I have an opportunity to buy an Epson Workforce WF-7010 inkjet printer that has never been used. They are asking $100. My screen printing equipment just arrived and I found I need a larger printer. Would this be a good investment? I have not entered into the business yet so I am definitely a newbie! Thanks for any and all help!
Is Epson Workforce WF-7010 good for printing transparencies/film?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Joined
·
2,441 Posts
It will do the job fairly well, and you have nothing to loose by buying it. Its certainly good enough for your first printer. I think that the 7010 is a duplex (double sided) printer. Just make sure the prints don't go back through the machine as the rollers will mark the image.
However it would be better to buy something with dye based inks (epson Claria ink) as opposed to pigment based (Durabrite ink) as you will get a better opacity on your transparency. Dye ink tends to absorb moor uv light than pigment ink, making for a better exposure.
But this seems too good a deal to pass up. What you could do is print two transparencies and double them up. This would give a more opaque image. Make sure that you line the two transparencies up precisely.
Alternatively find an after market print cartridge that contains dye ink. If you can't find one to fit with dye ink, buy a refillable cartridge or CISS ( continuous ink supply system) and a bottle of black dye based ink.
At that price you should buy it and try it. If its no good for transparencies then you've got a great home printer. Worst way you will be able to sell it on to recoup your money.
However it would be better to buy something with dye based inks (epson Claria ink) as opposed to pigment based (Durabrite ink) as you will get a better opacity on your transparency. Dye ink tends to absorb moor uv light than pigment ink, making for a better exposure.
But this seems too good a deal to pass up. What you could do is print two transparencies and double them up. This would give a more opaque image. Make sure that you line the two transparencies up precisely.
Alternatively find an after market print cartridge that contains dye ink. If you can't find one to fit with dye ink, buy a refillable cartridge or CISS ( continuous ink supply system) and a bottle of black dye based ink.
At that price you should buy it and try it. If its no good for transparencies then you've got a great home printer. Worst way you will be able to sell it on to recoup your money.
Thanks, Pat! I had read quite a bit about the printers on the forum and there was good and bad about this one so I was a bit torn. I am totally ignorant when it comes to the different types of ink though. Since it's never been used, I should be able to start off with the correct type of ink, right? But you mentioned finding an aftermarket ink cartridge.....would this be an empty one and then I buy the ink to fill it myself? Or do I buy the cartridge already filled?
Joined
·
2,441 Posts
The printer comes with epson Durabrite pigment ink as a non option standard. You can buy various makes of pre filled unbranded cartridges, some will have pigment ink some will have dye based ink, so shop around.
If you get a refillable then you can fill it with what you want. Again shop around for dye based ink. Its difficult to be more precise as to sources of supply as I am based in the UK, so my supplier would be of no use to you.
This printer will probably be more than fine to start with, as I don't imagine that you will be doing many highly detailed halftone prints to start with.
The only issue with pigment ink is its opacity when printed onto transparency. As I said just print two copies and line them up carefully. Let them dry well first. As a newbie you will probably make more mistakes than the printer (we all did) so don't sweat the printer too much.
The only time this doesn't work so well is for very detailed work-you will struggle get two films to line up correctly ( been there, tried that).
If you decide against the 7010 then consider the Epson 1400 (1430?) series or 1500 series. They both use epson Claria ink which is dye based. Excellant printers, but probably around $300+. They are however printers that will remain suitable as your business grows.
If you don't want to spend that much look for anything Epson with Claria ink.
Don't buy an HP, excellent tho they are. They have thermal print heads that cause some films to shrink slightly.
If you get a refillable then you can fill it with what you want. Again shop around for dye based ink. Its difficult to be more precise as to sources of supply as I am based in the UK, so my supplier would be of no use to you.
This printer will probably be more than fine to start with, as I don't imagine that you will be doing many highly detailed halftone prints to start with.
The only issue with pigment ink is its opacity when printed onto transparency. As I said just print two copies and line them up carefully. Let them dry well first. As a newbie you will probably make more mistakes than the printer (we all did) so don't sweat the printer too much.
The only time this doesn't work so well is for very detailed work-you will struggle get two films to line up correctly ( been there, tried that).
If you decide against the 7010 then consider the Epson 1400 (1430?) series or 1500 series. They both use epson Claria ink which is dye based. Excellant printers, but probably around $300+. They are however printers that will remain suitable as your business grows.
If you don't want to spend that much look for anything Epson with Claria ink.
Don't buy an HP, excellent tho they are. They have thermal print heads that cause some films to shrink slightly.
Joined
·
26 Posts
I have that exact printer and I got a CISS kit from Cobra Ink and I have never had a problem printing transparencies. It does an excellent job
Joined
·
2,441 Posts
Cobra offer a dye based epson compatible ink. If I were you I would buy the 7010 and get some black prefilled dye cartridges. Use your other colours thru, and then consider refillables or CISS.
When printing use the 'best photo' setting and choose premium glossy paper. Go into the 'Advanced' settings and turn high speed off.
If given the option choose 100%k (black) as this will give the densest black. If you leave it on 100% CMYK then the printer will create black from all four colours. This is not so dense unless you fill all cartridges with black ink (waste of a printer).
When printing use the 'best photo' setting and choose premium glossy paper. Go into the 'Advanced' settings and turn high speed off.
If given the option choose 100%k (black) as this will give the densest black. If you leave it on 100% CMYK then the printer will create black from all four colours. This is not so dense unless you fill all cartridges with black ink (waste of a printer).
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
