the link is not working
It isn't working for several printers as no media choices are included at the end.
But some do.
Pricing of ink is based on June 2008 in UK pounds, RRP prices. I have set the UKP at 1.25 Euro at that time.
The 9450, a dual CMYK model, A0 size Enhanced Matte, printed with an ink price of 1.63 UKP and that more or less translates to 6 ML per square meter = 0.54 per square foot. 220 ML carts, 0.30 Euro per ML excl VAT
The 11880, 2880 x 1440, A1 Premium Luster, printed with an ink price of 1.37 UKP and that translates to 11.3 Ml per square meter = 1 ML per square foot.
700 ML carts, 0.26 Euro excl. VAT.
The 3800, same paper, 2.8 ML per A2 is 11.2 ML per square meter = 1 ML per square foot. 80 ML carts. 0.56 Euro per ML excl VAT.
I can not imagine that ink waste is included, not in cleaning, not what is left in the carts, not what is wasted on prints with banding.
The image used may have been low in overall density (it usually is).
My conclusion based on this (and more) is that the average ink quantity landing on the paper is 1 ML per square foot, 11 ML per square meter, plus or minus 20%. And any ink use above that in practice is wasted ink. Which doesn't fall in the 30%+ category but in the 100 to 200%+ category if the 2-3-4 ML per square foot quoted in this thread has any meaning.
I have been in this business for 10 years. Ink landing on the paper is usually in the (rough) 0.8 to 1.5 ML per square foot category. It has been like that with the Epson 3000, 9000, 10000 and it is like that with the HP Z3100/3200. If there is a difference it is in the ink wasted. 100 - 200 % ink waste isn't normal.
It isn't uncommon in competitive markets to add just 15-25% on media costs in the end price. In some markets one can get away with adding 200% as it goes unnoticed in the overall costs of the product. If you pay 200 Euro for a 700 ML cart it is nice to know what lands on the paper and what goes down the drain with different printers. Before you start adding your percentage on top of the ink price. In any market.
met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst Dinkla
Try:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/