"End of Life" for Epson "UltraChrome Ink"

[Jim Metzger]

Incredibly I still run an Epson Stylus Pro 7600, built like a tank. It is 18 years old. I was just informed by my supplier that the "UltraChrome" inkset for these printers including the SP4000, SP 7600 and SP 9600 is no longer being manufactured and is limited to stock on hand which from my internet search is in very short supply. Some that do have stock are charging exorbitant prices

This will probably affect very few on this forum, my supplier only has one other customer with a 7600, but thought you might like the heads up.

It pains me to think I will have to toss this great printer because of lack of ink. Head clogs are kept at bay with periodic application of Inkjet Cleaning Fluid CLF-007P. B&W was handled well by Quadtone RIP software. Amazingly no clients have complained about dot size or lack of shadow detail

I work out of a really small office, getting a SP6000 series printer in here, 6" longer and slightly deeper, will be a problem

RIP (pun intended) Ultrachrome

[Richard.Wills]

Depending on condition of your machine, might be worth looking at cone-color - never tried their colour inks, but the B&W is pretty cool, and the C/S is great. It would involve an upfront investment, but, if the machine is sound, and you need 44", and space is tight...

[Peter McLennan]

Or MIS Associates.  I used their "Ultrachrome Equivalent" inks for years in my 9800.

[NAwlins_Contrarian]

I have seen several threads recently about people not being able to find ink for their Epson 2200 printers, which AFAIK use the same-generation ink i.e. the original Ultrachrome. I think all of these printers were introduced in 2002 and replaced in 2005, so it does not surprise me that Epson probably figures fifteen years after the last printer was manufactured is long enough to manufacture ink. On the other hand, it would also pain me to have to stop using a perfectly satisfactory printer for lack of ink.

If your space cannot fit a P6000, then have a look at a Canon Pro-2100, which appears to be considerably narrower.

[mearussi]

Sad to hear it as my 9600 is still working great. But if I couldn't get ink (or it became too expensive) then converting it to a dedicated B&W printer is a real option.

[Ernst Dinkla]

Buy whatever cartridge of Ultrachrome you can get preferably the 10600 carts of 500ml.  Expired does not matter. There will be enough ink for another decade. Refill the 7600 carts. There used to be chip resetters for that type.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/SpectralPlots/SpectrumViz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[deanwork]

Yes you can buy refillable carts with resetable chips and a chip resetter from inkjetmall. I used to use them for bw in a 9600 and never had any issues. Mis also has these as well as other companies with these inks made in China.Cones ink match the Ultrachrome perfectly and you might not even have to reprofile. I don’t know about longevity. If that’s important check into all that.

As to using old Epson ink, be careful. I recently bought two700 ml unopened Epson ink carts for my 9890, a Magenta and a Yellow. The magenta works perfectly but in the yellow channel I’m experiencing clogging in the first half of the nozzle check. I had been shaking the cart. I a bunch of cleanings and printed out yellow patches and nothing changed. I’m kind of freaked out because this printer has never had a clog and has a new printhead. Printer like new. Going to have to remove this yellow and hope I didn’t mess up the head.

I just checked to see the expiration date on the yellow and it’s much newer than I had thought. It says “ best before 20180930. The previous yellow was perfect. No amount of cleanings is fixing this. Strange. This was a sealed Epson cart in the original packaging.

I don’t know know how or when these inks expire or why. Does anyone know.
John

Buy whatever cartridge of Ultrachrome you can get preferably the 10600 carts of 500ml.  Expired does not matter. There will be enough ink for another decade. Refill the 7600 carts. There used to be chip resetters for that type.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/SpectralPlots/SpectrumViz_1.htm
March 2017 update, 750+ inkjet media white spectral plots

[dgberg]

Oh my gosh don't chuck the printer . So many options with Epson printers. Refillable carts with OEM K3 ink, create your profiles and done. I am still using up the 10,000 ml of K3 OEM inks on my 9900 and 3880 printers.
Down to about 7000ml after several years, never going to use it all up. Like others have mentioned a half dozen or more companies sell really good products.

[Jim Metzger]

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify this printer uses the original UltraChrome ink, not the one gen newer K3 formulation. I will look into third party inks but I remember horror stories about clogs and color problems from many years ago. Hopefully those companies that survived have figured out those issues.

[deanwork]

You should be able to use Epson k3 inks in the 7600, minus the LL gray.

Man the heads on those printers could accommodate just about anything. We used to  put all kinds of formulations in them.

From what I remember the company that made these third party Chinese clone ultrachrome inks was Image Specialists. They sold them to lots of companies for online sales. You could order by the gallon directly from them or other suppliers like MIS that I’m sure still sells them. I think Cone Color has better quality control and consistency. He used to deal a lot with Singapore but don’t know about the color.

The thing that will suffer is fade resistance in all these third party color inks. There is a reason Epson, Canon, and HP have their ink formulations patented. They spend a lot of cash developing them. Personally I would not trust the longevity of any of them without them paying Aardenburg to do serious tests, which none of them do. But look a lot of people just don’t care as long as their prints last a decade or so. If you don’t care you save a LOT of money. They are all better than dyes.

John

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify this printer uses the original UltraChrome ink, not the one gen newer K3 formulation. I will look into third party inks but I remember horror stories about clogs and color problems from many years ago. Hopefully those companies that survived have figured out those issues.

[dgberg]

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify this printer uses the original UltraChrome ink, not the one gen newer K3 formulation. I will look into third party inks but I remember horror stories about clogs and color problems from many years ago. Hopefully those companies that survived have figured out those issues.

I was suggesting you just move to K3 OEM as it is readily available. In your case some new icc profiles and you are all set.
Tons of people getting rid of their older K3 machines and you can buy all the ink you want for between .05 and .10 per ml.
Draw it out of the OEM cart and insert in in the refillable.
My ink costs have gone down 75% since I started refilling about 7 years ago. No new profiles are required for me since the ink is OEM.
I put a new head in my 9900 several years ago only because I had that much cheap ink on hand. It is now 10 years old and still churning out prints.

[deanwork]

Is anyone using the new more permanent Surecolor Yellow in the previous 9890/  9900 printers in a refillable cart? That would essentially double the overall longevity ratings.

I was suggesting you just move to K3 OEM as it is readily available. In your case some new icc profiles and you are all set.
Tons of people getting rid of their older K3 machines and you can buy all the ink you want for between .05 and .10 per ml.
Draw it out of the OEM cart and insert in in the refillable.
My ink costs have gone down 75% since I started refilling about 7 years ago. No new profiles are required for me since the ink is OEM.
I put a new head in my 9900 several years ago only because I had that much cheap ink on hand. It is now 10 years old and still churning out prints.

[Jim Metzger]

Just looked up options for alternative ink and refillable cartridges based on your suggestions, this has been a big help. Thanks

Jim