The Epson CW-C6500 Gloss color label printer is a popular 8-inch colour label printer in Canada that uses pigment-based inks designed for use with glossy labels. It competes with the 8-inch Afinia L701 colour label printer, which excels at printing photo-quality product labels on glossy media at high speed. The following is a comparison of each printer's label printing properties and differences.

What do we mean by "photo quality"?

When we say "photo quality," we mean that the printer is capable of printing high-resolution images with accurate colours. The print output should look like a photograph without noticeable pixelation or banding. Factors that can affect the photo quality of a label include the printer's resolution, media type and quality, and inks used.

Print resolution: The Afinia L701 wins here with a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1600 dpi vs. the Epson C6500's 1200 dpi.

Media type and quality: Both label printers can print on matte or glossy paper, polypropylene, and polyester media. However, the Afinia L701 produces brighter colours and finer details on glossy media than the Epson C6500.

Inks used: The Epson C6500 uses DURABrite Ultra ink cartridges, which are pigment-based and designed for use with glossy labels. They produce high-quality prints with slightly muted colours and sharp text. The Afinia L701 uses dye-based Memjet ink cartridges, which produce brighter colours and more accurate photo reproduction across all compatible media types.

Overall, the Afinia L701 produces higher-quality labels than the Epson C6500. If you're looking for an 8-inch colour label printer that can produce high-resolution, photo-quality labels, the Afinia L701 is the best option.

Other Considerations

Print speed is also an important consideration when choosing a colour label printer. The Afinia L701 is dramatically faster than the Epson CW-C6500, especially during busy production runs when speed matters the most. Watch the video below to see just how much faster the L701 is:

Another consideration is print volume. If you have a home-based business in Canada that prints a handful of labels at a time, the Afinia L701 is likely overkill. The Epson CW-C6500 would be a cheaper choice in that case. But if you're looking for a colour label printer that can handle high volumes of labels at an even higher print resolution, the Afinia L701 is the clear winner.

Request a Sample Pack

Want to see the print quality difference for yourself? Request a free sample pack of labels from each printer. We'll send you glossy and matte labels from both printers so you can see the difference for yourself.