Digital BW, The Print

I have been printing large prints on my Ep. 10K on very thick 308 gsm and similar media 
for 3 years constantly, almost everyday, and have used the paper cutter for almost 
everything. My printer cuts Ultra-Smooth all the way through as well as Somerset Velvet, 
and scores the Hahnemuhle Papers nicely so all you have to do is tear them by hand for a 
clean smooth edge. After three years I just noticed that it isn't quite making it through 
Somerset anymore in the middle section without a little help from the sharp scissors I use. 
So, it is time for me to replace the blade. But. you know I've saved a lot of time these past 
3 years by using that internal blade on rag papers. 

Now.... whether this is the story with the 9600 and smaller prints I just don't know. It 
could well be that they are not as substantial in size or durability of the blade edge. I 
would ask Epson, but they will tell you to not use it on the rag media thicker than theirs 
anyway. But it was always my impression that all of their rag papers ( smooth fine art, 
somerset for Epson, ultra-smooth) we given a slightly thinner profile so that these paper 
cutters would work. 

Your right that it is a pain to remove the roll and take it over to the paper trimmer after 
each run. On my printer if the edge isn't totally straight it won't print and without scoring, 
the chances of cutting a perfect edge by hand are quite low. For awhile I had my 72" 
rototrim on the floor by the printer and that was a real pain. I guess you could set up a 
table in front of the printer with a big paper cutter on it and do it that way. I personally 
don't have room for doing that and I need my trimmer for other work all the time.

john.


> > By the way, you don't want to use the cutter on the nice thick fine
> > art papers anyway. They dull the blade after only a few cuts. It was
> > designed for Epson's normal flimsy stuff.
> > Tyler
> 
> I know that's the Epson party line, but can others confirm that
> cutting a paper like Epson Ultrasmooth on a 17" roll with the 4000's
> autocut mechanism will quickly wear out the blade? It seems to do a
> great job on the few prints I've used it for, and cutting roll paper
> by hand is such a hassle - straight edges are impossible.
> 
> Thanks,
> Ron