Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "markhahn2000" 
<markhahn2000@y...> wrote:
> I read the recent post concerning low humidity and clogged printer 
> heads... here in AZ it is always less then 20% relative humidity, if 
> I print something at least once a week will I be ok or should I try 
> to humidify the printer somehow?
> 
> thanks,
> 
> mark

You must be responding to my previous post about clogged Magenta 
nozzles after two weeks of 20-25%RH and no printing.

Please bear in mind that in the past when I could isolate a problem 
and prove that it existed, I posted about it. When I didn't have 
enough to go on, I presented it as a theory, supposition, hunch, etc. 
Still, people went to either extreme, thinking I was either condemning 
a product needlessly, or at the other end of the spectrum, they would 
become worried/upset over my "hunch" when I had no data to back it up 
and clearly stated it as a "hunch". Neither response is how one should 
respond, but I can understand your concern.

I do not have enough data to make any experimental observation of 
whether humidity causes any ink/printer to perform better or worse. In 
my own case, I am changing more than one variable (humidity, CIS vs 
carts) in order to save having to discard printer. "Grasping at 
straws", if you will.

In order to play it safe, I introduced a humidifier with a digital 
humidstat to monitor humidity levels. I use a cool mist instead of a 
warm mist, so the room temperature does not rise. I double check the 
humidity/temperature in two other places in the room, next to my film 
scanner, and 6 inches from my 1160. I try to aim for 35-40% humidity, 
as from what I can read in my Kodak "Preservation of Photographs", 
silver gelatin prints/ negs seem to do okay from about 25-50%RH or so. 
 (I store traditional photos and negatives in the same room.) I am 
currently using distilled water, since I am on a well with extremely 
hard water.

I think it was Diana York that reported that she humidifies her room 
to at least 50%RH. Also some people have isolated the humidity by 
placing the humidifier or just a pan of water under a printer cover. I 
have heard of this trick from more than one person, but don't want to 
try it myself unless the humidity level can be controlled closely 
under the cover..

The only other thing I know about this is that if you read the Epson 
1160 spec sheet (I couldn't find it reported in the manual, but I have 
 an original promotional brochere) it specifies a WORKing minimum RH 
of 20%. This is of course assuming OEM ink.

I don't know if you should humidify your room or not. Hopefully, these 
clarifications and info will at least help you decide what you prefer 
to do.
Jim H.