R200 poor quality printing

[Nosmo King]

Hi..

I just purchase an Epson R200. I guess I've missed something but the quality of printing onto DVD is awful. I scanned the forum and the sample prints I've seen are awesome but I can't get anything like - what's the secret?

I've tried 3 different types of media. All inkjet printable bought from local stores - all produce the same results. The printing is patchy and blotchy, the quality awful and the ink never drys. Usually it looks like gloss paint on a greasy surface.

How do you people get such good results and ink dry within 40 minutes? Do I need to prepare the disc before printing? Is it possible to print a photo? If I mess up, how can I clean the ink off?

The printer is new using the ink carts supplied.

TIA.
Nosmo

[steveryan]

Try putting the disc under the tap and washing the ink off. You are sure they are printable discs Have you tried the printer on paper? If it's still the same either it's faulty or you haven't set it up right.

[disturbed1]

If it's still the same either it's faulty or you haven't set it up right.

This happened to me and 3 R300s. The first one wouldn't even feed paper, nor the plastic disc tray. Constant jam. Took it back for exchange.

2nd one, tried a photo print on some semi heavy duty matte paper using QImage, and printed a couple of discs with the included utility. Poor poor results, banding and lines, very dull colors. After sevral nozzle check/head cleaning cycles, called Epson. Epson said to exchange it, I did.

3rd one, tried a photo print on my heavy duty glossy paper, and matte photo paper. Looked better, no banding etc.. but lower quality than I expected, and is it ever so slow. Tried printing on disc again. Tray would only slip, wouldn't feed properly at all. Called Epson again (different tech). 45minutes of trouble shooting, said to exchange, said I was one in a million with a bad printer.

I returned it for cash. Going to import a Canon i865 disc printer to match my Canon i850, s820, and i960. The i865 is only $20(US) more than the R300.

------
Not saying Epson is bad. I had a really poor experience with the printers, and it could be likely that you have a faulty printer.
Other's have great results with their printers, so I guess to each his own.

[joecav]

That's a shame. I was looking forward to getting this printer when it is available in the US...OH well.

[DTSL06]

Not a 200 or 300, but I have the older 900. Colour never was a rich as my HP printer. Colour was always a little more muted in comparison. All the DVD printables I tried were never as colour correct as when I use Neato labels. Also never found a printable DVD where they wouldnt smear when rub with a damp finger. Ink never seems to be waterproof. had to spray with a clear coat to waterseal them. Just too much work so I went back to using paper labels. But the DVD printer does a good job when I burn, apply label then print. This method has been the most successfull method that I used and get good results. Not going into the pro's and con's of paper labels, I use them and I had no probm's.

[Nosmo King]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think the printer is at fault - nor do I expect photo quality printing onto a DVD.

What I want to know - is the media that critical. I've tried 3 different sorts, all bought as inkjet printable - all with more or less the same results. How can I check - what does the surface of a printable DVD look like - these are all plastic, like very fine sand paper.

[Jrb45505]

Is there anywhere in the U.S. Where you can get the Epson R200?


Thanks for the help.

[quadforce]

in the printers properties are you selecting "best photo" ? if not what settings?

[LabanB]

Hi,

Just my 2 pen'orth. I'm using a 900 right now to produce commercial disks, and the generally print up fine. Photo quality at times. But yes, sometimes they come out blotchy.

Just adding my experiences!

Bill

[Meritocracy]

Also never found a printable DVD where they wouldnt smear when rub with a damp finger. Ink never seems to be waterproof. had to spray with a clear coat to waterseal them. Just too much work so I went back to using paper labels.

FYI, it's not the ink that's at issue, it's the media. Inkjet printable media aren't waterproof. The R800? uses waterproof pigment ink but this issue is irrelevant when the media your printing to are not.

[iooi]

Hi..
How do you people get such good results and ink dry within 40 minutes? Do I need to prepare the disc before printing?
The printer is new using the ink carts supplied.

TIA.
Nosmo

I use a Epson 900 with great results.
Now give us some more info.. Like what settings did you use to print the disks ??
I use the CD/DVD setting and often move to a +1 setting and the disks are dry when leaving the printer.
From the sound of things you have the settings too high and are laying down to much ink, and possibly the disks arent INKJET printables but thermal printable ones.
Disks need no preperation before use only never touch the printable surface with your hands....

[Nosmo King]

This is what I've done.

Aligned the print heads and printed a photo on heavy gloss photo paper. Excellent

My settings are - CD/DVD, text/graphics (photo quality was worse) -2

[Nosmo King]

Thanks to all for replies - problem solved.

I'd bought 3 lots of DVD's, from 3 different sources. All were unbranded but inkjet printable. Ordered some Verbatims off the Web which arrived this morning. Quality when printed was excellent and the ink dried quickly. Moral of the story - you get what you pay for.

R200 from Staples - £99, good buy

[disturbed1]

So you did end up getting good results?

I'd rather not go through the hassle of ordering over seas, and am willing to give the R300 another try. Perhaps order direct from Epson, or visit another retailer. The boxes my R300s came in were kinda dinged, thinking the employees might of kick 'em around.

My understanding is that the R200 and R300 use the same print head, hence the same output.

[The village idiot]

My understanding of the R200 is that it is the same printer as the R300, just missing the card reader and associated electronics. Though I haven't researched that printer completely, so it could be wrong.

[jinky]

Hi,
i bought the Epson R200 from PC World £99.99,
i had the same problem as you Nosmo King,
i was using cheap white DVD's and they looked
terrible but when i bought inkjet printable DVD'S
the results were fantastic, id say it is a good buy
for a 100 quid.

[jinky]

iv just seen the price of the replacement carts for the r200,
anybody wanna buy a Epson R200 going cheap.
LOL

[iooi]

Them carts for the 200 are they the same as the 300 ? If they are you should be able to source comatable ones now...If not it wont be long before you can.

EDIT...
HERE your go found them already....
1. Epson Compatible R300/RX500 6 Pack(Epson Stylus Photo R200 / R300 / RX500) £29.95

2. Epson Stylus Compatible Black Cartridge(Epson Stylus Photo R200 / R300 / RX500) £5.94

I'm sure them prices will drop as well....

[bdawg0411]

Ink never seems to be waterproof. had to spray with a clear coat to waterseal them.

What does that mean? How can you waterseal the discs? Do i need to buy some sort of special spray so my labels that i print stay on? (i use epson r200)?

[offline]

My understanding of the R200 is that it is the same printer as the R300, just missing the card reader and associated electronics. Though I haven't researched that printer completely, so it could be wrong.

No you are right. The following all have the same print engine
and share the same carts.

R200 R210 R300 R310 RX500 RX510

Ink never seems to be waterproof

Ink seems to dry almost instantly with most media I have tried
but only one brand of DVDr survived the 24hr hot water stream
test (MaxData.) Next test will be the frisbee to dog teeth resistance
test

[quasar1963]

Hmm, please do tell us more about these Max Data branded printables (as in where to purchase?) No ink smear on these?? That would be a first.

[iooi]

Next test will be the frisbee to dog teeth resistance
test

Never mind if the printable side withstands it......What about the writing side.....
On way to stop pirating i guess.....

[Supreme2k]

I've recently bought the R200, and it prints excellently. I don't know if this is the problem, but images that look great on your PC may look horrible when printed. Most of the images that bI print to DVDs are either self-made, or "repaired" for maximum clarity.

I got it for $89, which is $5 less than the Casio CW-50 I got last year

[JETninja]

Most people when they post they got something at a good price...mention where they got it.....

There are coupon codes out there for Staples, I think some $15 off $100 exist, use Google or Fatwallet. Just add some paper clips or something. free shipping too.....

Cheers!

[lc]

Disturbed

How can you import a Canon i865?

[offline]

@ quasar1963

The MaxData are rebranded white printable -R media
made by Gigastorage (GSC002). Like my nick,
I bought them offline , so have no idea
where you could arrange procurement. I printed at
Photo mode, -1 and no ink washed off as
stated above. I have had similar results with Princo
would you believe it?


@ disturbed1

If you want the Canon, go for the i965. I came *this* close
to buying one. There is an ever so slight "gloss" to the print on DVD media
which you do not get with the EPSON - otherwise the ink issues and
photo quality on DVDr is the same (but faster)

[troyvcd1]

I too am interested in this 965. I generally trust cannon more but for no reason. Would this printer use the same inks and would there be the same ink smearing when wet problems.

[disturbed1]

http://www.plutotech.com.sg/shop/storefront/details.asp?prodid=i865&cat=53&path=53

Will ship the Canon i865 to the US. The price is $195.83USD + shipping.

I would get the 965, I have a 960 and just love it. The 865 is close to the 850 (which I have also), but it adds a photo black along with the pigment black.

The 850 is much faster than the 960. But the 960 is a better photo printer.

[dxj40c]

What is the issue with "water smearing" and "water tests"? Where does everyone watch their DVDs? I don't belive water has ever been an issue when I play or store the DVDs. The nearest water is in the hall restroom. It is no more important than "pigeon-poop resistance".

[jaxxboss]

Why would u wanna import one and mess with 220 to 110 voltage conversion and then u have the htz to mess with. not worth it.