Digital BW, The Print

Attension fellows,


The following has happend to me,

First of all I'm an "heavy" amateur - Either "Switch on" or "switch 
off" -that is one week full of printing - three weeks of doing your 
job and taking photoes.

I have three 1290's with CFS from MIS - everything has been 
wonderfull until now.

The dispersion or "colloid" that the carbonparticles are floating in
does not work allways - or a did have a bad batch!

I do run all my epsons twice a week - to keep them fit!
No problems so far!

BUT - yesterday morning the black stopped - it should not have - I 
know my darling epsons.

At last (I normaly not do this a losend all straps holding the 
cartriges in place) took out the cartriges and was planing for
an investigation - What the .... has happened.

Standing there at the end black up to my elbows - a found it at last!

The black tube "was closed" whatever I did to get ink out or air in 
was "mission impossible" - Something was in that tube! For sure?

As I pressed the tube all along with my fingers I didn't find a thing!

The last thing i did was pressing the tube with the fingers of one 
hand and drawing the tube constantly with the other hand!

AND THERE IT WAS - real dark grease as thick or mor thick as greases 
for my old other hobby - my Mercedes 1950 170S. 

Afterwords I could clean the tube with water.

Conclusions
1/ The dispersion or colloid doesnt ork as ment.
   The corbon (or pigment for color) goes to the bottum of the
   flasks - are soaked up - and settels somewhere in the tubes - 
   (and in the cartriges?)

2/ That means - that if You have uneven blacks or "greenies" or
   other problems with Your result (think for yourself - there are
   many inlays about strange fenomena.....hmmm....)

3/ Shall I use this inks? 

I shall shy - also mension the following - I have just two instead of 
three 1290's by now. What I did - was very tired - put an full black 
cartrige and a full colorcartrige in when doing the things above. 
As i was angry and tired the black cartrige was without any chip....
after trying to do some "cleaningcycles" I saw that the red lamp was 
blinking - and was told to put a black cartrige in the printer.
I ripped out the black one for inspection - yes no chip - put in a 
fresch one - Whatever my scilles are - bending the pins right again 
and "distance them as new - the printer was dead - really 
dead "GENERAL FOULT" or somthing like that. Some minutes ago Epson 
called me - no warranty - I had "abused" the printer - this should 
not happen!
Also it has been for epson Service twice for "GENERAL FAULT" ...
Why???? I think it's because I use the 1280 drivers for that 1290 
using Pauls VM-curves - --> The second time it was in - Epson sevice 
called me and asked if I used the right drivers and I told them - "Of 
cause I have the latest from the internet at Epson....-reply "are You 
sure You piced them at the Brittish site" --- My answer 
was /smile/ "I don't know - what Internetaddress please?!.
Why did they ask that question? ...hmmm.... They could certainly see
something that I'm not awa´re of!

So - they did also remember me by those "odd" errors they had to deal 
with earlier - this added to the last thing that happend - is that 
I'll by another printer 1290 of cause if the reparation cost is what 
they said! Perhaps good for spareparts for the future - as I have the 
normaly have three 1290 going! (Dye, pigment color and quad)

Last but not least - I bought those inks (VM ) just before chrismas - 
they are not two years as stated by MIS. Order was direct MIS USA!

Shake your bottles every week - long enough!

Is your blacks going odd or the "stepwedge" don't show up quite
all right - it's time for an overhoule. 

Questions to ask yourself - if there is thick "colorgrease in the 
tubes.....how does my sponges look like?

After seeing this I have lot's of questions...to ask you and myself.
dare I use the "pigment inks" - "dare I use the carbon particel inks"

Dare I buy from MIS or any other company - dispersion or colloid inks?

I don't think this is just a MIS thing - remeber the inks from CONE- 
I think their inks and dispersions are worse - and explans a lot of 
things to me - many many things!

If - how often shall I switch the cartriges, how often shall I take 
everything apart for an inspection and an overhule and clean things!
How often shall I shake my bottles? etc etc

Called MIS by phone - they first asked me if it was Cone - inks????
Then later I (Bob was not in coming tomorow morning - US time - but 
what US -time - I'm a Swede you know!)
Then I asked if they was aware of this - Answer - "They have had ONE 
custumer discribing the same thing as she could recall" - "don't know 
if the others have heard it!"

I told them 1/ Give instructions for how to handle dispersion inks
               (That is all pigmented inks corbon or color)
            2/ Helping us with 1290's curves (- 1280 is a miner part -
 the 1290 is the model number for most of the world as I recall)
Not only europe!!!
I asked if they would not do real businnes having more custumer by
that relativly simple thing - to earn money in the rest of the world 
and reminded her that the world is not US only! I hope she learnt 
that now /smile/

You may draw Your own conclussions I'm for certain drawing mine - 
I invested in three Epson 1290 for my digital darkroom - but just now 
I feel out of sorts - for sure - what shall I do - what shall WE do!


I did all my CFS's myself - I'm Very handy - and like to experiment.
I did four car renovations with cars from the thirties and up - and I 
learnt how to weld as well as paint and sew new seats for a car - and 
I have wone old car competisions for best renovation! Best .... etc
I a proud handy man!

I feel it's a major thing to discuss and take up with the deliverants!
I will - fore sure!!!!!!!

IT's SOMETHING WRONG HERE! 


Please NO answers like "MY epsy works fine!" There is nothing wrong!
This is another legue!
 
/Sorry for my Swinglish - Swedish - English that is!/

An very experienced 1290 CFS owner from summer 2001!
And I DID love it - having both qaud and exellent colorpics....
now hanging all over - not just at home - official places as well!


Civilengineer
Heavy Photamateur etc
Bo Wrangborg
Made in Sweden