Digital Prints

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Mastering Digital Printing
Fooling the Printer
Many of the newer inkjet printers have smart-chipped cartridges with built-in microchips (Epson’s are called Intellidge chips). Although they are
advertised to help keep track of ink usage, one maybe-not-so-unintended result has been to thwart the use of cartridge refills and third-party inks.
But, as soon as each generation of chips appears, entrepreneurs get busy and come up with ways to defeat and fool them.
Two inventions are auto-reset chips and chip reprogrammers or resetters that: (1) allow cartridges to be refilled, (2) make it possible to use certain
bulk-ink systems and non-OEM replacement cartridges, or (3) let you get the last few prints out of a cartridge that would normally be thrown
away with some ink remaining (as they are designed to be).
For example, MIS Associates sells three chip-resetting products for Epson-only inkjet printers:
Auto Reset Chips: Auto reset chips reset the ink level to full when the printer power is turned on or when a cleaning cycle is completed. They are
now used in the MIS Continuous Flow Systems as well as bulk systems by other suppliers. Not recommended for refilling.
F-16 Chip Resetter: This is a hardware
device that connects to the printer (Epson
only) and works on Macs and PCs. It will
reset the printer even if the Red “out of ink”
light is on. Meant for use with MIS
Continuous Flow Systems only, not for
refilling.
SK168 Universal Chip Resetter: The
SK168 is a self-contained unit with an
internal battery and seven small pins that
contact the cartridge chip (see Figure 7.6).
When held against the chip for 6 seconds,
it puts the chip back to its electronic FULL
setting. Requires that cartridges be removed
from the printer; not ideal for use with
Continuous Flow Systems; great for use
with refilling.
Bulk-Ink Systems
Bulk-ink delivery systems—variously called by their popular acronyms CIS, CFS, or CRS—
are a definite trend among high-volume printmakers and are popular for two reasons: cost
and convenience. The cost savings are obvious. Because you buy the ink in bulk, it’s cheaper
(the systems themselves can cost up to $350 for desktop printers, more for wide-format). And
because you only need to hook up the system once and then replenish or top off the bottled
ink as needed, it’s much more convenient than continually having to buy, change, or refill cartridges.
Another advantage is that long, unmanaged print runs can occur; you can’t print all
night with tiny carts, especially individual ones, but you can with a CIS.
There are several manufacturers of these bulk-ink systems, and you will also find them
sold under different rebranded names. They all work the same basic way: External reservoir
bottles supply ink to the printer via tubing that then connects to special cartridges
that replace the printer’s original ones. Here are three of the key bulk-ink players:
Figure 7.6 The MIS SK168 Universal
Chip Resetter.
Courtesy of MIS Associates, Inc.