QTR-Quadtone RIP

On 19/12/2013 10:48 AM, beefyzee@... wrote:
>
>
> This situation is driving me nuts. So I've came across this wonderful
> QTR and I can't find a damn printer for it. Ebay, classified listings,
> etc and no sign of any second hand models that QTR supports. I think the
> problem is most people just chuck these printers in the bin when they
> are finished with them. There's probably heaps hiding all over the place
> but I just don't know where they are.
>
>
> The models I have managed to find which are compatible were old and I
> either couldn't unblock the print head or the printer control was just
> generally wonky.
>
> I've been through an 890, a 980, and a 1290. The 3000 I acquired is
> working apart from two blocked / broken cyan nozzles. My next attack on
> that one is a direct injection flush of the cyan printhead.
>
> Has anyone successfully used any modern small printers with QTR. This
> hunting for 2nd hand printers is getting a bit old. Seems nearly
> everyone that is advertised says out of ink (for a long time) which
> generally means a high risk of badly clogged heads. I don't need
> anything bigger than A4. Seems the 1430 can work with QTR but it retails
> at $400. All I need this for is to make an odd film positive for making
> circuit boards.
>
> The drop down box showing the list of supported printers also shows EX.
> Anyone know what that printer is ??

Keith

Some quick comments from another Australian:

The Epson Stylus Photo EX was a wide version (A3 max width) of the Epson 
Stylus Photo 700 (A4 max width). I had one back in the late 1990s and 
advise you to avoid it. Epson printers have improved a lot since then.

Some of the Epson printers sold in Australia have different model names 
from the equivalent printers sold in America (and supported by QTR). But 
QTR is happy to drive (at least some of) those Australian versions. For 
example, I just grabbed the Epson Stylus Photo R290 (not listed as 
supported) from the corner where it has been sitting unused for many 
months, and attached it to my Windows 7 computer. It produced a perfect 
nozzle check straight away (surprise!). I told QTRgui to treat it as an 
R230, and made a print.

Don't give up.

--

Peter Marquis-Kyle
www.marquis-kyle.com.au

Thanks Jacques, Thanks Pete.

Jacques,

the 1400 seems to get reasonable press in the screenprinting forums so I'll keep my eye open for a good deal on one.

Pete,

I'm hoping I can find an Rxxx series A4 printer. Should pick one up for a few tens of dollars, just missed out on a R310 for $20. I can also get refillable cartridges for those models too, as well as service manuals, adjustment programs, etc. And they seem to be supported by that SSG utility software. So they seem to be a great cost effective printer for what I want. I especially want the cheaper refillable cartridges as opposed to a full CISS because I only need a bit of speciality opaque screenprinting ink, not tankfuls of the stuff as I'd have with a CISS.

When you say you did a print from QTR, was that the hardware calibration print, where you look at the different colours and decide what % you want the ink delivery to max out at. Did the printer push out enough ink to just about flood the paper.

I'm getting to the stage of advertising for these printers, would you beleive it, or finding where all the council hard rubbish collection services are running. We had a tip (sorry, recycling centre) here some time ago and they collected anything they thought they could sell. Of course now I have a need to go and scrounge there it's closed down. I wonder if other recycling centres do this. Might check out garage sales too.

Cheers,

Keith.

On 19/12/2013 1:17 PM, beefyzee@... wrote:
> When you say you did a print from QTR, was that the hardware calibration
> print, where you look at the different colours and decide what % you
> want the ink delivery to max out at. Did the printer push out enough ink
> to just about flood the paper.

Keith

The printer has the standard Epson Claria dye cartridges installed. QTR 
comes with two curves for printing with this inkset -- 
'Claria-2880-EPGPP' and 'Claria-2880-HFBG-BO'. I randomly selected one 
of these and printed a monochrome TIF image onto a sheet of scrap bond 
paper, just to confirm my recollection that QTR could drive this 
printer. Call it a proof of concept.

I was not expecting to get a great print on plain paper, using a curve 
built for different paper. By chance, the print was not bad.

-- 

Peter Marquis-Kyle
www.marquis-kyle.com.au

Ah yes, I see. I'm forgetting about pre-installed curves.

The calibration mode is for setting up a new curve which I will want to do (different ink and transparencies instead of papers). That's going to be the moment of truth for me when I do the calibration print and (hopefully) just about see a puddle of ink on the paper at the darker end.

Cheers,

Keith.

Peter,

I've just been knocked on the floor. What you said about your R290 did not surprise me because I kind of expected that it was close to one of the other Rxxx printers.

However what you said, plus my frustration with not being able to find a listed printer for sale, made me throw my hands up in the air and "play" with QTR and my Epson TX810FW. I tried the R390 selection and I just got garbage and many sheets of paper feeding out. Next tried the R800 selection, put the black settings at 100% and pressed print. The printing took a very long time and when the paper finally came out I had to catch it to stop the FLOWING ink from pouring off. Put settings down to 50% and reduced resolution right down just to test and I got a perfect print.

I've been to hell and back with 2nd hand printers, spent at least $200 on them, none of which have been fully functional, and put a lot of time into attempting to resurrect them, only to now find I can print with unlimited density from my all in one printer sitting on my desk.

My guess is there may be quite a few other Epson printers will work like this with one of the driver selections. Maybe no good for black and white photo printing but good for making film positives where only the black is needed.

Most of the printers I got hold of had been aquired BEFORE I found out about QTR, so what you say is actually not correct. I would not have bought a new 1430 without having any reason to do so. It's also easy to say that in hindsight. I was looking for printers known to have good print density (like the SC3000) or the older ones which had the Backlight Film setting which prints more densely. All the printers I bought were falsely advertised as working but out of ink in one of the cartridges. I would never have thought one printer after the other would have blocked nozzles that I couldn't clear. Perhaps the sellers were not deliberately misleading me. I've noticed many understand nothing about inkjets and the effects of running out of ink and long term storage. The printer may have worked perfect the last time they used it.

If I had known about QTR before getting the very first printer, I would have only paid about $30 because I now know how to use ANY cartridge on its own and make it print with lots of ink. I've got a couple of R210 printers now which I'm in the process of trying to clear blocked nozzles. If I can't unblock all of the colours then I can just use any cartridge whos nozzles are all clear.

I've also gained a huge amount of knowledge of inkjets, their mechanisms, ink types, storage precautions (I'm not making a circuit board every day), maintenance, advanced head unblocking methods, etc, etc. I could have bought a 1430, had it stored for some time before the next use, then found out my new printer has blocked nozzles.

So I'm not doing too bad for my $200+. Now that I know about using ANY one cartridge, I've got three printers that work with QTR, and like I say the knowledge I have gained is something I treasure and is worth money by itself, and can save me money down the track.

Keith, I might have a printer for you. I have an Epson 1280 that I'd be willing to let go for the shipping cost only. If you're interested, just let me know. Mike

I would supply the 1280 refillable cartridges for shipping costs also.


From: mbrouphy@...
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 10:11 AM
To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [QuadtoneRIP] RE: Any Recent Model Small Printers Work with QTR




Keith,  I might have a printer for you.  I have an Epson 1280 that I'd be willing to let go for the shipping cost only.  If you're interested, just let me know.  Mike

Thanks very much for your kind offer Mike, but I'll pass on that one. However the thought of an A3 printer was very luring LOL.

I've managed to obtain a 3rd Epson R210 so if I can clear the nozzles on this one I'll have one working plus two spare printers.

I reckon you could get some money for the 1280 on Ebay. Here in Melbourne, Australia I seen a 1290 go for more than $30 with local pickup. A few people were bidding on it.

Keith