution which apparently precludes the need to remove cartridges, swap cartridges or play any other games. Look here for more info. MIS has also introduced their CFS for the Epson 870/890 printers.

Not really Epson news, but I know some people have been wondering if the new Canon S800 printer is the solution to orange shift. No firm answer yet, but there have been a couple of reports of orange shift on prints made with the new Canon S800 printer. I've begun tests on prints made with the S800, on 4 different papers. I'll report results as soon as I've got some.

And, finally, I've started another test of MIS inks on PGPP 3, in both my ozone chamber, and in a west facing window. And I've also added test prints on several different Epson papers sprayed with several different clear sprays. Maybe we'll get an idea of how well spray coatings protect against orange shift. Look for my comments on the appearance of these sprays, soon.

Epson America says this is related only to manufacturing costs. The new packages are marked "Made in China" (the old ones were made in Japan), so this is probably the answer. But hopefully I'll get to test them soon.

(2/19/2001) Preliminary Test Report on 3rd generation PGPP I've now had a test sample of the 3rd generation Premium Glossy Photo Paper in the ozone chamber for 4 weeks. How is it doing?

Not as well as I had hoped, I'm afraid. It's showing noticeable browning in the gray scale, although I don't see any fade in the light blue and cyan patches of my test patch. The gray scale isn't as brown as the 1st generation PGPP that I tested at the same time, but it's still very noticeable.

So the new PGPP, while an improvement, isn't a solution. I'll try to get scans posted here in the next few days.

I've also been testing the Epson Archival Matte (intended for 2000P printers) and Heavyweight Matte in the ozone chamber. After 4 weeks, neither sample shows any sign of fade or color shift.

(2/15/2001) Epson America announces new Photo Printers The replacements for the 870 and 1270 printers, available in Europe for some time now, have finally been announced for the U.S. Inexplicably, in the U.S. the wide carriage model is called the 1280, instead of the 1290 that as in most of the world. The narrow carriage version is the 890. Not a lot exciting here, except maybe the ability to print borderless on several sizes of paper. For some detailed information, take a look at this .pdf file from Epson Germany (it's in English). There's not much information at Epson America's web site yet.

(2/13/2001) AT LAST!! A way to reset the chip on Epson 870 and 1270 cartridges!! It's for real, and it's free. Benny Ahlberg wins the Epson Tip of the Year award for figuring out how to do this. It's been verified to work by at least three other individuals. Take a look at Benny's web site at http://medlem.tripodnet.nu/chipreset for detailed instructions on how to make this work.

(1/11/2001) Still MORE Paper Tests I've started ozone and UV testing on 7 new papers, and tried a repeat test on one old paper. The 7 new papers include three that are not currently available in the U.S. Unfortunately, the news isn't very good. Of the papers below, only the Archival Matte has shown resistance to orange shift.

On the bright side, 3 of the Weber Valentine papers are still showing no orange shift. These are the GWCS-250, JPG-170 and DPG-750.

I also tried a second test of Red River Klondike Gloss. A reader of this site took issue with my earlier results, but my new test simply confirms them.

(1/10/2001) 3rd Generation PGPP is Here! At least in the United States. It has the same stock number as prevous versions, unfortunately. The 8.5x11 inch size has a sticker on the package that says "Manufactured December 2000". Larger sizes do not contain the sticker. I don't know if that means all the larger size packages are good, or if it means you pay your money and take your chances.

I got a sample of this paper on January 12th. I'll get a sample of it in the ozone chamber as soon as I can.

(1/09/2001) 870/1270 Replacements! Epson Europe has announced several new printers, including what appear to be the replacements for the 870 and 1270 printers: the 890 and 1290. No word on when they might come to the U.S. Click here for more information.

(1/02/2001) More Scans of Test Results I've added scans of the control and test samples of my most recent tests, including Red River Ultra Gloss, Ultra Satin and Zeppelin. Also, 5 papers from Weber Valentine, the Epson Reformulated PGPP and Premium Luster, and a special test on Tetenal Spectrajet.

(12/04/2000) More Paper Tests Preliminary results of tests on the new, reformulated PGPP. Also, initial results for tests of Epson Premium Luster, 5 papers from Weber-Valentine, and Red River Klondike Gloss. Also updates on the Ilford papers and Red River Premium Gloss. Hint: There's good news, and there's bad news.

(11/28/2000) New Premium Glossy Paper is defective!! I've been told by a contact at Epson America that the new, reformulated PGPP is defective. According to my source, the surface of the new paper can exhibit a crackle effect and can even "powder." I don't know if this is a design defect or simply a production problem, but the word is that Epson is pulling the new paper, too.

If you've already ordered some from Epson, contact them for an authorization and they'll refund your purchase price, including shipping. Do not refuse to accept the order, or your shipping charges will not be refunded (don't ask me!). If you're order hasn't yet shipped, you can call Epson to cancel it. I'm not sure what their policy is if you purchased it from another supplier. Contact Epson directly, and ask.

Apparently, Epson is already at work on a 3rd generation PGPP. Let's hope the third time's a charm. If you're still curious, the reformulated PGPP was Epson part number SO41286 (20 sheets, 8.5x11) in the U.S. This is the same stock number as the old paper, but it was easy to tell the old from the new. Read all about it here.

(11/08/2000) Byte Magazine Article on Orange Shift David Em has updated his earlier "report" with a new look at the orange shift issue. It's well balanced, and worth a read.

(10/31/2000) New Printers As I posted previously, Epson has announced a couple of interesting new printers in Japan. I've run the text from the Japanese pages through some translation software, and have a bit more information to report. Read about it here. You'll also find links to the original Japanese pages. Still no word on when they might reach the rest of the world.

(10/24/2000) Updated Test Results I've added updated comparisons of the " gasfastness" of the Epson 1270 inks Vs. the Epson 900 inks, and some tests of other papers on the Epson 900. I've also posted the current status of the long term tests of the Ilford and Red River Premium Gloss papers and the 2000P tests. There are also test results for some new Red River papers and a new test of the Tetenal SpectraJet printed on the Epson 900.

(10/15/2000) News Release -- Epson opens new East Coast Headquarters (Humor) In response to growing numbers of complaints over the orange shift problem, Epson announced today that it has opened an East Coast Headquarters building. A photograph of the temporary location, in Herndon, Virginia, can be seen here. Note to the humor impaired: THIS IS A JOKE!

(10/01/2000) 3rd Party Inks? One vendor has pre-announced a soon to be available 3rd party ink system that includes a device to rewrite the memory on the cartridge chip. Apparently you need to remove and save the chips from your old Epson carts, use the chip reprogrammer to reset the ink levels, and then attach the chips to the new carts. You can get a little more information by browsing to http://www.99th.com, and clicking on the ILRS logo. No word yet on ink quality, resistance to orange shift, availability in the U.S. or pricing.

I hope to be able to test these inks, or at least some prints made with them, when the inks become available. But before we all get too excited, remember that there haven't been any independent tests of these inks' longevity, either.

There are also rumors that MIS and We-ink will be coming out with compatible cartridges in the near future.

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