Pigmera® ETX has been specifically developed for Photo printing with EcoTank photo printers.
These printer models come equipped from the factory with dye-based inks, with the exception of the pigment-based Matte-Black (e.g., in the ET-8500). While these inks produce beautiful photo prints, the drawback is that the dyes are not very light-stable over the long term. Prints will fade or experience color shifts when permanently exposed to daylight over a foreseeable period.
With Pigmera® ETX, we have developed a product based entirely on 100% pigments, which, in conjunction with individually created ICC profiles, offers durable color prints with a wide color gamut. Using Pigmera® ETX provides you with the ability to create long-lasting prints with EcoTank photo printers, whether for personal use or commercial purposes. For accurate color reproduction with Pigmera® ETX pigment inks, it is recommended to use individual ICC profiles tailored to the specific printer/ink/paper combination.
Advantages of Pigmera® ETX
- Based on 100% pigment ink, so the prints are stable for many years. (When using archival papers)
- Suitable for the creation of prints on fineart / artist papers (requires individual ICC profiles)
- Prints of neutral grayscale prints on matte papers are possible (requires individual ICC profiles)
Printing Black & White with ET-8550, ET-8500
Printing of black and white photos yields good results only on purely matte papers for printer models equipped with the ink configuration MK, PK, C, M, Y, GY. Not suitable are all papers with glossy or reflective surfaces (such as Glossy, Semigloss, Semimatt, Pearl, Satin, Baryta, etc.). Due to technical limitations, printing entirely or partially black and white photos on glossy media is not recommended, as it leads to disruptive color reflections caused by the glossy paper surface.
Printing Black & White with ET-18100
For printer models equipped with the ink configuration MK/PK, C, LC, M, LM, Y, Pigmera® ETX is not suitable for grayscale printing.
Compatible printer models
- Epson® EcoTank ET-8550
- Epson® EcoTank ET-8500
- Epson® EcoTank ET-18100
- Epson® EcoTank L18050, L8050
Below are some important informations
Pigmera ETX® should ideally filled into an Ecotank printer with clean ink tanks. Mixing with other inks should be avoided. In the case of an already used Ecotank printer, the existing dye ink of the individual tanks can be removed almost completely and replaced with our pigmented color ink. There should be some technical understanding and manual skill for this process.
You are looking for informations about to change the ink from an EcoTank, follow this link:
https://www.farbenwerk.com/EcoTank-leeren-und-neu-fuellen-Tinte-wechseln
In the case of pigment inks for printing on matte papers, the "Matte-Black" color channel is used to create a deep black. Therefore, for the printer models ET-8500 and ET-8550, the rear single-sheet paper feed must be used.
For color-accurate prints, individual ICC profiles are needed for each photo and fine art paper.
Legal notice:
This item is not an original product of the printer manufacturer. It is not produced, endorsed, or supported by the printer manufacturers. All brand names, product names and images are used solely for compatibility indication and in doing so are not affiliated to the original products of the respective manufacturers and are the property of their respective owners.
Below are some important notes on using Pigmera® ETX in the ET-8500 / ET-8550
Filling or changing the ink
Pigmera® ETX should ideally be used in an EcoTank printer with clean ink tanks, for example, in a new device. If you have a previously used EcoTank printer, you can almost completely remove the existing dye ink from the individual tanks and replace it with our pigmented color ink. This process requires some technical understanding and manual skill, but in general, it is relatively easy to accomplish.
Pigment inks generally exhibit a different gloss behavior on glossy media compared to dye inks. Pigments do not fully penetrate the paper surface, which can result in uneven gloss when viewed from an angle.
For information on how to change the ink in an EcoTank, please refer to our INFO section.
https://www.farbenwerk.com/EcoTank-leeren-und-neu-fuellen-Tinte-wechseln
Functions of the Printer
The printer's functions are altered or restricted when it is converted to Pigmera® ETX as per the printer manufacturer's intended functions.
The printer models ET-8500 and ET-8550 come from the factory equipped with five dye inks (C, M, Y, GY, PB) and one black pigment ink (BK). Dye inks can be used on both matte and glossy papers. The existing Matte Black (BK) can be used for document printing (printer driver setting for "Normal paper") and for printing on photo and fine art papers (printer setting for "Velvet Fine Art Paper"). While most driver settings can be used for all paper feeds of the printer, the "Velvet Fine Art Paper" setting only works with the rear, straight single-sheet paper feed. To create photo prints using Matte Black (BK), you must use this rear feed.
Pigmera® ETX is a pigment ink product. It also uses a Matte Black (BK), in addition to the other five channels, which are now also filled with pigment inks. The Black channel (PB), originally filled with dye ink, now contains Photo Black (Pigment). Photo Black is suitable for printing on glossy media in the world of pigment inks, while Matte Black is used for matte media. Although you can use Photo Black to print on matte papers, it won't provide deep black results.
This leads to the following situation:
To print matte photo and fine art papers with the best quality and deep black, you must select the "Velvet Fine Art Paper" driver setting. In this case, the single-sheet paper feed on the back of the printer is the only paper feed that works. With other driver settings like Epson® Matte Paper or Epson® Premium Semigloss, the printer uses the Photo Black channel. Appealing black-and-white prints on matte papers are possible, while black-and-white prints on glossy paper are not recommended due to disturbing color effects (bronzing).
