Digital BW, The Print

I need some insight into banding problems.  I have printed with my 1200 and
Cone inks for about a year.  As an avid amateur I don't print regularly but
do my printing in short bursts separated by 2 week intervals.  A few months
ago I had terrible banding and then a clog that could not be fixed so I had
the printer serviced (new head and pump).  All of this seemed reasonable if
inconvenient.

When I received the printer back from repair I decided to try the MIS FS
inks and the cone driver.  I bought two sets of carts and a set of six
bottles of ink.  When I got the printer back from repair I checked it out
with the epson inks and every thing looked great.

When I put the FS carts in there was a settling period of a day and then it
printed 'not bad'.  The nozzle checks looked perfect but the was slight but
noticeable banding in the 1/4 tones.  Put the epson carts back in - still
banding.  Returned for repair and no problems at the repair shop.  Took it
home again feeling chagrined for my impatience.  The filled second set of
carts with FS and let them sit overnight.  When these went in there was
another period of waiting (24hours) and then I got an almost perfect nozzle
check - and of course banding.

I have not seen this problem with nozzle checks before.  You can see a scan
of the test pattern at http://www.designinsite.ca/photo/banding.html
One of the lines thinner, but at the same vertical location as its
predecessor.  I have tried everything to get rid of it.  Windex, folded
paper towel, getting it drunk et. Al.  Although the banding is not severe
(maybe this is what others had referred to as micro-banding) it is
noticeable in areas of smooth or continuous light tones - like foreheads.

If anyone has any insight into this before I buy a new printer I would
really appreciate it.


Kevin Gulstene