Comparison of Epson Ink Solutions

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What are the key differences among the Epson Ink Solutions?

Key Differences	4-Color Dye	6-Color Photo Dye	DuraBriteTM Ink	UltraChromeTM Ink	Archival Ink
Target Application	General purpose printing	Long-lasting photos	Optimized for plain paper printing	Signage, graphic arts posters, prepress proofing, and photography	Indoor/outdoor signage, fine art reproduction, fine art photography, and Print for Pay
Supported Epson printers	Most EPSON Stylus C-Series and Stylus Color-Series printers	Most EPSON Stylus Photo printers	EPSON Stylus C82	EPSON Stylus Photo 2200 and EPSON Stylus Pro 7600, 9600, 10600	EPSON Stylus Pro 10000
Color gamut	Dye based inks offer the widest color gamut as well as the largest selection of compatible media	Same as 4-color dye but the light magenta and light cyan inks smooth the tonal gradations critical for photography	Wide gamut on plain and matte paper, good on photo papers	This versatile pigment ink has a color gamut approaching dye, with the image permanence advantages of pigment	Good color gamut; Epson's microencapsulated technology allows a wide range of media flexibility with lightfast ratings of over 100 years, under glass
Type of ink	Dye CMYK	Dye CMYKcm	Pigment CMYK	Pigment CcMmYKk	Pigment CMYKcm
Light-resistance*	Not rated	Up to 25 years on specialty papers	Up to 80 years on specialty papers, up to 70 years on plain paper	Up to 80 years on specialty papers	Over 100 years on specialty papers
Water-resistance	Yes, on glossy paper	Yes, on EPSON Glossy Photo Paper and Premium Photo Papers	Yes, on all supported media including plain paper	Yes, on all supported media including plain paper	Yes, on all supported media
Supported media
Plain paper	Good Quality	Good Quality	Best Quality	Good Quality	Not supported
Coated Papers	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Better Quality, Moderate selection	Better Quality, Moderate selection	Better Quality, Moderate selection
Matte Papers	Best Quality, Moderate selection	Best Quality, Moderate selection	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Better Quality, Expansive selection
Photo Papers	Best Quality, Moderate selection	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Good Quality, Limited selection	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Better Quality, Expansive selection
Specialty Media **	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Best Quality, Expansive selection	Better Quality, Limited selection	Not supported	Not supported

* Lightfastness ratings based on accelerated testing of prints on Epson special media, displayed indoors, under glass. Actual print stability will vary accordingto image, display conditions, light intensity, humidity, and atmospheric conditions. Epson does not guarantee longevity of prints. Ratings do not estimate the durability of the paper itself. For maximum print life, display all prints under glass or laminations or properly store them.
** Specialty media refers to iron-on transfers, photo stickers, Photo Quality Self-Adhesive Sheets, Transparencies, and Glossy Photo Greeting Cards


Frequently Asked Questions about Epson Ink Solutions

Q: If the DuraBrite Ink, Archival Ink, and UltraChrome Ink have much higher light-resistance, then why does Epson have six-color dye printers for photo applications?
A: Dye inks still have a greater color gamut than any of the pigment ink technologies and when printing on high gloss papers, dye ink will produce the best output quality. Additionally, Epsons six-color photo dye ink is compatible with a wider selection of media than the pigment ink technologies.

Q: What are the main differences among Epson's pigment ink technologies, the DuraBrite Ink, Archival Ink, and UltraChrome Ink?
A: The main differences are:

• DuraBrite Ink is designed for color printing on the desktop, providing excellent print quality, light-resistance, and water-resistance and is primarily designed for plain paper printing.
• Archival Ink is designed specifically for professional applications for printing on Photographic RC papers, Fine Art papers, and Canvas, and a wide variety of outdoor signage substrates. It has the highest rated light- resistance of any of the pigment inks.
• UltraChrome Ink, with its interchangeable black inks, is designed for printing on Photographic RC papers and Matte Papers. This ink technology uses a 7-color printing system for improved photographic output; its color gamut rivals that of dye ink.

Q: If the DuraBrite Ink, Archival Ink, and UltraChrome Ink are all pigment ink technologies, why don't they support the same type of media?
A: The formulation of inks in all three technologies is different:

• DuraBrite Ink uses a higher-density, super-penetrating formula that is primarily designed for matte-type media and plain paper. The black ink keeps the resin- encapsulated color particles near the surface of the paper. Because the black ink is not resin- encapsulated, this ink only supports a limited selection of glossy media.
• Archival Ink uses super-penetrating black and color inks that are both encapsulated in a resin that is designed to bond onto glossy and semi-gloss Photo Papers. Epson's Archival Ink was the first pigment ink that was designed to print on photo papers.
• UltraChrome Ink, with its interchangeable black inks, is kind of a hybrid between the DuraBrite and Archival Inks. The color inks are resin- encapsulated. The Photo Black ink is also resin- encapsulated and is suitable for printing on all papers but is best for printing on glossy media. The Matte Black Ink uses a similar formulation of black used in the DuraBrite Ink and is optimized for matte prints with a higher optical density. The ink controls the penetration level of the other inks to keep the colorant on the surface. The Matte Black ink is only compatible with plain paper and the matte papers supported by the printer.

Q: How does the print quality of the EPSON Stylus C82, which uses DuraBrite Ink, compare to competitive printers?
A: Some competitive printers use pigment ink for black and dye ink for color. Because the DuraBrite Ink uses pigment ink for both black and color, you get water-resistant and light-resistant benefits for everything you print. Additionally, you get the benefit of crisper text and graphics for both black and color with DuraBrite Ink.

Q: If the DuraBrite Ink is so great, why does Epson still offer four-color dye ink jet printers?
A: The four-color dye ink jet printers are the most affordable class of printers offered by Epson. In addition, the four-color dye inks are compatible with the most media. These printers can print on plain paper, coated papers, specialty papers, and glossy photo papers. They are the ideal choice for general purpose printing, including text documents, business graphics, greeting cards, and photos.

Q: How does the DuraBrite Ink work on competitive papers, such as Kodak® papers?
A: Kodak papers and other ink jet papers are primarily aimed at thermal ink jet printing. The DuraBrite Ink is not designed to work with these papers. DuraBrite Ink produces its best print quality on plain and matte paper types. One of the DuraBrite Ink's greatest benefits is low cost of ownership with the use of four individual ink tanks and optimization for plain paper.


 

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All longevity estimates should be treated as such, Inkjet Art Solutions is not liable for pre-mature fading of prints or damage to printers through use of our products. Be sure to properly research your purchase and follow the directions given. If you need help, please contact us. For more information regarding our policies, including our return policy, please visit our Policies Page