Stylus Photo R280 Laser Toner Cartridges and Supplies

Stylus Photo R280 Ink — The 78 Shelf, Position by Position

The Stylus Photo R280 takes the 78 cartridge family in all six positions: black T078120, cyan T078220, magenta T078320, yellow T078420, light cyan T078520 and light magenta T078620 — six separate Claria dye cartridges in high yield, with no standard capacity tier. Epson has never published an official yield table for the 78 family, so no page number is printed here rather than borrowed from a reseller.

The R280’s ink shelf is documented position by position in a dozen official Epson safety data sheets for this printer's supplies — one for every cartridge slot, all six positions. There is no standard/high split inside the 78 family on this model; the high-capacity 77 option, where it exists, is a separate shelf. Everything on this page is the 78 shelf as Epson documents it.

Which 78 should you buy?

• One color ran out: replace just that color — black, cyan, magenta, yellow, light cyan and light magenta singles are $10.49 each.
• Full refresh: the Set of 6 ($49.41) replaces all six positions in one box.
• Stock up: the Set of 13 ($87.56) stocks three blacks and two of each color as the household spare shelf.

Chip, ink and everyday use

The R280's six 78 positions all sit in one tier, so consumption here is purely about which color your photographs spend: the light cyan and light magenta carry the pale ends of gradients where full-strength dots would show, while the full colors answer for saturated areas. Each cartridge carries a new compatible chip (Intellidge-type) and levels report as they should. Because this printer pauses when any single cartridge is expended, the spare to keep sealed and out of direct light is whichever light ink your prints lean on hardest.

More printers that use 78 ink

Artisan 50 · Stylus Photo R260 · Stylus Photo R380 · Stylus Photo RX580 · Stylus Photo RX595 · Stylus Photo RX680