QTR-Quadtone RIP

>
> Hello,
> 
> I have been following the group for a while and this is my first post.  I am using a slightly refurbished Epson 7600 (replaced the dampers, capping station, and cleaning squeegee a few weeks ago) with the Piezography K7 Neutral ink set.  Using Quadtone RIP, I have been getting a banding issue in the midtones.
> 
> I have run nozzle checks that all come out clean, I have soaked the head in PiezoFlush as well run numerous cleaning cycles and repeated nozzle checks just to make sure, but for some reason I still get banding.  I have used several papers from Epson Enhanced Matte to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag all with the same issue. 
> 
> Has anyone else run in to this issue and if so, what did you do to correct it?
> 
> Thanks!
>

>
> This is probably off-topic, in that it is more likely a printer issue than a K7 or QTR issue.
> 
> That said - a  few years ago I was having banding issues that I couldn't track down. There were two things that seemed to help. Both are hard to find, but exist in various Epson docs that can be chased down on the web. It may also be just going through the various tests in the service menus. 
> 
> In any case there is a procedure to calibrate the linefeed rate.  I think it is accessible through one of the service menus. It prints out a target with just a couple of lines at intervals on roll paper. Then measure the distance by hand and enter some values as a correction (all through the front panel if I remember correctly).  That helped the banding immensely and I have not done it again in at least 5 years without issue. Long live the 7600s!
> 
> Back to QTR:
> 
> Use the density (calibration) target to more easily see which ink channels are generating the banding. The squares in the target are each made by a single ink channel so you can see if you have a particular channel or head that is bad. If it looks like all are similarly bandy then it is probably the paper feed. Sometimes it easier to see banding without a loupe.
> 
>  Costa
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "nmenghardt" <nicholae@> wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> > 
> > I have been following the group for a while and this is my first post.  I am using a slightly refurbished Epson 7600 (replaced the dampers, capping station, and cleaning squeegee a few weeks ago) with the Piezography K7 Neutral ink set.  Using Quadtone RIP, I have been getting a banding issue in the midtones.
> > 
> > I have run nozzle checks that all come out clean, I have soaked the head in PiezoFlush as well run numerous cleaning cycles and repeated nozzle checks just to make sure, but for some reason I still get banding.  I have used several papers from Epson Enhanced Matte to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag all with the same issue. 
> > 
> > Has anyone else run in to this issue and if so, what did you do to correct it?
> > 
> > Thanks!
> >
>

>
> and... I've seen no mention of the necessity of a careful head alignment...
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "ccolbertbw" <ccolbert@> wrote:
> >
> > This is probably off-topic, in that it is more likely a printer issue than a K7 or QTR issue.
> > 
> > That said - a  few years ago I was having banding issues that I couldn't track down. There were two things that seemed to help. Both are hard to find, but exist in various Epson docs that can be chased down on the web. It may also be just going through the various tests in the service menus. 
> > 
> > In any case there is a procedure to calibrate the linefeed rate.  I think it is accessible through one of the service menus. It prints out a target with just a couple of lines at intervals on roll paper. Then measure the distance by hand and enter some values as a correction (all through the front panel if I remember correctly).  That helped the banding immensely and I have not done it again in at least 5 years without issue. Long live the 7600s!
> > 
> > Back to QTR:
> > 
> > Use the density (calibration) target to more easily see which ink channels are generating the banding. The squares in the target are each made by a single ink channel so you can see if you have a particular channel or head that is bad. If it looks like all are similarly bandy then it is probably the paper feed. Sometimes it easier to see banding without a loupe.
> > 
> >  Costa
> > 
> > --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "nmenghardt" <nicholae@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > > 
> > > I have been following the group for a while and this is my first post.  I am using a slightly refurbished Epson 7600 (replaced the dampers, capping station, and cleaning squeegee a few weeks ago) with the Piezography K7 Neutral ink set.  Using Quadtone RIP, I have been getting a banding issue in the midtones.
> > > 
> > > I have run nozzle checks that all come out clean, I have soaked the head in PiezoFlush as well run numerous cleaning cycles and repeated nozzle checks just to make sure, but for some reason I still get banding.  I have used several papers from Epson Enhanced Matte to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag all with the same issue. 
> > > 
> > > Has anyone else run in to this issue and if so, what did you do to correct it?
> > > 
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> >
>

>
> Sorry, I had left out that I'd done numerous head alignments through the Printer Utility Software.
> 
> Costa,  I will try what you suggested.  I have the manual to do that somewhere in the office.
> 
> Thanks everyone for the tips!  We'll see how it goes when I get back to the lab on Monday.
> 
> Nick
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "tboleyyh" <tyler@> wrote:
> >
> > and... I've seen no mention of the necessity of a careful head alignment...
> > 
> > --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "ccolbertbw" <ccolbert@> wrote:
> > >
> > > This is probably off-topic, in that it is more likely a printer issue than a K7 or QTR issue.
> > > 
> > > That said - a  few years ago I was having banding issues that I couldn't track down. There were two things that seemed to help. Both are hard to find, but exist in various Epson docs that can be chased down on the web. It may also be just going through the various tests in the service menus. 
> > > 
> > > In any case there is a procedure to calibrate the linefeed rate.  I think it is accessible through one of the service menus. It prints out a target with just a couple of lines at intervals on roll paper. Then measure the distance by hand and enter some values as a correction (all through the front panel if I remember correctly).  That helped the banding immensely and I have not done it again in at least 5 years without issue. Long live the 7600s!
> > > 
> > > Back to QTR:
> > > 
> > > Use the density (calibration) target to more easily see which ink channels are generating the banding. The squares in the target are each made by a single ink channel so you can see if you have a particular channel or head that is bad. If it looks like all are similarly bandy then it is probably the paper feed. Sometimes it easier to see banding without a loupe.
> > > 
> > >  Costa
> > > 
> > > --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "nmenghardt" <nicholae@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hello,
> > > > 
> > > > I have been following the group for a while and this is my first post.  I am using a slightly refurbished Epson 7600 (replaced the dampers, capping station, and cleaning squeegee a few weeks ago) with the Piezography K7 Neutral ink set.  Using Quadtone RIP, I have been getting a banding issue in the midtones.
> > > > 
> > > > I have run nozzle checks that all come out clean, I have soaked the head in PiezoFlush as well run numerous cleaning cycles and repeated nozzle checks just to make sure, but for some reason I still get banding.  I have used several papers from Epson Enhanced Matte to Hahnemuhle Photo Rag all with the same issue. 
> > > > 
> > > > Has anyone else run in to this issue and if so, what did you do to correct it?
> > > > 
> > > > Thanks!
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

>
> If you have done all of these things, alignment, head cleaning, etc, and see a good nozzle check, I would consider having a custom curve made for this printer by inkjet mall.
> 
> If you still have the banding after all that I would think you need a new head.
> 
> john
>

>
> scratching from a head strike will usually reveals itself as either permanently clogged or deflected nozzles, so it may or may not be an issue.
> 
> You didn't mention if you're printing in uni-driectional or bi-directional mode
> 
> peace out
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "john" <deanwork2003@> wrote:
> >
> > If you have done all of these things, alignment, head cleaning, etc, and see a good nozzle check, I would consider having a custom curve made for this printer by inkjet mall.
> > 
> > If you still have the banding after all that I would think you need a new head.
> > 
> > john
> >
>

>
> scratching from a head strike will usually reveals itself as either permanently clogged or deflected nozzles, so it may or may not be an issue.
> 
> You didn't mention if you're printing in uni-driectional or bi-directional mode
> 
> peace out
> 
> --- In QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com, "john" <deanwork2003@> wrote:
> >
> > If you have done all of these things, alignment, head cleaning, etc, and see a good nozzle check, I would consider having a custom curve made for this printer by inkjet mall.
> > 
> > If you still have the banding after all that I would think you need a new head.
> > 
> > john
> >
>