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

on 2/19/02 2:52 AM, Kevin Gulstene wrote:

> 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,

Fret not. Your nozzle check is, as you say, almost perfect, but it isn't
perfect. Your 5th horizontal line on your bottom row is slightly deflected
and that's enough to give you banding. Don't print until you get a PERFECT
nozzle check from every color position

I reserve the aggressive cleaning treatments you speak of for fully blocked
nozzles. For a slight problem like yours one or two head cleaning cycles
(using the drivers utility) usually clears that right up. If not I put the
windex/fantastic on the parking pad and turn the printer off for a few
hours, then do another cleaning cycle or two.

Once you get a perfect nozzle check from every color position do a head
alignment (preferably on the paper you will print on - thickness matters)
and you should be in good shape.

Todd

(snip)

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

I never did have any luck getting rid of the fine banding on my 1200. Most
of the time you needed a loupe to see it but occasionally it became visible
at normal viewing distances. I had perfect nozzle checks on mine, with no
defects like you are showing in the nozzle check you posted. If that offset
does not clear up with cleaning or is present with the Epson inks then it is
a printer defect.

If you do decide to switch printers (as I finally did) try the 1280.

I also want to note that virtually all printers seem to be subject to some
type of linear artifact in very smooth areas. It sometimes comes and goes.
It is so slight that it can only be seen under magnification and is one of
those things we live with. The 1280 with MIS VM inks gives me a dark banding
pattern on some prints that I can see under magnification but it is in the
darker 3/4 tones and is less objectionable than in the lighter tones.

Also keep in mind that even with a given model there seems to be printer to
printer variations. I share your frustration with this and hope you work it
out. Remember if you can't see it at normal viewing distances, don't worry
about it or you will drive yourself craze!

Martin Wesley

> Also keep in mind that even with a given model there seems to be printer to
> printer variations. I share your frustration with this and hope you work it
> out. Remember if you can't see it at normal viewing distances, don't worry
> about it or you will drive yourself craze!
> 
> Martin Wesley


yes you will... and crazy too... <g>

While I do not call it banding because true banding is in your file, and is
a different beast all together in my mind, my 1200 gives me the same
patterns with the direction of the print head travel... good alignment,
nozzle checks and all. It's just my printer. I'm switching it over to full
color proof usage and getting a 1280.

Carolyn