Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: dgberg on August 12, 2016, 02:02:36 pm
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2 pictures attached show the problem. 3880 prints a perfect image.
Printed 40 samples on my 9900 and not one is usable. Nozzle test is perfect.
Tried different profiles from other papers, no matter what I do the faces come out red.
NEC profiled monitor looks perfect. Color management off so no double profiling unless it is not being turned off internally.
Suggestions??
Mas OSX 10.10
Printed on the 9900 with 2 different computers, PS and LR CC
Also tried PS 6 and LR 5 stand alone same issue with all.
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2 pictures attached show the problem. 3880 prints a perfect image.
Printed 40 samples on my 9900 and not one is usable. Nozzle test is perfect.
Tried different profiles from other papers, no matter what I do the faces come out red.
NEC profiled monitor looks perfect. Color management off so no double profiling unless it is not being turned off internally.
Suggestions??
Mas OSX 10.10
Printed on the 9900 with 2 different computers, PS and LR CC
Also tried PS 6 and LR 5 stand alone same issue with all.
Hi Dan,
Considering the testing you have done, it certainly does seem that this is a printer issue. I've been using the 9900 since early 2010 and have experienced some issues, but nothing exactly like what you have described here. Before the 9900 I worked with the 4000 and 2-7600s. One thing I have discovered after printing with these machines since 2004 is that even though the nozzle check seems to print perfectly, occasionally it is not s true indication of what's happening beneath the hood. Having said that, my question is, have you actually run a cleaning cycle? Having followed and participated in this forum for many years I am well aware of your presence here and I have a lot of respect for the degree of knowledge you have within this industry. However, there are occasions when the obvious isn't necessarily obvious. I have learned that lesson the hard way, and in this case I would suggest a cleaning cycle if not already done. Just a suggestion.
Gary
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Hi Dan
I had a similar issue once in my 9600 and end up being one of the opposite colors, either Cyan or Light Cyan that was very low on ink and the printer didn't show as being low.
A new cartridge fix it.
Hope it helps
Hugo
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Hi Dan,
Considering the testing you have done, it certainly does seem that this is a printer issue. I've been using the 9900 since early 2010 and have experienced some issues, but nothing exactly like what you have described here. Before the 9900 I worked with the 4000 and 2-7600s. One thing I have discovered after printing with these machines since 2004 is that even though the nozzle check seems to print perfectly, occasionally it is not s true indication of what's happening beneath the hood. Having said that, my question is, have you actually run a cleaning cycle? Having followed and participated in this forum for many years I am well aware of your presence here and I have a lot of respect for the degree of knowledge you have within this industry. However, there are occasions when the obvious isn't necessarily obvious. I have learned that lesson the hard way, and in this case I would suggest a cleaning cycle if not already done. Just a suggestion.
Gary
I had some minor clogging but it cleaned up with a pairs clean.
I can try the full clean tomorrow to see if that helps.
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Deleted and reloaded the printer this morning and also updated the driver, no change.
Printed another painting from the same artist with faces and they also came out all red on the 9900. Printed the new face image on the 3880 and it came out perfect??
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I'd try powering the printer off and back on. Run a full cleaning cycle. Replace any "low" ink cartridges regardless of ink remaining. I've seen issues on occasion (albeit rare) when the ink drops down below 5%; cartridge issue?
ken
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I'd try powering the printer off and back on. Run a full cleaning cycle. Replace any "low" ink cartridges regardless of ink remaining. I've seen issues on occasion (albeit rare) when the ink drops down below 5%; cartridge issue?
ken
Thanks Ken
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Create a PDF of the image - check the colour is good. Print through the Epson driver (make sure it's not the Apple driver sneaking its way in after an update).
2 things:
If the PDF is wrong, there's a problem somewhere in the workflow - could be the flow itself (very unlikely since it works on the 3880 and you know what you're doing), or it could be the apps or the OS colour management. I'm betting there's nothing wrong with the PDF, but it's worth testing.
If the PDF is right and it prints wrong, regardless of your nozzle checks, there's something wrong with the printer or the driver (are you using custom paper settings, profiles, etc)? Completely trash the driver and all settings and download and install it again. If the PDF is right and it prints right, then it's something to do with PS or LR which is unlikely given it's not the known OS X colour management bug because you're not colour managing in the apps and that bug has fixes released now anyway.
The suggestion to change carts is also valid, although I'd start by gently agitating (shaking) each of them and checking the expiry dates and think about how long they've been sitting in the printer since you put them in as new carts.
Also, do you see the same problem with other faces in regular photos (not from paintings)?
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Sedimentation usually cause this problem. upload a good picture of your nassl chack patern here and I might help you with that. Are all your prints have a red cast or just this file?
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Create a PDF of the image - check the colour is good. Print through the Epson driver (make sure it's not the Apple driver sneaking its way in after an update).
I agree and would add, the OP also print a color reference image that has known, well defined RGB values. That way we know if the issue is the document or the printer.
http://www.digitaldog.net/files/2014PrinterTestFileFlat.tif.zip
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Saved as a PDF in PS CC.
Colors look perfect on the PDF.
Printed the image and the face is pink.
Shook all the carts again, replaced several of the low carts.
Nozzle check is perfect. Not sure what else to try.
Printed the image on my P800 and 3880 and both images had perfect facial color.
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Are you sure that the yellow nozzles are 100% OK? Looking closer at the original samples, there's significant colour variation throughout the whole image, not just the face. Looking at the "coins", it strikes me that there's a lack of yellow in the 3880 print. Yellow's often hard to notice problem on white paper when doing a check, unless you're looking for a problem specifically.
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Yellow nozzle check looks 100% ok.
I printed a photographic image of faces and it came out good.
Just these several artists images that I am having trouble with.
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That's is SO weird, Dan. The fact that other images are showing correct colours, but these particular ones aren't.
Hmmm, what's the colour space of the problematic images and what file format are they in? I know that shouldn't be an issue since you've printed on other printers without issue, but so far everything points to there being nothing wrong. The printer clearly works with other images and the images work on other printers and your computers and workflow work for the same reason. It doesn't make sense.
Can you print a black to white grey gradient wedge - make it maybe 18 inches in length - and see what it looks like? I'm still trying to think of a way to reproduce the/a fault so we can then start to narrow down on it.
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Making a little progress.
I printed out a perfect image on my 3880.
I then took a picture of the faces with my iPhone and printed it on my 9900.
The face tones were almost perfect.
The question of the day still is the file somehow corrupted?
Why does it show perfect skin tone on the monitor and print pink? The better question is why does it print perfect on the 3880 and not the 9900 if it is somehow corrupted?
I am going to have the artist shoot it again and send me 2 files. One as shot and the other processed to her liking.
I can print both and see what happens.
Sample print of both twins with good face tone off the 9900.
Printed first on 3880 photographed with iPhone and sent to Lightroom, printed perfect on the 9900.
Single head shot image is iPhone shot of clients file when printed on the 9900.
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Truly one of the most bizarre issues I've seen!
You've effectively tested and ruled out issues with:
1. The printer
2. The driver
3. The operating system colour management
4. The file (I know you're going to get a new one, but it works on other printers)
5. The applications
6. The workflow
7. The media
8. The inks
There's not a lot left other than The Ghost in The Machine!
Will be very interested to see how the re-shot image goes.
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Hi,
I saw this problem on a P800.
Solution was to double check the printer in system preferences (mac os)--> printers and scanners--> highlight the printer in question and make sure that "air print" is not part of the printer file name. If so delete and install non AirPrint printer driver. Not sure what AirPrint is but was causing this exact problem on our calibration targets.
hope this helps. Credit goes to Northlight images for the fix
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Looks like we found the problem. The yellow channel is dropping out completely but only intermittently.
Can be in the middle of a print at the beginning or at the end.
Worked on this 4 hours yesterday and no solution but to call in Decision One. I plan on keeping this printer because of the amount of ink I have.
Gonna have them replace the capping station, head,damper system and a full lube and going over. I just replaced the wiper blade.
Anything else I forgot? Hope to get a 1 year warranty on all the parts they replace.
Expect it to cost at least 3 grand.
I am only :45 minutes away from the local Decision One in West chester, Pa. but doubt that will save me anything.
If only I could find a new Epson 9890 in a warehouse somewhere? I had a quote from Lexjet for one for $3195 3 months before the new models were announced.
The day of the announcement all the 9890's evaporated.
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Hi Dan,
Hopefully that will fix it.
My 9900 does this also, and also with no rhyme or reason, a channel just will stop printing, sometimes during a job, other times right after. In fact my 9900 always has done this to some degree, (early on with orange and green), now with the more important colors.
I had the head replaced right before the warranty expired, along with the capping station and dampers, which seems to fix the problem briefly, but it's back now.
Still get a good NZ ck, so like you I have too much ink on hand to replace it with the 9000 and will keep on going with it.
Last time I checked the warranty from D1 was either 90 or 120 days, I can't remember which.
Paul C
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If you're looking at ~$3,200 for a repair on your 9900----I'd look towards getting a new P9000. With rebate, you're only looking at about $800 more---and that's for a new printer with new warranty. And I can tell you that the new P9000 is definitely an improvement over the 9900. If your 9900 is over 3-5 years in use and out of warranty, I'd go for a new printer.
Not much reassurance that D1 can put in a permanent fix. Sounds like dampers and pump motor. You could sell your ink at a discount to a 9900 user to help lessen the financial outlay...
Ken
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Hey Dan - good and bad news I guess. Good you found it (and I'm pleased my eyes aren't trashed and I really was seeing a yellow issue :-) ). Bad that it will cost you some money.
Given it's intermittent, you probably don't need a head (if the head was failing, you wouldn't recover it) - it's most likely an ink supply issue so dampers, capping station, wiper blade all definites. Also consider the ink lines themselves (at least for yellow), and get them to check the I/C holder and the needles into the carts for damage or gunk. It would also be worthwhile doing a pressure test to ensure there are no leaks and that the pump is fine. I know it will cost more labour if you need to do a head later, but initial signs suggest that the head is fine. I'd at least talk to them about not doing the head and see what it would cost to do it later if needed (unless your head is many years old and you feel like it's worth putting a new one in anyway).
Also, use a new yellow once you replace parts - no point risking that there's anything wrong with the cart.
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off topic---very weird. Just noticed that my profile has been changed or rather my account is now a "newbie" status. Hmmmm....
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The more I dig the more I find.
Yellow cart seems to seat fine but when released does not pop out like the others.
Pulled all the left bank carts and the bottom half of the yellow seat assembly is at a slant pushed in at the bottom at least a 1/2"
Tried to gently pry it out but something is amiss with that assembly. Yellow ink smeared on the assembly as well as the back of the cart.
May try to get Tastar Service out here from Pittsburgh if they will come this far.
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So seems likely that the ink supply issue is air getting in the line because the cart isn't seating properly (which is also causing a leak, which makes things worse). That's good news because it's likely there's nothing wrong with the more expensive parts of the printer!