SKU:

CS-EP-279-C

Condition:

New Compatible

OEM Part #:

T279220-S

Color:

Cyan

Ink Type:

Dye

Page Yield:

Up to 360 pages (ISO/IEC 24711)

Chip:

New compatible chip (ink-level monitoring)

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1-Year Free Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this printer have both cyan and light cyan?

Smoothness. Full-strength cyan cannot lay down a very pale blue without visible grain, so the 279 family splits the work: this cartridge covers saturated blues, the light cyan covers skies and highlights. Together they are why the XP-980's photo gradients look the way they do.

How far does a standard cyan go?

Up to 360 pages on Epson's ISO/IEC 24711 rating for the genuine cartridge. Photo-heavy printing uses cyan faster than the rating suggests — a run of seascapes will drain this slot well before the black.

My printer says cyan is empty but prints still look fine. Swap now or later?

The printer stops when its counter says empty, so keep a spare ready rather than planning to squeeze pages past the warning. Colours can be replaced one at a time, the moment their own warning appears.

Can this cyan work next to XL cartridges in the other slots?

Yes. Standard and XL mix freely — each slot reads its own cartridge. Pairing this standard cyan with an XL black is a common arrangement in this family.

Does it show ink levels on the printer screen?

It does — a new compatible chip reports levels to the XP-980, so the gauge falls as the cartridge is used, just as with a genuine cartridge.

What should I know about the chip and firmware?

The honest version: this cartridge carries a new compatible chip. If your printer's firmware has been updated, recognition issues can occasionally occur on current Epson models. If a warning appears after an update, reseat the cartridge until it clicks and restart the printer before assuming a fault.

Is the 279 cyan a dye ink?

Yes — Claria Photo HD dye, like all six 279 colours. Dye is what this photo family is built on; there is no pigment version of this cartridge.

Which printer is it for?

The Expression Photo XP-980, only. It does not fit the XP-960 — a similar name on a different family — nor the XP-970, XP-950, XP-860 or XP-850.

The colour looks slightly off after a swap. Is the cartridge at fault?

Usually not immediately: run a nozzle check first, and a head cleaning only if the check shows gaps. A freshly seated cartridge can also need a page or two before its colour settles into the print head's mix.

How much ink is in it, in millilitres?

We leave that field blank: Epson's US documentation gives no millilitre figure for this family, and we will not substitute a reseller's number. The 360-page ISO yield is the comparable figure.

Is it made by Epson?

No. It is a Clever Supplies compatible built to the T279220-S specification, labelled compatible on the box and on this page.

What if it fails or leaks?

It is covered by our lifetime warranty — a cartridge that fails to perform, including leaking or printing poorly from new, is replaced. Free returns apply within the first year.