T157 Ink

The Stylus Photo R3000 is a professional photo printer carrying nine separate inks, including two light blacks and a matte black, to reach the tonal range needed for exhibition-quality output. All nine must be fitted for the printer to operate.

It depends what the prints are for. For proofing, test prints and general work, compatible ink is a reasonable economy. For work being sold, exhibited or expected to last decades, most photographers stay with genuine Epson because the colour profiles and fade characteristics are matched to those inks.

Yes, each of the nine is separate and can be ordered on its own. The printer will not run with an empty cartridge in place, so it is worth checking levels before starting a long session.

Run a head clean before assuming anything is wrong with the ink. Pigment ink left standing in the nozzles dries, and on a printer of this age that is the usual cause of banding or missing colours. One or two cleaning cycles normally clears it.