cheaper ink! Any decent options?

I have a simple desktop Pixma mp560 I just use for 5x7 and 8x10 for quick prints for small frames for me and family. But it's been bleeding me dry lately on ink. I had an epson that would print well with generics, but then clog all the time. So I was wondering if anyone had any good luck with Generic Canon ink. (CLI-221 cartridges).

I don't need 100+ years picture life like Canon promises, but I would like good color. Anyone recommend anything?

You can get the cartridges refilled at Costco if you have one nearby. I think it's about $7.

I use LD Products and have no complaints.

Never touch the stuff. I pay for the real deal. Wilhelm imaging has tested some refill inks, and some of the results are awful--e.g., in one recent tests, fading in a few months. Check out their site to see if they have any of the inks you are interested in.

That's what I was afraid of.

Maybe I need to buy a second printer with generic ink for evertyhing but photos and then just have the photo printer with real expensive ink.

tkbslc wrote in post #15389631
That's what I was afraid of.

Maybe I need to buy a second printer with generic ink for evertyhing but photos and then just have the photo printer with real expensive ink.

That's what I did. I have a side business and I use a printer for printing labels on a constant basis. When I bought my 9000 MkII, I bought a cheap $29 Epson just for printing other stuff.

Have you thought about a continuous ink system? I use the Rihac one and it works out to be mere cents per picture including paper. I use it on an Epson and the colour is as good as the genuine ink. I'm not sure if they make one for your printer though but other suppliers may.

I have one printer that is a monochrome laser one that prints emails, etc. The second one, an Epson, is for printing color photos.

L.J.G. wrote in post #15390498
Have you thought about a continuous ink system? I use the Rihac one and it works out to be mere cents per picture including paper. I use it on an Epson and the colour is as good as the genuine ink. I'm not sure if they make one for your printer though but other suppliers may.

I had such bad luck with epson clogs that I don't think I'll buy another. I had to do a full clean cycle every time I printed a photo. I've heard it has something to do with Epson being sensitive to dry climates.