Digital BW, The Print

The Rest of the Story ...

The 2000P in the EpsonArchivalMatte mode prints high speed ( 
bidirectional ) and with microweave enabled. It takes about 25 mins 
for a 12x16 printed area.

The sequence was
( with 2 or 3 cleaning cycles between changes and nozzle and
alignment tests to ensure proper ink feed )

Epson inks : no problems
Lyson Cleaning Cartridges
Lyson BW Hex Inks (dye) : banding
Lyson Cleaning Cartridges
Epson Inks : no problems
( a week later )
MIS VM Hex Inks (pigment) : banding
Epson Inks : no problems

Now, with the MIS inkset I did some more investigation .. The inks
would print OK if I used the PremiumLuster with Super(X) enabled, but 
that took the 12x16 printing sessions to over an hour to complete.

As I watched the printing with in the standard EAM paper mode, it 
appeared as if a nozzle quit for a time, then resumed - (sometimes 
too greatly?). The prints looked as if someone had wiped the paper 
with sandpaper in one direction - the streaks were most vivid in the 
mid tones and had a quite regular pattern.... I printed only a few 
intensity step charts ( with a cleaning cycle or two ) to verify that
nothing changed the pattern. I did not print too much as I was 
concerned that the nozzles might be intermittently running without 
ink and overheating or whatever and that I might damage the head..

From the MIS to a new set of Epson, I just pulled out the MIS and 
installed the Epson with no cleaning or alignment. The first nozzle 
test was fine and all prints afterwards were flawless.

It sure seems that there is some difference in ink characteristics 

Regards,
Alex P