Gloss or matte ink? What's the best option?
Figuring out whether to use glossy or matte ink for your Epson ColorWorks printer can be a bit tricky. Thankfully, there are some differences between the two that can help point you in the right direction. The bad news? Once gloss or matte is selected during the printer initialization, it cannot be changed. It is permanent. However, if you ever plan on printing on glossy material, it is recommended that you purchase the glossy version of the printer. That printer style can print on both glossy and matte media. Now let's get to the details.
Gloss vs. Matte Comparison
Both the gloss black and matte black inks are highly durable pigment-based inks. Both have been BS5609 certified. The matte black ink offers a darker black on matte media and a richer image on plain media. The gloss black ink, similar to the C7500G inks, can print on a wider variety of substrates. The same cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are used with both blacks.
Product Application
The gloss black ink supports the widest range of media.
|
Media Style |
Gloss Black Ink SJIC41P(BK) UltraChrome DL |
Matte Black Ink SJIC41P(MK) UltraChrome DL |
|
Plain paper – uncoated |
Good image |
Richer image – darker black |
|
Matte paper–coated |
Good image |
Richer image – darker black |
|
Matte synthetic–coated |
Good image, BS5609 certified |
Richer image – darker black, BS5609 certified |
|
Textured paper |
Good image |
Richer image – darker black |
|
Wristband |
Excellent image |
Richer image – darker black |
|
Low gloss paper–coated |
Excellent image |
Good image |
|
Semi-gloss paper–coated |
Excellent image |
Not recommended |
|
High gloss paper–coated |
Excellent image |
Not recommended |
|
High gloss synthetic–coated |
Excellent image |
Not recommended |
Technical Details
The primary difference is the size of the pigment particles. Glossy media has a slick surface that has extra fine pores. For proper adhesion, the pigment particles must be especially small to penetrate the surface and achieve proper bonding. Unfortunately, this same characteristic results in the pigment settling extra deeply into matte surfaces. This causes the image to appear slightly muted; especially for black. The matte black ink has larger pigment particles which remain closer to the surface yielding a more vibrant image on matte materials. Unfortunately, this larger particle struggles to bond to the fine pore glossy surface, resulting in insufficient drying and image durability. It is important to note that the gloss black ink on matte media creates a good image and is acceptable in most circumstances. Ink safety data sheets can be found on the Epson.com support page for each printer.
Recommended Printer
If it is known that ALL media to be printed on is matte, the matte printer & ink are the best choice. If printing is required on glossy materials, even if only occasionally, the gloss printer & ink is recommended. If the range of applications is not certain, the gloss printer & ink is recommended. Both inks have BS5609 certification, so that is not a factor.
