printing on fabric

[E.M. T.]

Ok...time for some help from the "family"....I must replace my printer to be compatible with my new
Windows 8.1 PC. I want to get the best for working on fabric....how do they load, how permanent is the ink...
dye based..or pigment...don't seem to see many pigment ink using printers. I 've not had too good of results
in the past with color quality or fastness. Any help will be greatly appreciated.. :roll: :?: :?

[E.M. T.]

you want an 'L' shaped feed for the paper run. As opposed to a 'U' shape. Pigment is better than dye based inks. (and usually more $)
I have only used Epson with their Durabrite inks and have been very pleased with the results. This was on the recomenndation of a friend who does courses on this subject.

Also check out Jeanie Sumeril-wotsit's class for her advice

[Susan B.]

oh my how timely is this topic. Just yesterday I was cussing at my Epson printer because it inhales Durabrite ink like some of us inhale spirits. :lol: It's expensive!!! and if one color goes, straight black won't print.

If anyone has other reflections I'll be looking forward to reading them.

[Rita C.]

I have been using a cheap HP inkjet printer which has been working fine. The only problem is....the printer cost €49 which includes a black and colour cartridge whereas the cost of buying the two cartridges on their own is €44! This has to be insane. Every time I need new printer ink I could just buy a new machine. I tried using the Cartridge Green refills but the printer won't accept them. That was the reason I changed from an Epson to a HP. I also found with the Epson that if you didn't use the printer very much then after a period of time it claimed the cartridges were 'out of date' and it wouldn't run without new replacements which cost almost €100. I don't understand why the cartridge ink has to be so expensive and lasts no time at all. When I am king of the world.......

[E.M. T.]

Can hardly wait for that ! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: My HP will out-date the cartridges, too. And a set
is $70 + !!! RRRR :evil:

[Catherine S.]

Help!! I think I just killed my printer. A piece of foundation paper totally disappeared inside it. I can not see it to get it out. The printer is telling me to "Call for service". That would cost more then a new printer. :angry:
Has anyone decided what is the best ink for printing on fabric? What is a good printer? I have an Epson Stylus CX7800. It uses the DuraBrite ink. Some of the new ones use that kind. The new workforce ones use Claria (?) ink. I guess I will be making a trip to Best Buy or Staples this week. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Catherine S.]

Cathy I had that problem with a piece of starched fabric. Open up the printer, like you are going to change the inks and then check both ends of the bar that the printer head runs along, it has got to be in there somewhere. I found my fabric stuffed up one end, and I was able to tease it out with no damage to the printer or fabric (which I restarched, pressed and then it went through fine).

[Catherine S.]

Thanks Rosemary. I had looked in there yesterday and could not find it. I tried again this morning after reading your post and it was pushed up high in the printer over to the left side. It came out easily and the printer is working again. Yeah!! I know it won't last forever, but it would be nice if they broke when you ran out of ink. I am sure a new one would not use the same cartridges and I hate to waste the expensive ink.

[Catherine S.]

Has anyone more info on printers. Yes, mine is finally at the point it needs to be replaced. I picked out another Epson model because I like the DuraBrite ink, even if it is expensive. The model I was looking at uses Claria ink. It has two different black cartridges, one is for photos. I haven't heard anything about this ink. Does anyone know if it works as well as the Durabrite? Sue, are you happy with your Epson Workforce? Any info will help and be appreciated!!

[Judith A.]

I rebelled at the cost of printer ink. I use 2 printers.
I bought a Brother TN-450 at least a year ago. We bought it with Amazon Prime. It is a laser printer that uses a black ink cartridge that lasts me for many months. I use it for black printing.
I also have a Canon, which I use only when I really need color printing.

This has saved me a small fortune in printer ink.

The last time I was in Best Buy, I asked the clerk about more economical printer ink. She said the most economical ink was with Hewlett Packard's new program "HP Instant Ink". It is a monthly plan, with different rates depending on how often you print. They ship the ink to your house. It advertises savings up to 50% on ink every month. I don't know how good the ink is.

Judith

[Catherine S.]

Thanks Judith. Having 2 printers is a great idea. I do a lot of black printing for the genealogy hobby. I do print photos in color and black and white so i need good ink for that. I also want good color ink for printing on fabric. I will check out Best Buy and Staples tomorrow and see what I like best. I just don't trust the advice of the salesperson. After all, they are just there to sale and I don't know how knowledgeable they really are. I have been doing a lot of research on line too.