What You Need to Know About the Ink Differences in the Afinia L701 and the Epson ColorWorks C6500 Gloss
Posted by JB on 25th Jan 2022
Afinia L701 vs Epson Colorworks C6500 Gloss - what's the difference? Both of these 8-inch label printers are designed for high-quality, professional color label printing. They do have some differences you need to know about.
Dye vs Pigment Inks
The Afinia L701 uses dye-based inks while the Epson CW-C6500 uses pigment inks. Dye-based inks are brighter and more colorful than pigment inks, which tend to be more muted but also more durable than dye inks.
Pigment inks are generally used on matte media, however, Epson's pigment inks in the CW-C6500 gloss label printer are specifically formulated for use on glossy media.
Print Resolution
In addition to using different ink types, the Afinia L701 and Epson CW-C6500 have different maximum print resolutions. The L701 can reach a maximum resolution of 1600x1600 dpi, while the CW-C6500 has a maximum resolution of 1200 dpi. This difference can be seen in the overall print quality, with the L701's labels being sharper and more detailed than the CW-C6500's labels.
Performance
Finally, the Afinia L701 has a faster print speed than the CW-C6500. Using an 8"x4" label as an example, the L701 has a print speed of 6-to-8 ips at 1600 dpi compared to the CW-C6500's sluggish print speed of just 0.20 ips at 1200 dpi. It takes nearly 6 hours on the CW-C6500 to print a batch of 1,000 of these labels compared to just under 12 minutes on the L701.
We've put together a quick video comparing the two printers side by side. Watch the video below to see just how much faster the Afinia L701 is compared to the Epson CW-C6500.
One of the best ways to understand the ink difference is to see it for yourself. Order a free label sample kit and we'll send you a selection of labels printed on both the Afinia L701 and the Epson CW-C6500 so you can see the difference between dye and pigment inks and 1600 dpi vs 1200 dpi for yourself.
Which color label printer is best? It depends on your needs. If you need the highest print quality possible and need labels printed quickly, go with the Afinia L701. If print quality and speed are less important than the initial purchase price, the Epson CW-C6500 is a great value but keep in mind just how slow it is.