Epson DURABrite Ultra technical brief

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is the latest formulation in the DURABrite Ink family and is currently featured in the Epson
Stylus® C88 printer and the Epson Stylus CX3800 Series/CX4200/CX4800/CX5800F/CX7800 all-in-one printers. These
products are designed for the consumer and SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) customer who is looking for versatility,
productivity, ease of use, image quality on plain and photo paper, and image durability. This technical brief will focus on
the following key advantages of the 4-color, pigment-based DURABrite Ultra pigment ink:

• Enhanced support for glossy papers

• Ideal for printing everyday documents

• Durable output

• Wide media support

• Convenient individual ink cartridges

Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Enhanced Support for Glossy Papers

Many consumers are looking for a printer that can produce great everyday text documents and photos; with the new
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, customers get high quality glossy photos without compromising the text and graphic
printing quality on plain paper that DURABrite Ink has been known for. DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers these new
advantages when printing photos on glossy papers:

1. Better glossiness: Where previous formulations of DURABrite Ink were optimized mostly for plain and matte
papers and produced good quality photos on glossy papers, the DURABrite Ultra pigment ink now produces
extremely good output on even the best Epson glossy photo papers:

• Epson Ultra Premium Glossy Photo Paper—This “best of breed”

glossy photo paper has a heavier, professional weight with a
smooth, high-gloss finish.

• Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper— This high-gloss paper

makes prints look and feel like a traditional photograph.

• Epson Premium Semigloss Photo Paper—This media has the

look and feel of true photographic paper, and is ideal for printing
displays or scenic color images. The semigloss finish delivers
beautiful results.

• Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper—This paper with Luster

E surface finish produces vivid, lifelike images that rival those
of traditional silver halide prints, with high saturation and high
D-Max for true photographic reproductions. It is compatible
with the DURABrite Ultra pigment ink when using the Premium
Semigloss Photo Paper driver setting.

• Epson Glossy Photo Paper—This glossy photo paper delivers a

smooth, glossy finish for everyday photos.

2. Reduced gloss differential: Gloss differential occurs when the
gloss of the paper is different from the gloss of the ink. By using a
new resin formulation, gloss differential with the DURABrite Ultra
pigment ink is reduced and the color gamut is improved.

3. Reduced metamerism: Metamerism is an effect where colors
appear to be different under dissimilar lighting conditions (such as
natural light and fluorescent light). With the new ink formulation,
metamerism is reduced.

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has the flexibility to produce high quality
glossy photos as well as superb photos on matte papers. Epson printers
and all-in-one printers with DURABrite Ultra pigment ink all support
BorderFree® printing, too, so your customers can print borderless,
frame-ready photos right out of the printer—without trimming or
perforations.

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is
compatible with many glossy photo
papers, plus still supports matte papers

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink produces:

Excellent gloss
level

Reduced
metamerism

More vibrant
colors

More glossy
paper choices

Epson Sales Training 08/2005

Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Ideal for Printing Everyday Documents

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses an exclusive Microencapsulation
technology where each pigment particle is encased in a resin. A unique
polymer pulls the particles apart so they are suspended in the solution
and never coagulate. The ink base then helps the DURABrite Ultra
pigment ink pigment particles penetrate into the paper.

Using this technology, DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers these
printing advantages:

1. Extra-sharp text and graphics on plain paper: Because
conventional dye-based ink acts much like a watercolor paint, its
molecules are absorbed into plain paper. The spreading of ink into
plain paper’s fibers is referred to as feathering.

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink pigment particles “rest” near the

surface of the paper and are not absorbed into the fibers like
conventional dye inks. DURABrite Ultra pigment ink produces a
much smaller spot size than dye-based ink, resulting in sharper
output on plain paper. This applies to both text and graphics.

Dye Ink Text

2. Double-Sided prints without bleed-through: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses a special technology that
controls the penetration level of the ink and keeps the colorant near the surface. Additionally, output on plain and
matte papers is optimized with a higher optical density, which means your customers will get darker blacks.

3. Brighter colors: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses an innovative formulation of color inks, producing brighter
output on plain, matte, and glossy paper.

With these advantages, DURABrite Ultra
pigment ink is an ideal solution for
consumers who generally print everyday
documents. Customers can achieve
outstanding output, even on plain paper,
when printing greeting cards, reports, labels,
web pages, resumes, menus, and more.

With the added improvements for printing on
glossy papers, the DURABrite Ultra pigment
ink is the ideal solution for customers who
want one printer to produce everyday
documents and photos: it combines the best
of both in one ink set.

DURABrite Ultra Ink Text

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers what consumers are looking
for most:

Brighter colors on

Extra-sharp text

With the same size ink droplet,
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has
a smaller spread into plain paper’s
fibers than dye-based ink

Double-sided
prints without
bleed-through

plain paper

Sharper graphics

Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment ink Technical Brief Page 2

Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Durable Output

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers smudge-, fade-, and water-resistance on all supported papers, including plain
paper.

1. Smudge-Resistant Prints: Many competitor’s
dye-based inks are not smudge-resistant,
especially immediately after printing, and most
prints need several minutes of drying time before
they can be touched.

All Epson ink solutions, including the DURABrite
Ultra pigment ink, use a quick drying formula.
Epson prints can be touched, without fear
of causing smudges, right after printing and
beyond. Customers can handle prints without
fear of damaging them.

2. Fade-Resistant Prints: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has fade-resistant
properties that exceed those of photo lab prints and won’t fade as quickly
as many competitor’s prints—even on plain paper. With DURABrite Ultra
pigment ink, cherished photos and important documents will last for
generations.

Testing for DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is currently being finalized by
Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc, a leading authority on print permanence.
Initial results indicate it has comparable light resistance to DURABrite Ink—
up to 100 years when used with Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight.*

*

Lightfastness rating based on accelerated testing of prints on specialty media, displayed

indoors and under glass. Actual print stability will vary according to image, display
conditions, light intensity, humidity, and atmospheric conditions. Epson does not guarantee
longevity of prints. For maximum print life, display all prints under glass or UV filter or
lamination, or properly store them. For full details on test reports, visit http://www.wilhelm­research.com.

3. Water-Resistant Prints: Dye-based inks are molecules dissolved in water. These molecules are then absorbed
into the paper. If the paper were to get wet, the dye molecules will again dissolve and move from their original
position, causing smearing. Pigment inks, such as the DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, are comprised of pigment
particles suspended in the ink, and once applied to paper do not dissolve if they get wet, and do not smear.

Conventional Dye-Based Ink

Competitor’s Dye-Based Print

The smudge on this print was
caused by swiping the print
one minute after printing.

DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink

Epson Print

The quick drying DURABrite
Ultra ink resisted smudging,
even right after printing.

Competitor’s Dye-Based Print

Fade testing using accelerated
exposure to high levels of UV
light and a portion of the
print covered with a strip of
construction paper. Actual
results may differ.

Conventional dye-based ink particles
are absorbed into the fibers of plain
paper and are soluble in water—
similar to a watercolor paint on canvas.

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink particles
“rest” on the surface of plain paper and
are insoluble in water—similar to an oil
paint on canvas.

The water-resistant properties of DURABrite Ultra pigment ink prevent accidental damage caused by moisture
and spills. Many competitive printers use a water-resistant pigment black, but dye-based color inks. DURABrite
Ultra pigment ink uses pigment-based black and color inks, and offers water-resistant properties on all
supported papers, including plain paper.

Competitor’s Pigment Black and Dye Color Ink

With competitors’ inks, only black is
water-resistant.

Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment ink Technical Brief Page 3

DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has superb
waterfastness for black and color.

Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Wide Media Selection

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is optimized for plain and matte papers, yet also produces excellent results on glossy
papers. The ink set is compatible with the following media:

Plain Papers Matte Surface Papers Glossy Surface Papers

• Epson Premium Bright White Paper

• Other plain paper

• Epson Enhanced Matte Paper

• Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight

• Epson Double-Sided Matte Paper

• Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper

• Epson Ultra Premium Glossy Photo

Paper

• Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper

• Epson Premium Semigloss Photo

Paper

• Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper

(using the Premium Semigloss
Photo Paper driver setting)

• Epson Glossy Photo Paper

Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Convenient Individual Ink Cartridges

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink was designed for the consumer and small office/home office (SOHO) customer. This
customer generally prints text documents, web pages, homework/reports, labels, and maybe craft projects, yet also
may own a digital camera and wants to print high quality photos.

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers convenience to this customer by offering:

• Individual ink cartridges—With individual ink cartridges,
customers can take control of ink usage, replacing only
the ink that runs out. Unlike other manufacturers who
feature individual ink cartridges in only top-of-the-line
models, Epson offers individual DURABrite Ultra pigment
inks in printers and all-in-one printers ranging in price
from $79 to $179.

• Excellent output on plain papers—Because you don’t have
to use specialty papers to obtain the best print quality
for text documents, DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers
added convenience.

• New DURABrite Ultra Bundle Packs—New bundle packs
will include color inks and 4x6 borderless photo paper,
making it easy for customers to print snapshots at home.

Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment ink Technical Brief Page 4

Comparison of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink and Dye-Based Ink

DURABrite Ultra is the only consumer-class 4-color ink set that uses all pigment-based ink; some competitive
printers use pigment-based black with dye-based color, and others use all dye-based ink. The key advantage of Epson
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is its ability to produce the highest quality text and photos, offering color qualities
similar to dye-based ink with the durability qualities of pigment ink. The key differences between conventional dye
ink and DURABrite Ultra pigment ink are:

Key Differences Conventional Dye Ink DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink

Characteristics

Formed from color-forming, water-soluble
molecules

Comprised of insoluble pigment particles

Color Gamut

Fade-resistance

Water-Resistance

Plain Paper Printing

Media Selection

Best Excellent on Plain and Matte Papers; Very

Coloring is high because ink dyes the fiber
of the paper. Light reflects evenly off the
surface.

Fair to Good

The dye inks are dependent on special
paper to resist fading.

Good

Inks are water-resistant on many glossy
photo papers but not on matte papers.

Good

Feathering occurs as ink is absorbed into
the plain paper fibers.

Best

Widest media compatibility of any ink set:
Plain, Matte, RC (Resin Coated) Photo and
High Gloss papers, and specialty media
(including photo stickers and iron-on
transfers)

.

Good on glossy photo papers

Ink remains near the surface of the paper
so there is even light reflection.

Excellent

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has fade
resistance beyond photo lab prints—up to
100 years (see page 3)

Excellent

Inks are water-resistant on all supported
media, including plain paper.

Excellent

Sharp, clear text and graphics without
bleeding.

Excellent

Wide media selection: Plain, matte, and
glossy papers

Epson also offers a dye-based ink set using 6­color Epson Photo Ink. This ink set is included
in printers and all-in-one printers designed for
photo enthusiasts. For this customer, the increased
gradation level with the additional light intensity
inks is critical, as this customer’s primary focus is
printing photographs from snapshot size to 8x10s.
The comparison of the two ink systems can be
summarized according to the chart at right.

Epson

Photo Ink

Optimized for the photo
enthusiast looking for
premium quality

Optimized for the

Epson

DURABrite

Ultra

consumer/SOHO
customer looking for
text/photo flexibility

Glossy Photo Paper

Gloss Level on Premium

Print Quality on Plain Paper

Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment ink Technical Brief Page 5

Summary

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink provides the best combination of features to the consumer/SOHO customer:

• Versatility and flexibility (with the ability to print exceptional text documents and photos)

• Image quality on plain and photo paper

• Image durability (smudge, fade, and water-resistance)

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers:

• Improved printing on glossy paper, with better glossiness and wider support for more glossy photo papers,
even the top-of-the-line glossy papers

• Excellent output for everyday text documents, especially on plain paper

• Smudge-, fade-, and water-resistance, even on plain paper

• Wide media support, including plain, matte, and even top-of-the-line glossy papers

• Convenient individual ink cartridges

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is the ideal
solution for printing reports, web pages,
greeting cards, presentations, report covers,
resumes, menus, and photos—now with
improved printing on glossy papers.

For complete details on how DURABrite Inks compare to other Epson ink technologies, refer to the Epson Ink Solutions
document.

DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is currently featured on the following Epson stand-alone printers and all-in-one
printers:

Epson Stylus C88

Epson Stylus CX4200

Epson Stylus CX4800 Epson Stylus CX3800

Epson Stylus CX5800F

Epson Stylus CX7800

Series

Visit www.DURABrite.com for the latest information on DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, testimonials, and more.

Epson and Epson Stylus are registered trademarks and Exceed Your Vision is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. DURABrite and BorderFree
are registered trademarks of Epson America, Inc. Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of
their respective owners. Epson disclaims any and all rights in those marks.

©2005 Epson America, Inc.

Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment ink Technical Brief Page 6