Message
Re: Epson Pro3880 with troubled Photo Black ( PK ) for Piezography
2015-02-27 by brian_downunda@...
I don't have a 3880, but I have used piezo for a number of years in smaller printers and I know people who use it in the 3880.
In the default K7 setup, you have both an MK shade 1 and a PK shade 1. Typically you use MK on Matte and PK on gloss (unsurprisingly). So in that default setup, you'll only be able to print on Matte. Or perhaps only on gloss if you put the PK shade 1 in the MK slot and lie to the printer about the paper you're using. Whatever, you won't be able to swap from MK shade 1 to PK shade 1.
There are a number of possible solutions if you also want to print on gloss. The one that I would use is to put an ink called "Warm Neutral Opaque Photo Black Shade 1" in the K slot. Although it's intended for gloss, there is very little dMax loss on matte and a number of people (incl yours truly) use it as a universal black, rather than swapping and wasting ink. Despite its name, it's neutral, rather than warm (it comes as part of a warm neutral ink set, but shade 1 in piezo is (almost?) always neutral).
What concerns me most about what you're proposing is the age and condition of the printer. I've seen reports of people who have tried to convert smaller desktop printers to piezo that were old but working with OEM, and have failed. The problem is not piezo per se, but these smaller desktop printers with their more complex ink carts can sometimes function well enough with OEM carts, but give problems with refillables (leaking and draining). If this happens, and printer cleaning together with following the filling instructions exactly don't solve the problem (sometimes that's enough), then you're stuck with OEM rather that piezo or ConeColor.
The carts for the 3880 are much simpler without the complex venting of the smaller carts, and therefore you may not have these problems. But the fact that PK is behaving badly is not a good sign. You may be well advised to follow the IJM instructions about printer cleaning using piezoflush solution and perhaps also replace the ink dampers and lines.
The easiest introduction to piezo is to commit a new printer to it, but I know that's quite a commitment, and you already have a printer that you want to use. My two have been new and it's worked well for me, and I know a user with a brand new piezo 3880 that is working well.
I'd strongly advise you to post on the IJM forum and get Dana C's advice. She is very helpful and very experienced on the issues you raised. Note that you may need to wait a day or two for a response.
p.s. there is another possible solution, which is the soon to be released Piezography 2. Another good reason to post on IJM and ask.