Digital BW, The Print

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: blueto49 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 1:14 PM
  Subject: [Digital BW] Linear Patterns was Re: Exchange Print Comparisons


  I just wanted to add some observations of my own as to what Carolyn 
  is seeing. I think it is better to call them "linear artifacts" if 
  you will since I am not talking true banding that is easily seen at 
  normal viewing distances.

  First, the linear patters, light or dark, only appear in smooth areas 
  of the image. Any kind of small pattern to the image will tend to 
  break them up and render them invisible even under magnification. 
  Even a moderate grain pattern will mask it. This may not be 
  completely true if the linear pattern is very strong but generally 
  explains why some prints show the pattern and others do no. This is 
  why Carolyn didn't see any linear artifacts in my print. It is very 
  grainy.

  Second, the patterns tend to be limited to a certain tonal ranges. On 
  my 1200 with Piezo it was white or light toned banding as you 
  describe in the 25% to 50% tonal range. Using the Epson driver on my 
  1280 the banding is a dark or corduroy banding in the 60% to 80% 
  range. Using the Piezo driver (with the MIS VM inks installed) I get 
  the least banding with dark banding in the very darkest tones 90% to 
  100%. All of them have a faint look of linearity in the direction of 
  head travel.

  Third, it is not always consistent. Sometimes it is there and 
  sometimes it is not. Some lucky people seem to have perfect printers 
  and get perfect Piezo prints without any banding ever. Very 
  frustrating situation.

  Overall I think that the pattern or patterns are always there it is a 
  matter of factors that determine how noticeable they are. The nature 
  of the image and the paper used are big factors.

  I think the reason we do not see these patterns with the OEM inks is 
  the difference between dyes and carbon pigment inks. The dyes may 
  blend together more smoothly and penetrate the paper more. The 
  pigment inks may not mix as well and sit mostly on top of the paper 
  revealing a "spray" pattern in the way the ink is laid down that was 
  never anticipated by the designers. Some one tried pigment inks in a 
  2000P a while ago and reported seeing less of this linear pattern 
  than in other printers.

  Martin Wesley


  --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Carolyn  Frayn 
  <carolyn@u...> wrote:
  > Dear Group,
  > 
  > I installed the Piezo system on my 1200 this week, after a couple of
  > frustrating days with clogs and the banding due to the clogs it is 
  running
  > well. My first clog free prints however had a different banding 
  pattern. I
  > call this a linear pattern, more than a band. Feeling overly picky 
  about it
  > I took out the print exchange package again.
  > 
  > I went over the print exchange prints again with a loupe. I would 
  like to
  > start a conversation about the various types of output I see and 
  perhaps
  > have people varify what I'm seeing or tell me where I'm wrong.
  > 
  > My first clog free piezo print has a linear, soft, fine band 
  throughout all
  > tones and the whole print. It travels in the direction of the print 
  head. I
  > do not get this banding on prints from this printer with OEM inks.
  > 
  > Exchange prints:
  > 
  > I see a similair banding in all prints from the 1160 using the cone 
  driver,
  > whether they use cone inks or MIS. I do not see this pattern with 
  the Epson
  > driver.
  > 
  > I see the exact same linear pattern that I get in prints from the 
  1200 using
  > the cone driver, so it is not just my 1200.
  > 
  > I do not see this pattern in Mike's print from the Pro 7000 using 
  Cone's RIP
  > but in this print I see a very very subtle weave pattern (sort of 
  banding in
  > both directions but very soft and fine) that I find much nicer than 
  the
  > 1200's banding.  
  > 
  > So is this banding? Is this print head travel? Is this only 
  avoidable if I
  > were to go to the 7000 with Cone's Pro RIP?  Or go back to the 
  Epson driver?
  > 
  > I see no linear pattern in prints using MIS inks and the Epson 
  driver. I see
  > very little in the way of dots from 1160's and 1280's using Paul's 
  or Wolf's
  > curves but do see dot's in the 3000 prints without the loupe.
  > 
  > I read somewhere that the software RIP Mike K was talking about is 
  being
  > downsized for some of Epson's desktop printers. I wonder if this 
  will help
  > for the smaller printers to achive dotless prints without the print 
  head
  > pattern.
  > 
  > I very much like the output from Martin's print, 1280 @ 2880 using 
  MIS  VM.
  > But I did not want to play with curves just yet...
  > 
  > My output from the 2000P while displaying very subtle dots in the
  > highlights, does not display any linear pattern at all... One day I 
  hope to
  > use this printer for monochromes/duo/tritones with non OEM inks. 
  Darn that
  > metamerism! 
  > 
  > If I migrate the Piezo BW system to a 1280 will this get rid of 
  this wee
  > linear pattern (banding) issue?
  > 
  > Curious,
  > Carolyn
  > 
  > PS:  I do not find this at all objectionable from norman viewing 
  distance...
  > and sorry for being so verbous. ;-)


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