Digital BW, The Print

In response to your questions: 

1. I'm trying to create digital positive transparencies for exposing 
photopolymer etching plates. To do this, I need the 
random "grain"/pattern similar to an aquatint screen or bitmap image. 
To get this I've been printing grayscale images using Quadtone RIP, 
with matte black only ink, printing at 720 DPI, uni-directional.

I've also tried printing using the R2400 Advanced B/W mode, which 
doesn' not give me options for resolution or ink cartridges, but I've 
been having the same banding issues in this mode as well. 

2. I'm printing on InkPress and Grafix transparency film for inkjets. 
(neither has white strip down the side) 

3. I'm using the matte black ink. I thought photo black would be 
darker or more opaque, but I've found that not to be true. I'm 
satisfied with opacity aspect of my prints. 

4-5. I've cleaned and aligned the heads a number of times, though I'm 
usually using matte paper to do this, not the transparency film.   

6. As I noted above, when using Quadtone RIP, I'm printing at 720 DPI 
output with uni-directional printing, so I can get the dot-grain 
pattern I need. I might try at a higher resolution (1440 DPI), but as 
I said, I'm seeing the same problems even in advanced B/W printing, 
which is at high resolution output. 

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Ender100@... 
wrote:
>
> David,
> 
> 1.   What printer settings are you using?
> 2.   What film are you printing on?
> 3.   Are you using photo black and original Epson inks?
> 4.   Have you run a test to confirm that all the jets are firing?
> 5.   Have you run the auto-allignment for the head on the 
transparency film?
> 6.   Are you printing at the highest resolution with hi-speed or 
> bi-directional turned off?
> 
> Sorry for all the questions.
> 
> Best Wishes, Mark Nelson
> Precision Digital Negatives - The System
> PDNPrint Forum at Yahoo Groups, www.MarkINelsonPhoto.com
> 
> In a message dated 1/23/08 4:15:37 PM, dkfreed@... writes:
> 
> I'm trying to print transparencies, but they always end up 
inconsistent, often with lines or bands in them. I print the same 
images on paper and don't have this problem.
 
> I'm guessing it may be how the printer "grabs" the sheets, and 
maybe with the transparency film there is some wiggle, so printing is 
inconsistent. ???
 
> I've seen some transparency films that come with a white paper 
strip down the side. I wonder if this is to help the printer grab 
onto the film?
 
> Any suggestions for how to deal with this? And how do people make 
digital transparencies with this problem?