Epson Ink Problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Engelkott
  • Start date Start date
Engelkott said:
I have never bothered to adjust the lever before but with the problem
i have been having it might be a solution as the paper is 250gsm. The
paper i print letters on is Epson 80gsm.

Engelkott
Click to expand...

250gsm? Is that the same as 250g/m2? I'm more used to the lbs thingy.

My Costco Kirkland photo paper is labeled 68lb 260 g/m2 / 10 mil. This
is very nice thick stuff, with a hard, almost glass-like finish. Okay,
I exaggerate a little. But it's wonderful paper and it works just fine
in my Canons with no paper thickness adjustments necessary. There have
never been any stray ink marks on them. They come 8.5 x 11, but I just
"Edward Scissorhand" them down to 4 x 6 size for photos. I use a mela-
mine cutting surface, an exacto knife (from the dollar store), a metal
ruler, and the comparative method to cut them to size. Comparative met-
hod means I simply use a scrap 4 x 6 (or longer the better) photo as a
measuring guide. Usually I just cut them to the 4 inch width, leaving
the length 8.5 inches, or whatever. Then after the photo is printed, I
just trim off the excess from the length. Very simple. As this paper is
instant dry, I don't have to worry about handling it right away.

-Taliesyn
 
Taliesyn - If you print any kind of volume of 4x6's do yourself the favor of
buying a paper cutter with an adjustable guide bar. Much easier and faster
and you can cut a box of Kirkland paper into 375 4x6's in around half an
hour. one of the reasons I went from my Epson Stylus 900 to the canon i960
was the borderless 4x6 print capability that saved me endless hours of
trimming!
 
If you can scan the defect at 300 dpi (not the full page, just the
defect and about 1" to either side) and jpeg it at high quality, and
send me it as an attachment privately, I will try to diagnose it and let
you know what is the likely cause and possible solution.

Use the email address I have posted this from.

Art
 
Chances are you have a problem with both dried ink and dust or even a
hair under the head, as Taliesyn suggests, but I wanted to see the exact
problem before making a diagnosis, because some descriptions I get are
not clear enough to define the problem.

Try raising the head with the paper thickness lever and see if the
problem still occurs, or is lessened. The fact that the line is as
defined as you suggest may mean there is something else up as well.

If you send me a private email requesting the Epson Cleaning Manual, I
will send you a copy. It explains a safe procedure to clean under the
heads. There is no cost for it, and no spam.

I still suggest you send me a scan of the defect so I have more
information to go on.

Art
 
The paper you speak of (Kirkland /Costco), I'm guessing is made by
Konica. They have a paper was called Konica QC which was actually
coated with a ceramic coating and it does look like glass. They now
state it is resin coated, so maybe its been changed. I've been looking
for a cheaper source for it, as I really like it with my Epsons. It
apparently is microporous technology, meaning it is not as permanent
with dye inks as a swellable polymer might be, but it usually is water
proof once it dries, and the surface, when one is after that mirror
gloss, is just beautiful. I'm going to have to track this down... I
hope they have it in Western Canada. Office Depot brand paper in the US
seems to be Konica Premium Glossy, but not in Canada.

The specs seem correct from what you've stated:

See:

http://bt.konicaminolta.ca/products/consumer/paper/inkjet/glossy.html

Art
 
Burt said:
Taliesyn - If you print any kind of volume of 4x6's do yourself the favor of
buying a paper cutter with an adjustable guide bar. Much easier and faster
and you can cut a box of Kirkland paper into 375 4x6's in around half an
hour. one of the reasons I went from my Epson Stylus 900 to the canon i960
was the borderless 4x6 print capability that saved me endless hours of
trimming!
Click to expand...

Yeah, a cutter's good. The main reason I don't use one is that I don't
have large runs of photos where I need to cut a lot of them. My efforts
are more in the range of 1-4 at a time. And cutting a full sheet into
3 photos takes me under a minute. Also, I'd like to preserve the full
size sheets in case I do 5 x 7s or larger. I can see the point if I
was to go on vacation and return with 300 shots. Yeah, I'd use a cutter.

-Taliesyn (yes, I know the website below shows a Christmas creation,
but I'm too busy at the moment to update)
__________________________________________________________
The Taliesyn Website: http://www.colba.net/~andresk
 
Arthur said:
The paper you speak of (Kirkland /Costco), I'm guessing is made by
Konica.
Click to expand...

That is in the past. Made in Switzerland, word has it that it is Ilford
Gallerie Glossy. I would suggest you get a package $20 for 120 8.5x11
sheets. Then go get a package of Ilford Gallerie Glossy at
www.inksupply.com . Compare and let us know what you think.
 
Arthur -- the Costco store in Richmond has it ($24.00 for 120 8.5X11
sheets), don't know about other Vancouver Costco stores.
rtm
 
I will mainly be using it to print things for other people or to make
walled portfolio snaps. The credit card holder size pics but they are
rotated every once in a while.
Click to expand...
As long as you're not charging - otherwise you're going to have some
*very* unhappy customers :)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...
 
250gsm? Is that the same as 250g/m2? I'm more used to the lbs thingy.
Click to expand...
gsm = grams per square metre. I.e modern measurements, not Imperial.
:)

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...
 
measekite said:
Los Angeles at $19.95
Click to expand...
In other words, about the same price, considering the current exchange rate
between the Canadian dollar and the US dollar.... :-)

It sounds like it might be worth a try - I've been looking for something
that gives a print that looks reasonably close to what I see on the
monitor.

Al Preston
 
Hmm...

I was just on the Ilford site and I can't find any of their papers that
quite matches the Kirkland. May be a different product being made by
Ilford's mills, but strangely the stats are nearly identical to the
Konica. Maybe Konica is also made in Switzerland now (used to be made
in Japan)?

Konica's paper is listed as 260g/m2 10.4 mil super high gloss

They have another high gloss professional product called Konica QP which
is 305g/m2, 11.8 mil, but teh one I used last was 10 mil.

Ilford Gloss Smooth is 280g/m2 10.8 mil 22-28% gloss at 20 degrees
Ilford Classic Gloss is 240g/m2 9 mil 50-80% gloss at 20 degrees
Ilford Smoth High Gloss is 235 g/m2, 7 mil 40% gloss at 20 degrees

I'll take a look at the Kirkland, but I'm really after a nicely
discounted version of the Konica QP (not QC, that was an error).
Branded as Konica, it's to costly.

Art
 
Thanks for the heads up.

I'm not a member, but I have some friends who are. I live on Vancouver
Island, and can see if they are carrying it.

Art
 
That would be just about correct since the Canadian dollar is at about
..83 cents to the US $ now.

Art
 
As long as you're not charging - otherwise you're going to have some
*very* unhappy customers :)
Click to expand...

No, the stuff i print for people is if they do some modelling for me
then i give them some prints in return plus the files on disc for them
to get reprinted later.

It is not my fault if they fade! :)

Engelkott
 
250gsm? Is that the same as 250g/m2? I'm more used to the lbs thingy.
Click to expand...

I am not sure. On the Epson paper they quote it as 255 g/m2 but the
Fuji and Ilford paper has it as 270 gsm. I would guess it is one and
the same.

Engelkott
 
Taliesyn - If you print any kind of volume of 4x6's do yourself the favor of
buying a paper cutter with an adjustable guide bar. Much easier and faster
and you can cut a box of Kirkland paper into 375 4x6's in around half an
hour. one of the reasons I went from my Epson Stylus 900 to the canon i960
was the borderless 4x6 print capability that saved me endless hours of
trimming!
Click to expand...

I thought the Epson 900 had borderles prints? My 890 and my friends
895 has this function.But then maybe the model numbers do not run
concurrently?

Engelkott
 
If you can scan the defect at 300 dpi (not the full page, just the
defect and about 1" to either side) and jpeg it at high quality, and
send me it as an attachment privately, I will try to diagnose it and let
you know what is the likely cause and possible solution.

Use the email address I have posted this from.

Art
Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer but i have thrown the page away now. If the
printer should do it again i fill take you up on your offer. I should
be doing some printing tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks again!

Engelkott
 
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