Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Hi there,
I've been scouring the boards for a while now and I'm leaning toward an Epson 1280 large format printer with a pigment ink set up.
The only issue is that we're in the UK so can anyone tell me if this model is available here, or what the equivalent is? I know the Epson C88/D88 is recommended but it doesn't seem to be available here anymore.
We want to go with the best up to date injket printer, and possibly investigate CIS systems too.
I've been reading about Durabrite pigment ink but I'm not sure if this is available to buy in bulk for a CIS system. Is it easy enough to find the CIS system for the 1280 or UK equivalent? Possibly Epson 1400 or R1800?
Also, I've been looking at cost effective heat transfer paper and Jetprosofstretch seems to come up trumps with many of you. Again, is this available to buy in the UK? I realise we have less choice over here so I wanted to gauge what the best on to use for us is.
So, to summarise:
1. Is the favoured large format inket printer the Epson 1280?
2. Is this available to buy in the UK or the best equivalent?
3. How do I go about setting up the CIS system again, looking for UK suppliers of this?
4. Similarly the Durabrite pigment ink seems well liked but am I right in saying that it's not available as a bulk flow/CIS system?
5. I've also read about HT pigment ink and the rave reviews it's been getting - can I use this ink with the Epson 1280/ UK equivalent and again, is it available in the UK?
6. Finally, the heat transfer paper itself. Are there stockists of the most favoured brands in the UK (or that ship to the UK) relatively cheaply? I've read about JPSS, Ironall, XP3113 and transjet II. Any experiences of these would be greatly welcomed, again depending on whether I have been looking at the right printer for the UK.
I've done a lot of research on here already, I just can't figure out if these recommendations are suitable for t-shirt makers in the uk?
We've been using pretty sub standard asda heat transfer paper and an HP 1280 printer with OEM ink (don't know if anyone knows anything about this either). The results aren't really great to be honest.
SO, thanks so much for reading thus far. Any advice and experiences are gladly and gratefully received. There's just so much choice out there, we don't want to be making the wrong ones.
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
You want to go for the best up to date large format printer? For what reason exactly do you go for the Epson 1280? Not that it is not a good printer but...
__________________ The professional force behind your success; We show you the way! Water-Based Pigment Ink Supplies FabricFast Ultra Ink that contains binders!
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jokofix
You want to go for the best up to date large format printer? For what reason exactly do you go for the Epson 1280? Not that it is not a good printer but...
Hi Jokofix,
I see the epson 1280 mentioned all the time on the forums so I was just going by what others said.
Ideally, yes, I would want the best wide format (A3) pinter and ink system so I'm really looking for ideas as to what people have set up or know is available in the UK?
Do you know of another printer that is better than the epson 1280? Or at least the equivalent here in the UK? And I'd be interested in the CIS system and ink for that too.
I guess the package I'm looking for recommendations on is:
Wide format inkjet printer
Compatible pigment ink/HT ink
CIS system
Heat transfer paper that goes with all of the above.
The reason I can't seem to find anything is because most of the fantastic suggestions on here are all for the states. We seem to be the poor relation here in the UK in terms of choice.
Thanks so much for your time, I really just want to make a decision on this and go for it.
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Hello Artjunkie,
I do not think that you have gathered wrong information regarding the 1280 but at least it should be old. The printer only have a 4 colour set which is not bad but a little poor for today's requirements. May be you have read or heard something and from that point you was focused and searching for more good 1280 information.
That all does however no matter but you should take some more time from now if you have to gather information about the newer printers as well.
You have mention already e.g. the R1800 printer and that is what I currently use by myself. It always depend on what work flow you want to create and/or what kind of jobs you think you want to be able to do. For example I have an 2100/2200 as well and love that one because he is reliable and easy prints onto materials up to 3mm thickness.
If you do a search on my website you'll find a lot of the information you are looking for from the 1280 as well as the R1800.
I would stay focused on printers like the r1800 because it is reliable, 8 colours, pigment based, runs reliable with refillable cartridges as well as with a CIS and ofcourse the transfer paper is no problem.
It is all available in Europe, the only downside is that to us in Europe Epson sells printers more expensive as for our friends in the US.
If you go for a CIS remember to install a "waste ink reservoir" as well. You can find that information also on the site.
__________________ The professional force behind your success; We show you the way! Water-Based Pigment Ink Supplies FabricFast Ultra Ink that contains binders!
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Thanks for all that info folks. This is exactly what I was looking for. Obviously we're weighing the outlay and cost effectiveness of the printer and ink with the quality of the transferred image. We've decided that we really want it to look as good as it can, so this is an important factor if the recommendations are for 8 ink systems.
Can I ask with the Epson 1400, r1800 and r1900 do these come with Durabrite inks or claria inks?
Many thanks again. I don't have much time now so I'll check into all the links later. Off to get someone to model a t-shirt!
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Just as a wee footnote, I'm not sure if I mentioned that it's 100% cotton t-shirts we are using, mostly white but are looking into black too. I looked at those links for Xpres and Nova Chrome and it seemed to be sublimation printing for media like mugs and mousemats? We're just sticking to t-shirts for the moment, does that help to explain our needs?
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qualitee Shirts
Give Novachrome a call. I received all their literature and they have a lovely DTG at a mere cost of £9k
It's lovely!
Pauline
Thanks for this Pauline. We may be looking at DTG printers in the future but at the moment our next step is just to produce lovely digital heat transfers.
We also outsource some of our screen printing, as well as doing in house hand screen printing.
We do have and airbrush and stencils as well as many of our t-shirts designs incorporate a few different methods (ie screen printing, transfers and stencil all on the one shirt!)
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Quote:
Originally Posted by DREAMGLASS
For whites onto cotton, look up the chromablast sytem. Lots of links to it on this forum. For darks you are realistically looking at heat transfers.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for this to. I've had a l;ook at the chromablast, iit seems to be very expensive though? Is it different to a bulk/CIS pigment ink system that can be used on an inkjet printer? One of the posters said he'd been using it for 6 months and it was over-rated.
I think we're just looking at a step up from what we have and not spending thousands on it. I think also we're looking at the best heat transfer method for both lights and dark t-shirts.
We are definitely looking at an A3 printer, so although the 1400 looks great Dreamglass, it's only an A4.
Having spent all of last night on here, the Espon R1900 seems to be the latest version of an A3 printer, but I wondered if anyone had any experience of using this? The reviews said that it was very expensive to use the UltraChrome cartridges - so I'd also been looking at a CIS bulk system for this too.
I'm just concerned that Epson have made it more difficult to use bulk ink with their chips?
If I've got it wrong with this , then I'd be happy to hear some constructive criticism. It's such a big area and obviously we want to make the right choice.
Thanks so much to all for their knowledge and experience.
Jo and Ali
Last edited by artjunkie; July 20th, 2008 at 04:09 AM.
Reason: Additional info
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Hi. Most CIS systems are fitted with an auto reset chip that overides the Epson chips. Just remember that once you fit a CIS system, you will almost certainly invalidate most parts of your warranty.
The Epson stylus 1400 is an A3 printer, not an A4?
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Quote:
Originally Posted by DREAMGLASS
Hi. Most CIS systems are fitted with an auto reset chip that overides the Epson chips. Just remember that once you fit a CIS system, you will almost certainly invalidate most parts of your warranty.
The Epson stylus 1400 is an A3 printer, not an A4?
Ah, OK, I see now! On the Epson UK website, it's filed under the A4 section. Weird. OK, so that's back in the running now!
Dreamglass, do you think there's any benefit for going for the newer model or is the 1400 (at £100 cheaper) adequate for printing on to heat transfers?
Can I also ask if you use the bulk ink system? I'd be looking for places that can fit and supply me with the ink for this as well. If there are tried and tested vendors on here, I'd be interested in your recommendations. I've found a couple of sellers on ebay, but you never know what you're getting with this!
Yes, I realise that it invalidates the warranty, but going by what many people say one here, the saving of 95% over using carts would be worth it. Do you think that's the case?
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!??
Hi. The 1400 model has good independent reviews.
I use bulk ink systems myself, but you have to be aware that these bulk supplies can hold the equivalent of several cartridges. Unless you are doing a lot of printing, it's possible for the feed lines to clog up, or the ink to get past its 'use by' date. You need a recommend from someone that has actually fitted a CIS to your intended model of printer. A badly fitted, or defective bulk feeder can make quite a mess of benches and carpets.
I'd be inclined to use the cartridges up that come with your printer, before you invest in a bulk feeder. That way if you have any problems with your printer, you'll still have the warranty.
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Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!?? 
Re: Large format Inkjet printer, pigment ink and paper in UK? Please!!?? 
