Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

I have waited for a while before posting this, after lengthy tests 
with various print settings, images and papers, and to isolate the 
problem to the inks or paper and not the printer or photograph. 

My current digital print configuration is a new 1290 printer with UT2 
inks using MIS carts, bottom filled as per instructions given on 
their website. The paper I'm using is Ilford Glossy Pearl,
printed 
using the Roark workflows and curves. Heads are cleaned and aligned, 
and I've tried various print settings, 1440dpi & 2880dpi, BO and 
finally reverting back to the original Epson inks as well as testing 
various grades of Epson papers (PGPP, heavyweight matte etc) and the 
problem remains – the prints are coming out `patchy',
looks like 
coalescence but I'm not sure. Basically the inks seem to
coagulate in 
the shadow areas instead of giving a smooth continuous tone as I 
would expect. I get better results when I reverted back to the 
original Epson dye inks – smoother tonal values, and any dither
is 
not discernible to the eye whereas with the UT2's its quite
apparent 
to the naked eye. So I'm not able to get a smooth tonal print
with 
the UT2s – is there something I'm missing?

I would appreciate any helpful comments in troubleshooting this 
problem. I've included a photo of the problem, shot through a 8X 
loupe. Thanks in advance!

Pete Chen


Image File:
http://sg.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/amazingtransplant/detail?.dir=/6d89&.
dnm=74f4.jpg