Size matters (why is my r2400 printing small)

[JBrunner]

Does anybody have a suggestion as to why a 10x30 panoramic printed on my R2400 would print about 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch short?

1. The file is exactly 30 inches long.
2. resize is not turned on, and in any case my media is oversize (13x32 custom size on roll paper.)

 

[dwross2]

It's not clear if you mean the image printed out complete, but small, or, if the image stops printing shy of completion. If it is the latter, I had that problem. I had the printing preferences set to print after spooling was complete and apparently my system was under-juiced for that. I reset the printer to start printing immediately and my problem was solved. Good luck on your variation.

 

[Greg_E]

Maybe because it was thick paper? ASome paper goes through just fine, some paper comes up a little short. Could also be the printer needs to have a small adjustment (which you can't do). I suggest you stretch the image that small amount so that it comes out the correct length. Yes it sucks but what else can you do?

 

[JBrunner]

Answer.

To answer the first, the image prints completely but not 30" rather 1/8-3/16ths short.

After talking to a printer that has about a dozen Epsons in service from the smallest to the largest- this is what I was told- the printers are not plotter accurate and can "drift". A service tech can reset the printer output size to be correct but they tend to drift out again, usually toward printing the image very slightly smaller. This effect is somewhat more apparent on a panoramic because of the lengthy aspect ratio.The good news is that they seem to go out of spec a little bit, then stay. I was advised to adjust my print size a tiny bit accordingly.

Honestly, if this is really the case - what an absolute irritation.

 

[Greg_E]

This is honestly the case. The big pro model Epsons have adjustments that you can do, but as far as I know, there is nothing you can do on the 2400.

If you really want a dramatic difference, run a thin paper through, then run a very thick paper through and measure the difference.. It may be very large (1/4 inch or more over 3 feet). Then try it again with canvas. Canvas will show a problem to the worst degree.

You can take my word for it as a large format inkjet user and printer repair person (or not, it's up to you), but my answer above is the same that you were told by your other source. You can call Epson and see if there is something that you can adjust, but I don't think there is on the 2400.

 

[donbga]

To answer the first, the image prints completely but not 30" rather 1/8-3/16ths short.

After talking to a printer that has about a dozen Epsons in service from the smallest to the largest- this is what I was told- the printers are not plotter accurate and can "drift". A service tech can reset the printer output size to be correct but they tend to drift out again, usually toward printing the image very slightly smaller. This effect is somewhat more apparent on a panoramic because of the lengthy aspect ratio.The good news is that they seem to go out of spec a little bit, then stay. I was advised to adjust my print size a tiny bit accordingly.

Honestly, if this is really the case - what an absolute irritation.

If your printer is still in warranty contact Epson and get it replaced. Though the 2400 is a desktop printer it is too expensive to not work properly. Just make sure you tell them that you were using Epson paper.

Don Bryant

 

[dwross2]

I print a LOT of panoramas on roll paper cut to 13 x 36 inches. I dug some out and measured them and sure enough, some were 1/16 to 1/8 inch short. I never noticed. Greg: Thanks for the resizing tip. Yuh gotta love this site.

 

[donbga]

I print a LOT of panoramas on roll paper cut to 13 x 36 inches. I dug some out and measured them and sure enough, some were 1/16 to 1/8 inch short. I never noticed. Greg: Thanks for the resizing tip. Yuh gotta love this site.

That's interesting. I've printed 13x36 panos on my 2200 using QTR and never experienced this problem, though I don't measure everyone, the couple that I did measure were ok.

Don Bryant

 

[Greg_E]

A lot of it can be the paper. There is a certain thickness that Epson used for the design (I'm not sure what it is), and when you stray far enought to either side you have a length problem with canvas being the worst offender that I've found.

 

[Bob Carnie]

The width is short as well as height?

Sounds like the paper is shrinking with the addition of ink on the paper , after the inks dry.
All fibre prints that I make on the Lambda and in the darkroom do shrink after drying, more so with the grain.
We always add bleed to our prints for final shrinkage , maybe this is happening with your rag paper.

 

[bdial]

Sounds like the paper is shrinking

That could be tested, by placing a mark on the paper at 30 inches (or wherever) before printing, then measuring to the mark after printing.
Aside from shrinking images, how do you like the 2400?

 

[JBrunner]

That could be tested, by placing a mark on the paper at 30 inches (or wherever) before printing, then measuring to the mark after printing.
Aside from shrinking images, how do you like the 2400?

I'm pretty sure the paper isn't shrinking but I'll try that next time, just to be sure.

As far as the printer goes, it produces the best images of any inkjet I have ever owned, and I am partial to the rag papers, as the mat saturation I can create is a wonderful look for certain color images. It's nice to not have to depend on a lab for some of my color images, and unfortunatly I'm getting better results by doing it myself, enough so that I am considering a 9800. I'm less partial to "photo paper" and really tend to like it as its own thing, with its own look, rather than pretending I'm making a silver print when I'm printing black and white. I think I will always prefer contact prints and large format enlargements for b&w.

Those are pretty much issues of personal taste, however, and don't reflect negatively on the printer, which is the best I've personally owned.

Aside from the undersizing (which I can deal with) I would say that my biggest "beef" with the printer is the tiny ink tanks, as it seems I'm constantly needing to change a cartridge. That could be solved, of course, by upgrading to a larger printer. I'm not aware of anybody who makes a bulk feed system for the 2400 at this time, but I would be interested if somebody did.

 

[bdial]

Here's one from InkjetMall (sort of an unlikely name for an outfit in Vermont that specializes in Inkjet solutions for graphic arts and photography).

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.362672/sc.11/category.514/.f

 

[Greg_E]

Aside from the undersizing (which I can deal with) I would say that my biggest "beef" with the printer is the tiny ink tanks, as it seems I'm constantly needing to change a cartridge. That could be solved, of course, by upgrading to a larger printer. I'm not aware of anybody who makes a bulk feed system for the 2400 at this time, but I would be interested if somebody did.

You haven't looked very hard then. One of the best is from Ink Republic:

http://www.inkrepublic.com/ProductDetail.asp?item=R2400

 

[donbga]

I'm not aware of anybody who makes a bulk feed system for the 2400 at this time, but I would be interested if somebody did.

http://www.inksupply.com/cfs_r2400_new.cfm

I would think long and hard about converting to a CFS system as they are prone to malfunction for one reason or another and will probably be a constant source of problems. Not to mention problems caused by non-OEM inks.

You may want to consider using the refillable ink carts sold by Inkjet Republic and filling and refilling them with Epson OEM K3 inks.

Don Bryant

 

[Greg_E]

You could just as easily buy an empty CIS and fill it from the larger OEM carts. MIS sells some refillable carts that many people seem to like, though I have never used them. I have an Ink Republic CIS on my cx6600 and it's great.