Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Mende" <chrismendefoto@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 11:02 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] Addendum to Banding with new CIS


> I just looked at a purgefile I printed with the 10x loupe and lo and
> behold, the banding does NOT have "white lines" but a variable black
> level that looks like a "rag rug"pattern.  Is this a problem with the
> feed mechanism?

Chris,

If you are printing the purge file with default Epson driver settings at 360
dpi with the quality setting on low you will always see banding. Make sure
you use a higher resolution, heavy weight matte paper setting and high
quality if you want to use this to evaluate your output.

This part of your problem sounds like what has been called "dark banding" or
"corduroy banding". This seems to be an artifact of inkjet printing and is
parallel to the path of the print head. It should not be visible without a
loupe and should only appear in smooth tonal areas of a specific range.
Where is shows up is image and inkset dependent to some extend. Put away the
loupe. If you can't see it under normal viewing conditions ignore it or you
will drive yourself crazy.

>  It looks as if it truly has nothing to do with the
> new CIS - I'm just looking closer now.  Also, the dropped white lines
> I had mentioned are only in the first (upper) digits of the alignment
> pattern, too, not the second,lower digits.(the "1" of "13" for
> instance). Odd.

If you are dropping dots then there is still a partial clog or air bubble in
the head and you should continue to try the standard remedies.

> Looks as if I have a printer servicing coming up.  Any suggestions as
> to where to go?  I'm in San Francisco.

Some people have had some luck with repair people being able to clear out
tough clogs. Don't know anyone in the Bay Area.

Martin