What causes Venetian Blinds?

[sanking]

Most people who have tried to print certain kinds of images with digital negatives, say those with large areas of upper mid-tones, know that this can be very tricky with some printers. Most of the Epson pigment ink printers seem to suffer from this disease.

Does anyone really know the cause of Venetian blinds? I wonder if it might be caused by the way the OHP substrate is pulled through the machine in that the various wheels can not engage the shiny plastic substrarte as well as they can paper supports.

Sandy

 

[Kerik]

FYI - ZERO venetian blinds with the Epson 3800. So far....

 

[Joe Lipka]

When I had them with my R2400 I found that going through the head maintenance cycle cured me of those pesky venetian blinds. I figured it was less trouble to go through a cleaning cycle(s) than throwing away a sheet of film.

 

[Michael Mutmansky]

The only time they show up on my 4800 is when there is a clog in a jet or two of the ink. It seems to only take one in just the right color to cause the problem. Clean the printer, and they disappear.

---Michael

 

[Jeremy]

FYI - ZERO venetian blinds with the Epson 3800. So far....

If you see anything please keep us updated, Kerik. I'm looking at moving to a 3800 later this year.

 

[sanking]

The only time they show up on my 4800 is when there is a clog in a jet or two of the ink. It seems to only take one in just the right color to cause the problem. Clean the printer, and they disappear.

---Michael

Michael,

When you say, "clean the printer and they disappear" do you mean some type of cleaning other than what is done through the softward cleaning utility? Is there some type of physical clenaing that might be more effeictive in uncloging the jets?

I have run the head cleaning utility numerous times and still get Venetian blinds with the Epson 2200. It is a very mild case, to be sure, but still enough to ruin certain kinds of images.

Sandy

 

[rogein]

Sandy,

While the Epson 'nozzle check' may show all the 'bars' I find it sometimes misses that 'one' misfiring nozzle. I always print a 'purge file' and if it's not 'baby butt smooth' I know I have to re-run a nozzle clean.

Roger...

 

[sanking]

Sandy,

While the Epson 'nozzle check' may show all the 'bars' I find it sometimes misses that 'one' misfiring nozzle. I always print a 'purge file' and if it's not 'baby butt smooth' I know I have to re-run a nozzle clean.

Roger...

What is a "purge" file? Is this just a regular file you print to clear the nozzles or it is some kind of special file?

Sandy

 

[rogein]

What is a "purge" file? Is this just a regular file you print to clear the nozzles

Yes that's the one - prints a solid bar for each cart/colour.

Roger...

 

[Kirk Gittings]

On my 4000 I only get them sometimes when doing 4 pass on images with allot of midtone. At 8 pass I have never got them. I don't know the science just my experience.

 

[SusanV]

Sandy, below I've posted a link to a thread on a printer repair forum that might be helpful. It's specifically about a 1280, but addresses the issue of Epson printers and horizontal banding causes. There is a guy at that forum, Denny Conway, who seems to really know his stuff... scroll down to near the bottom of the page and see the long post by him about causes of horizontal banding.

Elsewhere on that site, he gives detailed instructions for physically cleaning the undercarriage of the print head assembly, which I've found very helpful.

Here's the thread... http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/inkjet/21502#16

Susan

 

[sanking]

Sandy, below I've posted a link to a thread on a printer repair forum that might be helpful. It's specifically about a 1280, but addresses the issue of Epson printers and horizontal banding causes. There is a guy at that forum, Denny Conway, who seems to really know his stuff... scroll down to near the bottom of the page and see the long post by him about causes of horizontal banding.

Elsewhere on that site, he gives detailed instructions for physically cleaning the undercarriage of the print head assembly, which I've found very helpful.

Here's the thread... http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/forums/inkjet/21502#16

Susan

Susan,

Thanks for the link. Lots of food for thought there.

Sandy