Printing Your Own CDRs With Ink
What Is The Difference Between The Epson Models 900 And 960?
Before we delve into printing CDRs with the Epson Stylus Photo 900 and Stylus Photo 960, it might be helpful to get an idea of the differences between the two printers.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Stylus Photo 900 | Stylus Photo 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Printing Technology | Advanced Micro Piezo, optimized for photo printing | Advanced Micro Piezo, optimized for photo printing |
| Nozzle Configuration | Monochrome head: 48 nozzles, Color head: 48 nozzles x 5 (CcMmY) | Monochrome head: 192 nozzles, Color head: 96 nozzles (per color) |
| Ink Palette | 6 colors (CcMmYK) | 6 colors (CcMmYK) |
| Ink Cartridge Configuration | One black cartridge and one color (CcMmY) cartridge | Individual ink cartridges |
| Maximum Resolution (dots per inch) | 5760 x 720 optimized dpi | 2880 x 1440 dpi |
| Print Speed - Black Text | Up to 9 PPM | Up to 8 PPM (360 dpi mode) |
| CDR Print Speed - Using THG Color Test CDR - Epson Bundled Print CD Software | 4:14 | 3:18 |
| Printer Language | EPSON ESC/P Raster, EPSON Remote | EPSON ESC/P Raster, EPSON Remote |
| Input Buffer | 256K | 256K |
| Direct CD / DVD Printing Support | Yes | Yes |
| Straight through paper path for thicker media | Yes | Yes |
| Interface and Connectivity | USB/Parallel (IEEE 1284) | USB/Parallel (IEEE 1284) |
| Warranty | One Year | One Year |
| Price | $199 US | $349 US |
Several noticeable differences are apparent between the Epson 900 and the 960 beyond the obvious price difference. The two that we found important to focus on are the difference in resolution between the 900 and 960, as well as the difference in ink configuration between the 900 and 960.
The Epson Stylus Photo 900
During our testing, we found that the resolution between the two units isn't as much of a factor as one might think. Most users know that in order to achieve good results at the highest printing resolutions, ink jet printers require high resolution paper that can handle more ink without the bleed normally associated with most normal paper stock. Since ink jet printable CDRs have a somewhat limited range as to the amount of ink that can be absorbed on the media, the highest resolution setting should not be used. By using the included software, some tuning and adjustments can be made to the amount of ink and brightness/darkness of the ink that is being placed onto the CDR.
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