New Epson Printing Direct to Disc

Hi
Just read the spec on the Epson site, its a black cartridge & a 5 colour single cartridge, would be expensive to run I would think, I think I`ll wait until the 950, with seperate colours comes down in price (hopefully).

Best Wishes..

Peter.

quote:Originally posted by PETERH:
Hi
..........a black cartridge & a 5 colour single cartridge, would be expensive to run I would think, I think I`ll wait until the 950, with seperate colours comes down in price......

Peter, the 950 has two black cartriges and five separate colour ones - around £8.00 each... true... you can change them individually, but I wouldn't regard it is cheap to run.

[This message has been edited by mooblie (edited 07 April 2003).]

I meant cheap to run compared to the 900, especially as You can get a full set of compatibles for £35 or less.
You know yourself with normal 3 colour carts hoew 1 colour runs out long before the others. So think of the waste on a 5 colour single cart.

Best Wishes..

Peter

Well, I've had a chance to have a look at a model at my local PC World. No one seemed to be able to give me a demo (Not too surprised there).

The feed for the disc seemed a bit odd, when it comes to feeding the disc, and, unfortunately, I was not able to decode the epson hyrogliphics. That said, it is Epson (got one of their printers at the moment) I ca'nt say I'm to bothered about the 5 colour cart, not when compared between the cost of the 950, there's a big difference (£150+). I might well go for this, if, I can see it demonstrated.

Paul

Keep us informed, my HP 895 is playing up........................

Hi
Last time I was at comp fair in Manchester, about 2 months ago, 950`s were going for £310. full set of compatible cartridges £26.

Best Wishes..
Peter.

Well, I also found this model for sale in Currys. Salesman was of no use whatsoever, still being Epson, I thought "it can't be that bad can it ?".

Answer :- NO

Just printed my first DVD (RITEK G03). Have to say, most impressed by the image quality. Colour saturation is a little soft, but no worries, this is adjustable in the print software.

I have to say, I'm very pleased with the purchase. I was considering the TDK thermal printer, but was concerned by the limitations of print area, and print colour.

For an extra £100 this has to be the best solution (about to sell my old Epson 875DC to help offset the cost).

My only slight concern is that you are limited to disc media that has an inkjet suitable surface, so, when you find one suitable, grab a large handful.

Paul

Hi
Having found out how cheap compatible cartridges are I bought a 900, was going to try this morning, to print my first disc, but woke up to the sound of running water, it will have to wait till I`ve repaired the toilet!!!

Best Wishes.

Peter.........

Just a small point, to those printing (or about to print) with an Epson inkjet onto DVDs:

I do NOT use the "CD-R" setting on my 950 for media when doing this - the results with that setting is very poor - undersaturated and lacking in contrast.

I use the "Matte - Heavyweight Paper" setting, and the results are very good.

(I use the Lynx Inkjet printable DVD-Rs.)

Peter

<>

Similar to the sound you get if you try using refill kits on Epson ink cartridges, but the toilet is probably cheaper (and certainly more accessible) to repair.

Alan++

quote:Originally posted by Alan Francis:
Peter

<>

Similar to the sound you get if you try using refill kits on Epson ink cartridges, but the toilet is probably cheaper (and certainly more accessible) to repair.

Alan++

seconded ...... i would never refill a cartridge that doesn't contain the printheads.

if you do and you jam the printheads , you are looking at major expenses to fix.

Hi
My soon to be 57 year old back, today is saying the toilet is not accessible to a man of Your age,.
I would never try to refill Epson cartridges, compatible is the word I used.

I have had Epson printers since the 400, & none of them have had an original epson cart in appart from the ones that came with the printer, & the only reasons for changing have been Upgrade path to newer technology, maybe I`ve been lucky?

Best Wishes..

Peter.

Just to say, we have automated systems here for printing to DVD and CD surfaces. Great if you want to do 50-450 in a batch. Printing speed is 200 per hour!

Quick duplication too. Call if we can help.

Chris

P.S.

I forgot to say that, if I were a Proffesional(sic) I would no way use anything but the Epson cartridges, as it is, the stuff I do for Myself, is good enough with compatibles. I`m sure people know what I mean..
"Near enough is good enough"

Best Wishes.

Peter.

Back on track with the Epson 900...

I was surprised to read Mooblies comments about printing to the "Matte - Heavyweight paper" media.

Is this where the "let it dry for 24hrs" comes from ? because "Normal" CD/DVD media printing seems to be dry pretty much instant (although colour saturation is still on the low side). Having said that, I will check out printing to "other media" options a bit later, but this is a "costly" experience. I am also trying out a few "printable" CD types, including a "silver" type.

Paul

quote:Originally posted by fisherman:
.......I was surprised to read Mooblies comments about printing to the "Matte - Heavyweight paper" media.

Is this where the "let it dry for 24hrs" comes from ? because "Normal" CD/DVD media printing seems to be dry pretty much instant (although colour saturation is still on the low side). ......Paul

Paul, you're right, of course: the "matt-heavyweight" setting I use puts much more ink on the disc, BUT..... I find they still dry in an hour or so (so that I can spray with varnish if I'm going to bother) - whereas the "CD-R" media setting, with much less ink, does dry immediately apparently.

Perhaps I will put up some side-by-side comparison photos this evening.....

Yes please martin, my cheapy CDs should arrive tomorrow, so I too can have a play with different settings.

Paul

So at the end of the day are we saying this is a good buy and does the business?

Chris

quote:Originally posted by fisherman:
Yes please martin, my cheapy CDs should arrive tomorrow, so I too can have a play with different settings.

Paul

OK Paul, here are some comparative pictures:

The first picture shows exactly the same discs and images, printed with only two different media settings, as indicated.

The second picture unfortunately does not show identical images (as I've stopped wasting discs printing with the CD-R setting!), but it does still give a good comparison of the saturation and contrast difference resultant with the two different media settings.

(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, of course.)

Naturally, these are all printed on proper inkjet-printable media (DVD or CD) on an Epson 950.

Please don't alert the copyright police to my recording off-air for private use , I just like to make the results something I can be proud of - no commercial motives.

Martin,

There are clearly distinctive differences. To date, I have "dipped my toe in the water", and printed to disc, using "360 dpi paper" with disasterous results. (Lots of streaking).

Howerever, in the "Epson Print CD" programme, there is an option to "Print darker", which might help (I'll try over the weekend).

I will also be brave, and try "matte heavyweight" as well, and see what happens.

On a totally different matter, how do you "publish" your pictures. I'm sure I've read something somewhere, but being lazy, what the secret ? If you tell me, I'll send back some of my results too.

Chris G.

In answer to your question "does it do the business ?" It's perhaps a little to early to say, the image quality is good, but as you've been reading, I'm being picky about the colour saturation. The good news is, the media transport mechanism seems to work well (fed into the rear on the printer) The printer seems to line the disc up very well. Keep readng, and all will be revealed.

Paul

Paul and Mooblie

Thanks for the updates, sounds a good buy so far, annoyingly the 895 is ok again bur I live in hope.......

I have been using an Epson 2100 (the big brother of the 950) from its beginning and found it ideal for all printing but the CDprinting was pale and wan - even when using the print darker control, which only added more ink which did not dry.
I found out very early on that the Matte Paper setting was ideal for the CD printing. It did not require print darkening and it was dry, in that you could rub your finger across it, as it left the machine. After an hour I was able to "scrub" my finger across the disk and not make much impression.

quote:Please don't alert the copyright police

or the DVD logo police...

quote:Originally posted by Blip:

Quote:

Please don't alert the copyright police

or the DVD logo police...

Yes, yes, don't rub it in......

Now £179.99 in PC World...................

Arghhhhhhhhhhh.......

Robbed again.....

The Epson Stylus Photo 900 is on sale at PC World until 2 September for £ 75, which is a TOTAL bargain.
Buy it from http://www.pcworld.co.uk or instore with one of those national newspaper style vouchers.

HTH

Mark

Might have missed some comments by skipping down the thread but if I understand correctly it does not have the light cyan and magenta so what is it like for printing photographs?

Obviously (?), the small time usage of DVD printing sounds staggeringly attractive at that price but I do want my next printer to yield good quality photo images.

Looked it up - says that the colour cart is 5 colours but does not specify hmmmm must be the "light" cyan and magenta as well as the RGB ???

[This message has been edited by Searcher22 (edited 30 August 2003).]

Mark, thanks for the info about the Epson printer, just ordered one online. Cheers.

I was under the impression that the £75 epson colour 900 was a different printer without the disk printing facility.

Last night the colour stylus 900 was £150
I'll have another look.

BobA

MMMh the bargain £75 price would probably be because I bought one at the bargain price of £149 last week bxxxxxy hxxl!!

I believe that Epson are bringing out a new range soon?

Ayway apart from the price issue and the fact that I think I had bought the last one in Ipswich PCWorld I am very pleased with the quality all round.

I've rechecked pc world site and the £75 model does say print to disk.

But they are still advertising in main list at £150.

I am going to order, but fear a misprint.

BobA

This goes from bad to worse.

If the price is truely £75.

It's a steal.

Paul

pc world now showing 'no stock' so maybe the bubble has burst?

I ordered two from PC world yesterday(not greedy one for my son)and I have not recieved any confirmation yet, but when I go on the site they are still not showing "out of stock".

When you go on to the site it is among the special offers and is called the Epson stylus 900, but when you go to epson printers it is still £150 and is called the Epson stylus "photo" 900.

The specifications are exactly the same so I don't know what that is all about.

BobA

I bought one on line on 1st Sept and received e-mail confirmation of the order about 2 hours later.
At that price and with disk printing it is a steal (even if it will be out of date soon.
BrianR

quote:Originally posted by Bob Aldis:
I ordered two from PC world yesterday(not greedy one for my son)and I have not recieved any confirmation yet, but when I go on the site they are still not showing "out of stock".

When you go on to the site it is among the special offers and is called the Epson stylus 900, but when you go to epson printers it is still £150 and is called the Epson stylus "photo" 900.

The specifications are exactly the same so I don't know what that is all about.

BobA

Sorry

there was confirmation of my order on the site. I found this later.

I was waiting for a confirming email, which is not PC worlds style.

I am waiting with much anticipation as I still find the thought of the latest technology, which was £200 days ago, selling for £75.

I remember on this forum how people who shopped at PC world were looked on as gullible fools.

BobA

confirmation of my order came in at 10am today.

Just ordered one on line.

It is worth noting that the availability comes and goes.

Also, that it is no longer on the front page you have to go to the main inkjet printer section.

HTH

It's on the front page again, and there appears to be stock. Had to go for it! My photo 870 is playing up (blocked jets).

Interesting Slipperman as I too have the 870. We'll be able to see if Epson have managed to make even better prints with the 900. I doubt it - the 870 is startlingly good.

tom

I had the first e-mail within about an hour telling they had received the order. That was approx 7 hours ago!

How long have you waited to get the "second" mail saying that the order was being filled?

Indeed, how quickly have PC World delivered to you?

I ordered one as well - even though it's now Sept 3rd - got it for 78

As for "gullible fools", that's usually the PC World way, but I've seen a few outstanding bargains like this on their website before, maybe they are trying to build up their online customer base, no doubt they have a lot of purchasing punch with Epson compared to your local independent so it's not going to leave them out of pocket, maybe just making a little profit instead of an obscene one

Bought one at PC World in Leeds yesterday. Had no newspaper ad with me (as I should have had) but they let me have one anyway. They had 10 in stock when I carted mine away. All the other stores in the area appear to be out of stock.
Michael

Not their now or am I confused... looked at the whole site.

Bought one at PC World in Leeds yesterday. Had no newspaper ad with me (as I should have had) but they let me have one anyway. They had 10 in stock when I carted mine away. All the other stores in the area appear to be out of stock.
Michael

Got it waiting for confirm.... thanks saved me abundle.

It is still on the site but now not in special offers. It is still £75. So much for 2nd Sept.

I am still in order recieved mode. IF I had known the offer was in the stores I would have popped along there.

BobA

Thought I would phone them now - as the website fails to let you into the password protected area for looking at any up to date info!!!! Though you can log in, no doubt that allows them to track your viewing of the site.

I was told the reason I had not yet had the second e-mail was because they perform fraud checks on the cc details. Why they take so long compared to other sites for these functions escapes me. Are the other suppliers lax or is the DSG group thorough hmmmmmm!!

However, I did ask if once the order is placed that they allocate stock - was assured (lol) that they do and they would have no problem filling the order as they had sufficient stock.

Well we shall see?

HTH

quote:Originally posted by tom hardwick:
Interesting Slipperman as I too have the 870. We'll be able to see if Epson have managed to make even better prints with the 900. I doubt it - the 870 is startlingly good.

tom

Tom

That's my concern too, the 870 was/is an excellent photo printer. I will attempt to repair it, but I doubt it'll ever be the same again

For your information. I got an email within an hour of ordering online, that was late last night. Then another at 9.02 am this morning to confirm.

Delivery time was given as between 4pm and 9pm, and could take up to 5 working days. Maybe they are going to get one of the spotty kids from the shop to drop it off after work

Don't you hate that smarmy bloke on the PC World advert, there's usually a giant cut out of him instore as well. I'd quite happily stamp down on his smug face.

So given it is now Thursday, has anyone recieved their mail order printer yet?

Mine arrived today. by securicor, ordered Monday, confirmation e-mail tues am, notification of delivery yesterday. Very pleased with the whole process.
Tried disc printing, superb..had to make one small adjustment in Epson print alignment options to get centered printing and from then on perfect DVD printing, using ICE printable DVD's from SVP (82p each) if anyone's interested. They have a small centre printable area so you get more of the disc covered and burn well on my Apple superdrive and Pioneer drive too.

Well I'm still waiting for the third email

This from PC World website:-

TRACKING YOUR DELIVERY
We will send you an e-mail to confirm receipt of your order, a second e-mail to confirm that we have accepted your order, and a third to confirm despatch of your order. You can track the progress of your order by clicking on ‘Login’.

Hi Chris

I had the 1st mail 2nd Sept and the 2nd mail 3rd Sept but like you waiting on the 3rd mail.

Was hoping it would be here by the weekend!

Just rang them and spoke to a very helpful young lady!

Their system shows that it has yet to be dispatched. She said that is is likely to be sent on Monday and the service is a 24 hour delivery).

I asked why DSG take the money and then delay sending unlike other companies I had dealt with and (not lay to blame) all she could say was that she had heard of companies that send same day but they do not.

Oh well, for a great bargain you have to have a little pain. Though why escapes me lol!

[This message has been edited by Searcher22 (edited 05 September 2003).]

A tale of two printers.

About 2 weeks ago I helped someone install their new Epson 950 printer - £300+ and by the time we had done a dozen test prints the light cyan and light magenta cardridge levels were visibly depleted in the driver s/w representation.

At £X x7 for a full set of replacement inks I thought sod that for a month of sundays, and called in at PCWorld and bought myself a Epson 900 for £149 - very happily.

On getting home I put the printer on one side and got on with the day's busy schedule ansd thought no more about it (leaving the box unopened) - until I read about the online offer a week ago here on this forum.

So I logged onto PC World's website (last Sat), and made an online purchase - £79ish. Today Securicor delivered the printer - and I returned my original (unopened) box back to PC World (full £149 refund).

So this forum does save you real money!
Regards
FWIW The build quality of the 950 doesn't seem any better than the 900 - indeed the front tray extension seems even more wobbly on the 950 than it is on the 900...

Finally got email acknowledgement Thursday night and printers arrived Friday evening.

Haven't tried it/them yet.

BobA

got email Thursday saying printers will probably be another 7 working days due to delays and they arrived Friday.
have not had a chance to try it/them yet

BobA

Still waiting

Hi,
received mine on Friday, got it set up and running very quickly and made a have since printed a couple of pics which I am most happy with and I have also printed onto a couple of white matte surface dvd's which I am not quite so happy with. The reason being is that the ink seems to take forever to dry, it is now 48hrs on and the ink is not completely dry.

Can anyone recommend a brand of printable dvd that they have experienced good results with ? Thanks.

I obtained one at £75 plus about £3.50 carriage and although I have not yet had chance to try it, it contains a tray cut out for the DVD. Where is the best source of printablable DVDs? Is it practicable to use my existing DVDs by spraying with a matt paint and if so, what sort?

Alan

A point of interest for those now playing with their new 900s.

I think it was Chirpy (apols if someone else) who reported he got better results with the 950 using the 'heavy matt card' setting when printing onto DVD/CD.

I've used this ever since I read it and have been very happy with the results. It may be the same for the 900.

quote:Originally posted by Martin B:
A point of interest for those now playing with their new 900s.

I think it was Chirpy (apols if someone else) who reported he got better results with the 950 using the 'heavy matt card' setting when printing onto DVD/CD.

I've used this ever since I read it and have been very happy with the results. It may be the same for the 900.

I think that was me - see earlier in this thread. However, I would now importantly QUALIFY that advice thus:

I find the best setting DEPENDS ON THE MEDIA - I find the "CD-R" setting is better for Verbatim DVD-Rs, and the "Matt Heavyweight Paper" setting is better for Verbatim CD-Rs (and Lynx own Inkjet Printable DVD-Rs - forget which manufacturer).

Work that one out?! Obviously - you need to experiment with the particular combination you use of disc media and ink manufacturer I suppose (since some here use non-Epson ink too.) WMMV, as they say over there.

I got my email:-

Dear Mr Longley,

We are pleased to confirm that we have despatched your order. Here are your
order details:

Quantity Code Description
1 177581 D&I DELIVERY CHARGE
1 849870 EPSON SP900

etc etc, this came at 6.30 last night

Order placed on: 03/09/2003 04:01:53
Securicor parcel number: 788745279492
(if no parcel number is shown above, your order has been sent by Royal Mail.)

So today is the 9th, if it comes tonight (times were given as 4pm to 9pm) then that makes it about 3 working days I think, that's not too bad

Hi Chris

If you got it this evening you are lucky!

The order tracking on the Securicor site is snafu. I rang PC World to told that it will likely come tomorrow. Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! I ordered mine on the 2nd Sept

Counted my chickens, still no bloomin printer, so it appears the 3rd email could come up to 48 hours before the printer does. Anyway hope everyone else has got theirs or gets it soon.

I've got some discs from SVP to try with it, they have a smooth white matt top and are unlike any media I've seen before, I'll be sure to let you all know how the 900 works with them at the settings suggested in the thread etc.

Received my third e-mail on the 8th,still waiting.
Charles

I tried my tracking number on the Securicor site and it says that the drivers are still on their lunch hour and are enjoying a kick about in the car park. My printer box is being used as the left hand goal-post.

Yours is on the right Searcher. Charles, good news and bad news about yours. The good news is you just scored a goal.....

Okay, joking aside it says it's now in Gateshead and scheduled for delivery.

I ordered on the 3rd and it arrived today. Sweet and many thanks for saving me tons.

Mine has just arrived,now to find where i'm going to put it.
Charles

Arrived today.

Have yet to set it up much to the surprise of she who must obeyed!

Just finished setting it up. Note I had a SURegcreate key Failed High Speed Port failure But will print OK

Did not install the Epson Print Image FRamer Tool or the PhotoQuicker.

When I rebooted I thought I was in heap big trouble. Ulead programs failed to launch and so did Roxio WinOnCD

After another re-boot all appears well. Pheeewwww!!!!!!

Did a quick test print on standard paper just to have a look a photo - not bad. Must try on pukka photo paper.

Then onto CD/DVD testing sometime soon.

PS Anyone like me fail to noticed the head packing peice and wondered where the noise was coming from!!!!!!! Doh!!!!

[This message has been edited by Searcher22 (edited 10 September 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Searcher22 (edited 10 September 2003).]

I got mine about 6.30pm, I've been playing with it since then, like you I didn't notice that little blue bit of plastic.

I'm knocked out by the photo quality, my other printer is an HP 970cxi, a well respected photo quality printer, the Epson beats it hands down. The prints are simply gorgeous. So much so that I've only printed one DVD, quality was good, I used heavy matte paper setting, it was off centre though, but I see that's easily corrected.

These Japanese are so clever. It came with four identical driver discs. They *know* that I have a habit of losing them.

Just print one more photo then go to bed.

Fisherman, thank you very much for starting the thread about this printer. Thanks to Mooblie for the settings advice and thank you Mark M for the tip on the PC World price.

The head packing piece (blue plastic)is not mentioned in the unpacking sheet, which shows every bit of tape to be removed.

I didn't know what you were talking about until my son phoned and warned me about it
(we bought together). It seems dangerous to me and liable to cause damage. Very remiss of Epson, not doh! for unsuspecting user.

The 4 disks seem to be, if you look closely, two different types covering many languages and as English is on both tpes we have 4 disks.

BobA

I did notice that about the discs, it seemed to me that the box had been opened and the one containing the German version and another (don't remember which one) had been added to the box later. It suggests to me that these printers have been originally destined for one part of the globe then found to be surplus.

Perhaps the North American market where they speak English, French and Spanish but not German?

Good news for us though.

It is very bad of Epson not to mention the blue bit, perhaps they thought you couldn't miss it. Had it been cardboard not plastic it might have been obvious, as it was it looked like part of the mechanism. It also wasn't apparent at first what the 'wheel' things were for.

I'm now going to have to go and read all the threads I've skimmed past before about refilling Epson cartridges/using compatibles/zapping chips.

quote:Originally posted by Bob Aldis:
The head packing piece (blue plastic)is not mentioned in the unpacking sheet, which shows every bit of tape to be removed.

I didn't know what you were talking about until my son phoned and warned me about it
(we bought together). It seems dangerous to me and liable to cause damage. Very remiss of Epson, not doh! for unsuspecting user.

The 4 disks seem to be, if you look closely, two different types covering many languages and as English is on both tpes we have 4 disks.

BobA

This omission is highlighted in CV's review of the 900 in its November issue (on sale end of this month). But, on reflection, I really should have posted something here about it once I'd read the review. Sorry.

Bob C