Digital BW, The Print

I've been successfully running QTR w/ gui for quite some time now, and
have recently discovered an anomaly in finished image size. I end up
losing anywhere from 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch from just one side of the
image. I'm running WinXP Pro, QTR w/ Gui 2.2.4, Epson 7600, UC inks w/
Eboni black, and Photorag Satin is the only paper that I think I've
seen this occur with (not that the paper has anything to do with it).
I think it's also happened exclusively with roll feed/cutter on, and
entirely on prints 16x20 and larger. I've since been printing from the
roll with sheet feed selected and so far so good with the first few
prints. 

Has anyone seen this? Any ideas? Bug in the Gui? Thanks in advance. 

Michael Gordon
www.mgordonphotography.com

Here's an update. I printed a 16x30 on Photorag original, same
settings as described in my intro post (but with sheet feed, manually
cut), and I got a 16" measured height on both short sides of the
print, but lost 1/32 on one 30" side, and lost 1/4" on the other 30"
side. This hardly even seems possible, but it's happening. When
mounting and matting, I can see the obvious sweep of the image
shortening. This is baffling me and pissing me off. 

Any ideas? Thank you. 

Michael Gordon

Michael Gordon wrote:

> Here's an update. I printed a 16x30 on Photorag original, same
> settings as described in my intro post (but with sheet feed, manually
> cut), and I got a 16" measured height on both short sides of the
> print, but lost 1/32 on one 30" side, and lost 1/4" on the other 30"
> side. This hardly even seems possible, but it's happening. When
> mounting and matting, I can see the obvious sweep of the image
> shortening. This is baffling me and pissing me off.
>
> Any ideas? Thank you.
>
> Michael Gordon

About the only way that can happen is if the paper is slipping in the 
printer. And it doesn't have to slip much. A micron here, a micron 
there, and it adds up over 30 inches.

If the printer has seen lots of use, it may just be that the vacuum 
system has sucked in enough dust to limit it's effectiveness. Could be 
worn rollers somewhere. Could just be paper dust limiting traction.

First thing I'd do is go over the entire paper path and vacuum system 
and make it spotlessly clean.
--
Bruce Watson

Michael Gordon wrote:

> Here's an update. I printed a 16x30 on Photorag original, same
> settings as described in my intro post (but with sheet feed, manually
> cut), and I got a 16" measured height on both short sides of the
> print, but lost 1/32 on one 30" side, and lost 1/4" on the other 30"
> side. This hardly even seems possible, but it's happening. When
> mounting and matting, I can see the obvious sweep of the image
> shortening. This is baffling me and pissing me off.
>
> Any ideas? Thank you.
>
> Michael Gordon

Another thought. I had the problem you are describing happen a few times 
when my 7600 printer was new. It was because I wasn't doing a good job 
loading the paper. The printer is fairly touchy about that, especially 
with roll stock.

I learned to load rolls in one of two ways. First, a fresh roll that is 
cut straight and perpendicular, can be loaded as a sheet (you have to 
tell the front panel that you are loading a sheet). You hold the paper 
on both sides, and make sure it settles into the slot solidly before you 
push the pause button, then you keep a little pressure on both sides 
until the printer pulls the paper out of your hands. Don't walk away - 
when the load cycle is done you have to tell the front panel that you 
are actually using roll paper. If you don't, it'll pull the entire roll 
though when it finishes printing (you told it that it had a single 
sheet, yes?).

Second way to load a roll is to open the paper lever and push the 
leading edge all the way through the printer. Hold the leading edge, and 
take all the slack out of the roll. Then line the edge of the paper up 
with the row of holes on the left hand side of the big stainless steel 
plate that runs across the bottom front of the printer. Line it up in 
the middle of the holes - it seems to matter. Once it's lined up, close 
the paper lever (with your third hand ;-)

This may or may not be your problem, but I thought I should at least 
acknowledge that it's a possibility.
--
Bruce Watson

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, hogarth@s... wrote:

> About the only way that can happen is if the paper is slipping in the 
> printer. And it doesn't have to slip much. A micron here, a micron 
> there, and it adds up over 30 inches.

The interesting thinfg is that there are no anomalies in the print.
It's all there, with no overlap or image clipping anywhere (that I can
tell). 


> First thing I'd do is go over the entire paper path and vacuum system 
> and make it spotlessly clean.

I appreciate your advice. I've read your other post, and I've been
operating my 7600 for nearly three years, so I'm not new to using the
printer and have always loaded paper as you describe. This is the
first time this kind of thing has popped up. I suspect perhaps that it
might be the vacuum system. Have you any ideas how to make the vacuum
and paper path spotlessly clean? This is terra incognita for me. Do I
just get in there with a vacuum cleaner? 

Thanks, Bruce. 

Michael Gordon