Digital BW, The Print

In a previous post I said that I had some troubles when loading the 
UT2 inkset onto my 1290s using the 1290 drivers.

MIS has been brilliant in supplying me with equipment for bulk 
feeding on this new 1290s, packaging and mailing USPS so that no 
customs charges were levied at this end.  Delivery across the pond 
was six to ten days, depending…..The carts were prefilled by MIS with 
Eboni in the black position.

I did not run the Epson inks but jumped straight in with the UT2 set, 
as I did not want to risk clogging the Eboni.  The nozzle checks 
looked very good  - only a few missing segments - except that the 
yellow position (sepia) was clear.  No ink at all.  Several nozzle 
checks and cleanings later, there was no sign of sepia ink but some 
gaps were appearing with the other colours, but not the Eboni black.  
Suspecting foam I took the colour cart out and with drew some ink 
from the sepia bottom outlet.  There was ink but no foam.  I tried 
again but no success with the sepia.

Next morning I tried again..no luck.  Waited some hours.. no luck.  
Decided to install the Epson inks. After two or three cleaning cycles 
and nozzle checks between, all were printing properly, so I knew it 
was not my imported printer.

I went back to the MIS setup and had a good nozzle check on the 
Eboni , nothing in the sepia and mixed with the other colours.  I 
cleaned and nozzle checked, printed purges, waited a couple of hours 
and tried again and then waited overnight.  I knew the printer was OK 
and so persevered and the nozzle checks got better and, at last, ink 
started to flow in the yellow so I purged only the yellow.  And then 
it was all clear but for a few segments of the yellow.  Then I had 
perfect nozzle checks.  From then on it has been fine with the 
occasional segment missing in one or other of the positions until 
Tuesday, then Wednesday and yesterday were OK from switch on.  I will 
be travelling this weekend so hope all is well when I return.

It is interesting though that the Eboni has scarcely caused any 
trouble so I am hopeful for the future now.

I have experienced different results between the tonalities 
(densities) using neutral and sepia curves on Ilford Galerie Smooth 
Pearl and with the EEM curves on EAM.  So I look forward to Paul 
posting the curves for the 1290.

Colin