Canon Pixma IP4000, when does printer use BCI-3EBK cart ink

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tHatDudeUK

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Is it only when plain paper is selected? Only when greyscale is selected?
Only when draft is selected?

Thanks in advance
 
tHatDudeUK said:
As subject

Is it only when plain paper is selected? Only when greyscale is
selected? Only when draft is selected?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Normally it uses BCI3e all the time except when printing photos, so when
photo or glossy paper is selected.
 
Here is a quick test you can perform. Use a photo with quite a bit of black
areas. Open the cover on the printer and use a small screwdriver to hold
down the cover interlock so that you can actually see the ink being put on
the paper. Print the same photo using different paper modes. The BCI-3 black
(pigmented black) is deposited with a much wider path than the BCI-6 black.
Note also that the BCI-3 black appears to be used only when in plain paper
mode. All other modes use only the BCI-6 black. You will see this when
observing the printing operation. The other thing you can do is to wet your
fingertip and move it across the edge of the printed area onto the unprinted
area. You will see a difference in the amount of ink smearing.
 
3eBK is only used when you select plain paper. 3eBK usage varies according
to whether grayscale or colour documents are printed. If you select
grayscale 3eBK is the only ink used however in colour documents 3eBK is
only used in areas of pure black. Any paper setting other than plain paper
uses the smaller 6BK ink tank. I know because on my IP4000 3eBK ink when
dry smears easily on touch and the only time this smearing stops is when
the 6BK ink is used. I confirmed this by doing a nozzle check. Anyone
else getting this smearing on plain inkjet paper, i've tried two different
types from staples, when using 3eBK ink and plain paper setting? If it
doesn't and you're from the UK tell me which paper you're using and where
you got it, cheers!
 
speakeasy said:
3eBK is only used when you select plain paper. 3eBK usage varies according
to whether grayscale or colour documents are printed. If you select
grayscale 3eBK is the only ink used however in colour documents 3eBK is
only used in areas of pure black. Any paper setting other than plain paper
uses the smaller 6BK ink tank. I know because on my IP4000 3eBK ink when
dry smears easily on touch and the only time this smearing stops is when
the 6BK ink is used. I confirmed this by doing a nozzle check. Anyone
else getting this smearing on plain inkjet paper, i've tried two different
types from staples, when using 3eBK ink and plain paper setting? If it
doesn't and you're from the UK tell me which paper you're using and where
you got it, cheers!
Click to expand...


Looking under a very strong magnifying glass it appears I see colored
dots at the edge of letters when printing text at maximum resolution
black on plain paper on my iP5000. I wish I had a microscope. I know
my older i860 blends colors for black in hi-res mode.

Anyone out there can borrow their kids' electron beam microscope? ;-)

-Taliesyn
 
One should print photos on photo paper and business documents on plain
paper. There are occasions where you print business documents on coated
paper or some other fancier paper but those are the exceptions when
considering how it is used most of the time.
 
The fact remains those exceptions occur, and more frequently than you think.
For this reason, in an open forum where many new comers seek accurate
information I find it best not to make such generalized statements as
unfortunately many will take it as fact, which is not ALWAYS the case.
 
What Taliesyn and speakeasy have posted is exactly the same as what I've
observed. In my previous post I failed to mention the speed with which
grayscale under plain paper mode is printed compared to color mode. It's
noticeably faster due to the usage of the wider nozzle pattern for the
BCI-3eBK. The comment about using the BCI-6 black with plain paper at
highest resolution (quality) is also what I've noticed.
 
What Taliesyn and speakeasy have posted is exactly the same as what I've
observed. In my previous post I failed to mention the speed with which
grayscale under plain paper mode is printed compared to color mode. It's
noticeably faster due to the usage of the wider nozzle pattern for the
BCI-3eBK. The comment about using the BCI-6 black with plain paper at
highest resolution (quality) is also what I've noticed.
Click to expand...

Here's what I see. From wetting the paper (and by amount of ink
used) it appears that plain paper/high resolution/duplex uses the
3eBK along with some blue (and maybe other colors) in the text--normal
mode seems waterproof, high resolution and some blue smears from
the black text, choose photo paper and the black smears altogether.

The annoying thing with this printer is that normal mode non-duplex
is fast enough and has good enough quality, but in normal duplex
mode text quality is insufficient. From canon's site this is
apparently intentional--in duplex mode it makes the black lighter
to avoid it rubbing off in the printer.

I'm surprised the black is more likely to do that then the colored
(which seems to remain the same quality in duplex).

Is there any way to use auto duplex and get better black print? High
quality is decent but is really slow.

Sean
 
shillyard said:
Here's what I see. From wetting the paper (and by amount of ink
used) it appears that plain paper/high resolution/duplex uses the
3eBK along with some blue (and maybe other colors) in the text--normal
mode seems waterproof, high resolution and some blue smears from
the black text, choose photo paper and the black smears altogether.

The annoying thing with this printer is that normal mode non-duplex
is fast enough and has good enough quality, but in normal duplex
mode text quality is insufficient. From canon's site this is
apparently intentional--in duplex mode it makes the black lighter
to avoid it rubbing off in the printer.

I'm surprised the black is more likely to do that then the colored
(which seems to remain the same quality in duplex).

Is there any way to use auto duplex and get better black print? High
quality is decent but is really slow.

Sean
Click to expand...

This is due to the fact that the 3eBk is Pigment based (for sharper text)
and unfortunately pigmented inks tend to smear when rubbed.
The colors are dye based so the longer they are permitted to set on the
paper, the more permanent they become (with limits of course).
 
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