Digital BW, The Print

I posted this in FM and was forwarded to post this question here in hopes someone can help.

I am using an Epson 2400 printer to print my B&W. The tonality is great and all but when 
I start using fine art paper like Hahlemuhle (even sent my B&W to a local print shop 
(Calypso, Inc. in Santa Cruz) that uses Epson 9800. 

I can clearly see banding when I use these fine art paper and you can see it when you hold 
the print close, like 1 to 2 feet away.  It's mighty bad, if I want to sell these as "fine art prints" 
when the banding is so apparent and I thought I'm alone when the print shop I used sent me 
prints with bands.

It's also most apparent in darker and flat toned areas.  I'm using ImagePrint 6.

The banding doesn't occur much on luster or gloss. Only fine art or watercolor papers.

Are there any good print shops out there that does great B&W prints? Any recommendations?

- Michael Soo
http://www.soophotography.com

Hello Michael,

>I am using an Epson 2400 printer to print my B&W. The tonality is
>great and all but when I start using fine art paper like Hahlemuhle 
>I can clearly see banding when I use these fine art paper and you 
>can see it when you hold the print close, like 1 to 2 feet away.  
>It's also most apparent in darker and flat toned areas.  I'm using
ImagePrint 6.

Assuming you get perfect nozzle checks and a head alignment doesn't
help, I would first try making a print with the built in ABW driver. 
If the banding goes away then you know it's the driver and not the
printer.  If it's still there, then it's probably a faulty head and
needs replacing, hopefully still under warranty.  Good luck with it
and please let us know what happens.


Regards,
Clayton

Having closely inspected lots of 2400 work by multiple
  B&W photographers on various fine art papers,
including various Hahnemeules, I've never seen
banding. 

Since you're getting this problem at Calypso, one of
the best several labs in the country as well as with
your own Epson, either your karma's especially
irritating OR something's wrong with your
post-processing. 

What does Calypso say about this? They're probably
right.

Make a very simple B&W file with no post-processing
other than the most basic Photoshopping to convert to
B&W (absolutely no third party software) and see if
that eliminates your banding. Start fresh.

Michael, Are these digital capture files or scans? What happens if you
rotate your file 90 degrees?  And is this banding micro banding or wide ¼ or
so? The source of the problem sounds like it is coming from something other
than your printer. Rotation of the file will tell you if it is your file or
printer. If it is your printer and you are running IP 6, you may want to
look at adjusting the paper feed. Since another facility is also seeing
banding it may very well be in the file.

 

I sometimes use a set of  curve adjustments to look for dust on files and I
think it would be very useful for you here. Set up two curves layers that
alternate between 0 and 100 %. The first starting at 0 and the second
starting at 100 and use the 10 step grid in PS.  This will give you a very
quick way of looking at the file in an exaggerated way. If there is banding
in your file you’ll see it. Set that up as an action and use it later to
look for dust. When you are done with them, simply trash them and move on
with image editing. 

 

Eric

 

 

 

Eric Neilsen Photography

4101 Commerce Street

Suite 9

Dallas, TX 75226

http://e.neilsen.home.att.net

http://ericneilsenphotography.com

Skype ejprinter

  _____  

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Michael
Soo
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 3:02 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] Epson 2400 and 9800 banding

 

I posted this in FM and was forwarded to post this question here in hopes
someone can help.

I am using an Epson 2400 printer to print my B&W. The tonality is great and
all but when 
I start using fine art paper like Hahlemuhle (even sent my B&W to a local
print shop 
(Calypso, Inc. in Santa Cruz) that uses Epson 9800. 

I can clearly see banding when I use these fine art paper and you can see it
when you hold 
the print close, like 1 to 2 feet away. It's mighty bad, if I want to sell
these as "fine art prints" 
when the banding is so apparent and I thought I'm alone when the print shop
I used sent me 
prints with bands.

It's also most apparent in darker and flat toned areas. I'm using ImagePrint
6.

The banding doesn't occur much on luster or gloss. Only fine art or
watercolor papers.

Are there any good print shops out there that does great B&W prints? Any
recommendations?

- Michael Soo
http://www.soophoto <http://www.soophotography.com> graphy.com

 



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

I showed the print that Calypso sent me to their tech guy.  He said  
that it's
a common issue with the fine art paper with Epson inkjets.

Now that I've upgraded to Leopard, I'm having problems finding the
driver to test my print heads...  ugh.


Michael Soo

http://www.soophotography.com

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Michael Soo 
<msoo@...> wrote:
>
> 
> I showed the print that Calypso sent me to their tech guy.  He 
said  
> that it's
> a common issue with the fine art paper with Epson inkjets.
> 


Cop out, they don't want to deal with it.

It's very likely the the head height of your 2400 is not high enough 
for the paper that you are choosing in the driver. If there is a 
place to change the head height, try it. If not try to find a place 
in the driver that allows you to change the "line feed" spacing to 
make the spacing between each pass of the head a little smaller. 
Changing the dither may also help.

Also since you are using Image Print, I would also suggest the you 
follow Clayton's advice and try the Epson driver in any mode to see 
if the problem goes away. You should probably try this first since it 
is the more simple test.