Digital BW, The Print

Hello,

I started a thread a few days ago, asking if I could use QImage with
my recently purchased Epson 1280 and its accompanying Piezography
BWICC inks. Paid $100 for the works, seemed like a good deal. Got
several good comments, thanks to all of you.

But it turns out the carts are dated as expiring in June 06... will
this be a problem?

Also, I fired up the printer for the first time yesterday, it has
installed in it a set of non-OEM carts, both black and color. They
register as 3/4 full but I get absolutely no printout with them, in
either the nozzle check test or a six color test TIFF print. The
printer is practically new, shows no signs of stray ink anyway, very
clean all around. But that's the problem, it hasn't been used for
months, perhaps even a year, and the heads may be clogged. A friend
thinks otherwise, thinks the heads may be ok, and that even if the
carts show 3/4 full, that the ink has gelled.

What's my plan of attack here? Should I first try and unclog the
heads, get some inexpensive color carts from MIS to see if I can at
least get a print of some kind? Should I try the MIS cleaning carts?

Also, am thinking I'm not wedded to these Piezography carts,
especially if they're expired. May want to go the MIS route, one
reason being I can refill those and my expenses will be less in the
long run.

As always, I appreciate the helpful people here!

PS Please tell me if this question is more appropriate over in the
Epson printer group. However, my question is partly a BW printing
issue, ie Piezography vs MIS, so I guess that part of my question is
appropriate here.

In a message dated 10/14/2007 3:56:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
paulmwhiting@... writes:

What's  my plan of attack here? Should I first try and unclog the
heads, get some  inexpensive color carts from MIS to see if I can at
least get a print of  some kind? Should I try the MIS cleaning carts?

Also, am thinking I'm  not wedded to these Piezography carts,
especially if they're expired. May  want to go the MIS route, one
reason being I can refill those and my  expenses will be less in the
long run.

As always, I appreciate the  helpful people here!




Can you get your $100.00 Back?
 
Richard Massie



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 10/14/2007 4:04:20 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
paulmwhiting@... writes:

PS  Please tell me if this question is more appropriate over in the
Epson  printer group. However, my question is partly a BW printing
issue, ie  Piezography vs MIS, so I guess that part of my question is
appropriate  here.



If you can't get your $100.00 back.... take $90.00
 
Richard M



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I might be able to... the situation's that bleak, eh? Ah, well!

> Can you get your $100.00 Back?
>  
> Richard Massie
>

Yes, do try the Epson printer group, as well as Digital Darkroom at
Photo.net

I've seen some superb 1280 work in B&W print exchanges with MIS, and
there's no reason to think Piezo wouldn't be as good. IMO in B&W the
1280 rivals 2400 if you can accept Black Only characteristics (dots).
The Epson driver's perfect for Black Only.

If your plan involved color I'd say forget it unless you're after
hypersaturated flash with very reduced longevity. 

Unclogging would seem the only real challenge if B&W's your goal.   


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Whiting"
<paulmwhiting@...> wrote:

>
> PS Please tell me if this question is more appropriate over in the
> Epson printer group. However, my question is partly a BW printing
> issue, ie Piezography vs MIS, so I guess that part of my question is
> appropriate here.
>

hard to say for sure, but the easiest thing is to take that advice and go another route.
However, you could get a cleaning cartridge, let it sit for days with a couple of cleaning cycles 
a day, and let the head sit on a windex soaked paper towel, etc.. Maybe even forcing windex 
through the nozzles with a syringe and tubing.
Could work, who knows?
Tyler

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Whiting" <paulmwhiting@...> 
wrote:

>
> I might be able to... the situation's that bleak, eh? Ah, well!
> 
>  
> > Can you get your $100.00 Back?
> >  
> > Richard Massie
> >
>

In a message dated 10/14/2007 10:44:18 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tyler@... writes:

hard to  say for sure, but the easiest thing is to take that advice and go 
another  route.
However, you could get a cleaning cartridge, let it sit for days  with a 
couple of cleaning cycles 
a day, and let the head sit on a windex  soaked paper towel, etc.. Maybe even 
forcing windex 
through the nozzles  with a syringe and tubing.
Could work, who knows?
Tyler

--- In  DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Whiting"  
<paulmwhiting@...> 
wrote:
>
> I might be able to... the  situation's that bleak, eh? Ah, well!
> 
>  
> > Can  you get your $100.00 Back?
> >  
> > Richard  Massie
> >
>



I ran 2 1280's with Piezo CIS, and got really nice prints from them. One  was 
warm, the other selenium. There seems to be a time limit though, before the  
clogging and ink starvation thing catches up to you. I think the problem is  
usage. At first, you have a bunch of stuff to print and everything goes well.  
It's when the bunch of stuff is no longer there, and it's just a print now and 
 again, that things start to muck up on you. You have to remember that the 
1280  is a dye ink printer with a piezo head. If you get one that's running 
well,  that's one thing.... but the printer in question has had it. The party is 
over  and the band has packed up.
Even if you only get 90 bucks back, you'll save a couple hundred and the  
rest of ya hair.
 
Richard M



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> But it turns out the carts are dated as expiring in June 06... will
> this be a problem?


Paul,

I wouldn't worry about that expiration date. One year past isn't too
critical. I would, however, give the carts a gentle shake or two
before installing. Even the best of pigments can settle with time.

 
> What's my plan of attack here? Should I first try and unclog the
> heads, 

I'd say yes. Read up on unclogging the 1280 (used to be lots of info
on the web). Take Tyler's advice. Be patient with the cleaning cycles.
Don't do too many in a row....  





> get some inexpensive color carts from MIS to see if I can at
> least get a print of some kind? Should I try the MIS cleaning carts?

The MIS cleaning carts (or any carts you can fill with some water and
windex or similar, preferably warm) should be what should sit in the
heads while you are trying to unclog them.
I'd skip the color carts and go straight to the Piezo carts after the
cleaning process. Worse that can happen is you'll go through them
while trying to get the heads to work. If at the end the printer is
good to go, you buy whatever ink you choose to print with and you'll
be starting with a fresh set.




> 
> Also, am thinking I'm not wedded to these Piezography carts,
> especially if they're expired. May want to go the MIS route, one
> reason being I can refill those and my expenses will be less in the
> long run.

The expiration is a minor issue compared to the difference between
these two inksets (piezo vs MIS), their properties and the drivers and
profiles needed to run them. Depending on your level of experience and
technical confidence go with what you feel more secure about.
If indeed you have a constant volume of printing such that refilling
carts will be worth the hassle, consider a Continuous Flow System. But
then, never let the printer sit idle for longer than a week...

Antonis